Defying the Lycan King (Kira and Derek) novel Chapter 205

Chapter 205: Drunk on Power

"Shit," Kira cursed under her breath, her heart leaping straight into her throat. She took a panicked step backward, away from Brian.

Brian stepped into the bedroom, his gaze locking onto her with a mixture of dark triumph and amusement.

"I knew it," he said and shook his head, looking almost proud of her. "I knew you were up to something. You don’t just wake up one morning and decide to stop fighting, Kira. Not you. It’s not in you. I almost believed it." His mouth twisted. "Almost."

Kira said nothing. She kept moving backwards, her mind racing, scrambling for a plan, an angle, anything.

"Stay back," she warned him.

Brian stopped walking, his eyes narrowed. Then he raised one brow, and something almost like grudging respect crossed his face.

"I truly underestimated you," he said.

"So did I," Kira replied.

She kept the sharpened toothbrush hidden behind her back, out of his sight, her fingers tight around it.

"I’m warning you," she said. "Come any closer, and I will kill you. Just let me walk out of here. Let me go in peace, Brian, and we never have to do this."

Brian shook his head slowly. "I can’t do that. I won’t." His jaw set. "I’d rather die than let you walk out that door." Then he lifted both hands, palms open, in a gesture of surrender and took another step towards her. "But I’m not going to hurt you. I would never hurt you. You know that."

Kira’s back hit the wall. She was now trapped, with nowhere left to go.

And Brian began to soothe her, the way one might talk down a frightened, dangerous animal, his voice low and gentle, his hands still raised as he edged closer.

"It’s alright," he murmured. "Everything’s going to be alright, Kira. I’m not angry with you. I promise. I’m not going to harm you. Just breathe. Just stay calm for me."

Kira stayed very still and let him come. Her heart was slamming against her ribs, but she kept her face soft, her body loose, letting him believe she had given up.

"You’ll never want for anything," Brian went on, closing the distance. "Never. No more of this cramped little place, I know you hate it. I called my mother just this morning, asked her to lease me one of the properties I bought for her. Somewhere proper. Somewhere beautiful."

His eyes shone. "I know you don’t like this cramped, pathetic place. You deserve so much better. I’ll give you the life you deserve, Kira. The life of a queen. You’ll have everything."

He reached her, and slowly, carefully, he drew her into his arms, folding her against his chest in an embrace.

Kira stayed still. She let her body relax against him, let her breathing even out, let him feel her go pliant and calm in his hold, let him believe, just for a moment, that he had won.

And while he held her close, lost in the fantasy of it, she brought her hand up, the sharpened point aimed directly at the soft side of his neck, ready to plunge it in. But her hand paused.

She couldn’t do it.

"I’m not going to hurt you," Brian yelled right back, his face inches from hers, his eyes flashing. "I’m trying to save you, damn it!"

"I don’t need your saving!" Kira screamed at the top of her lungs. She bared her teeth, biting down hard on any part of his hand she could reach, scratching at his neck like a completely feral cat fighting for its life.

"Kira, stop! You don’t understand!" Brian pleaded, desperate now. "My father will kill you! Even if Derek doesn’t, my father will. My father is dangerous, Kira."

Kira stopped thrashed for a split second, staring up at his panicked face.

"He’s deranged," Brian rushed out, his words tumbling over each other as he tried to make her see the gravity of the situation. "He’s so drunk on power that he doesn’t care who he destroys to get it. He doesn’t care about family, or mates, or anyone! He literally massacred his own people because Derek—"

His words were cut off, as a loud bang filled the room.

Brian’s eyes rolled back into his head, and his entire body went limp, collapsing forward onto Kira like a heavy sack of potatoes. He fell flat on top of her, knocking the wind right out of her lungs as he slipped into unconsciousness.

Kira lay there frozen, gasping, pinned under his dead weight. Slowly, she peered over Brian’s broad shoulder.

Standing right by the side of the bed, holding a heavy cooking pan was Brian’s wife, Olivia. She was dressed from head to toe in tight-fitting black clothes, looking entirely out of place but completely calm. She lowered the pan, tossed it carelessly onto the mattress, and crossed her arms over her chest.

"Well," Olivia said dryly. "Your husband’s currently tearing his entire pack apart looking for you, and here you are, doing gymnastics with Brian." She tilted her head toward the door. "Let’s go."