Defying the Lycan King (Kira and Derek) novel Chapter 21

Chapter 21: Foul Mood

Dawn was breaking, and Nana was settling into a quiet cup of tea in her quarters when she heard footsteps coming up the stairs.

"Nana?" a deep male voice called out.

She looked up to see Brian standing there, dressed in his workout gear, his jaw tight with frustration.

"Oh, my dear Brian," she said gently, motioning to the armchair opposite her. "Come. Sit. How have you been? How is that sweet wife of yours, Olivia?"

Instead of sitting, Brian stayed where he was. "Do you still hate me?" he asked bluntly. "How long am I supposed to keep paying for one silly mistake?"

Nana frowned. "What are you talking about?"

"You know exactly what I’m talking about," Brian snapped. "The throne belongs to me, Nana, but you favour Derek too much to let anyone else have it."

Nana set her teacup down on the small coffee table with a soft clink. "How could you even say that?" she asked, hurt flashing across her face. "The conditions were clear. Derek’s father was king before he died. It’s only right that his son took over."

"No," Brian said sharply. "I’m older than Derek. I should be the next king."

Nana let out a slow breath. "The conditions were clear. I wasn’t trying to favour or spite anyone. As Regent, Derek steps down only if he reaches twenty-nine still unmarried. He’s just turned twenty-eight and now married, his ascension is secure, and fairly so."

"You of all people know he married that girl to spite me. How convenient that after two months after I got married, he finally decided to settle too." Brian said through clenched teeth.

"How could you say that?" Nana asked. "Derek had never shown any interest or commitment to any woman after Sandra. Marrying Chloe is not a small decision for him. We should support him."

"Nana, please," Brian scoffed. "How does a Lycan King suddenly marry a werewolf? The daughter of the man who murdered his family? You don’t find that strange?"

"Love is strange," Nana said calmly. "The heart doesn’t always make sense."

"That’s bullshit," Brian snapped. "That marriage is fishy, and you’re pretending not to see it. He’s lying to an entire kingdom just to keep his throne, and that’s not kingly. A real king doesn’t deceive his people."

Before Nana could respond, Brian turned and walked away.

She sighed, staring at the empty space he left behind, then reached for her phone and quickly dialled a number.

***

"Another lap!" Derek’s voice boomed like thunder across the training yard.

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