Defying the Lycan King (Kira and Derek) novel Chapter 203

Chapter 203: The Toothbrush

Back at Brian’s hideout, Kira had just finished brushing her teeth, and the older woman led her out of the small bathroom and back into the bedroom.

Brian was there, dressed in his usual black hoodie, the one he always pulled up to hide most of his face. Kira watched in silence as he tipped a scent suppressant into his palm and popped it into his mouth.

He was really trying his best to remain completely off the grid, hiding his Lycan scent from anyone who might be sniffing around the area.

Over the past three days, Kira had spent every waking moment using her eyes to search the room for a weapon. But Brian was meticulously thorough. The bastard had cleared the space.

He had stripped the entire place bare of anything sharp, anything she might turn against him or use to free herself. He had left her completely helpless.

Or so he thought.

Because an idea had come to her in the dark the night before, and she had already set it quietly in motion.

Soon, very soon, she was going to walk out of this wretched place. She just had to play her part well enough first.

The woman brought in a tray of food, and to both her and Brian’s astonishment, Kira smiled.

"Thank you so much! This smells so lovely."

She picked up the fork with her bound hands, and happily tried to eat a mouthful of the food, but with her wrists pinned so closely together, she awkwardly fumbled, nearly dropping the contents back onto the plate.

Seeing her struggle—and being so thrilled that she was finally smiling instead of wishing death upon his entire lineage, Brian moved quickly to the bed.

"Here," he said. "Let me."

Kira looked up at him, blinking innocently, and gave a gentle nod. "Alright. Thank you, Brian."

Brian froze for a second, clearly not quite believing his luck. Then, almost reverently, he sat down on the edge of the bed, adjusted the chains to give her wrist more rooms apart and took the spoon, and began to feed her himself.

"What changed your mind?" he asked, after she had managed a few spoonfuls.

Kira sighed and gave him a small smile.

"Maybe you’re right," she said softly. "Maybe there’s no point in fighting you every single moment. In struggling against all of it. Maybe I could try. Try to get along. Try to actually be happy here."

Brian’s face lit up instantly. He smiled sheepishly, his chest swelling with pride as he scooped up another portion of food.

"I’m so happy to hear you say that, Kira. You have no idea how much this means to me."

And for just a moment, Kira caught the genuine, unguarded happiness shining behind his eyes, the look of a man who had wanted one thing his whole life and could not believe it might finally be within reach.

And despite everything, she felt a tiny, weird pang of pity for him. The man was completely delusional, living in a fantasy world of his own making, but his twisted joy was real.

She chewed the spoonful he’d put in her mouth and smiled at him again. He smiled back.

"So, where do you always disappear to every single day?" she asked.

Brian’s smile widened. "To work."

She blinked. "Work?"

"I want to live like a decent man, Kira," he said. "An honest one. Earn my keep. Provide for our family with my own two hands."

There was something almost shy in the way he said it. "I’m starting over. Properly. And I’m working very hard at it, so that one day I can be the kind of man you actually deserve."

Kira nodded along, looking deeply moved by his completely unhinged speech. She took a sip of water and then leaned in slightly, looking right into his eyes.

"Tell me the truth, Brian. Do you truly love me?"

"If you’d only let me," he said, his voice low, "I’d spend the rest of my life showing you exactly how much."

Kira let out a thoughtful hum, playing her cards carefully. "Why? What about your actual wife, Olivia?"

The bright smile instantly vanished from Brian’s face. He looked down at the tray, and a shadow of something like shame crossed his features.

"I never loved her," he said quietly.

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