Defying the Lycan King (Kira and Derek) novel Chapter 262

Chapter 262: Love in the Bathroom

Dawn was just beginning to break over Dravengard when the convoy of cars rolled through the gates, their headlights slowly fading against the pale light creeping up over the horizon.

The courtyard was already full. Word had clearly travelled fast, because Nana stood right at the front of the crowd, arms crossed, her expression somewhere between fury and relief.

Kai and Jessica stood close together, Jessica practically bouncing on her heels. Claire waited a little further back, her hands clasped tightly in front of her, and beside her stood Braxton, arms folded, flanked by a handful of his own men, all of them looking like they hadn’t slept a wink.

The moment Derek stepped out of the car and reached back to help Kira out, the whole courtyard surged forward at once.

"Oh, goddess. What happened out there? Are you all alright?"

Nana was already firing off questions before Kira’s feet had properly touched the ground, her sharp eyes raking over her from head to toe, checking for herself rather than trusting anyone’s word for it.

"How are you?" she demanded, pulling Kira into a tight hug. "We heard what happened at Pinewood. Are you hurt? Is the baby alright?"

Claire reached her next, pulling her into a hug so tight it nearly knocked the breath out of her, then pulled back to look her over properly, hands framing her face, checking her eyes, her colour, everything a mother’s instinct demanded she check.

"Let me see you properly, darling," she said.

"We heard everything," Kai said, walking up to Derek.

"I’m fine," Kira said, laughing despite the exhaustion still weighing on her limbs. "Everyone, honestly, I’m fine. Just tired."

"You’re really alright?" Claire asked softly.

"I promise, Mum. I’m alright."

Braxton hung back through all of it, saying nothing, simply watching his sister with a mixture of relief and frustration.

Only once the fussing had died down a little did he step forward, giving Derek a short, respectful nod.

"Your Grace."

"Alpha Braxton." Derek returned the nod, and something passed between the two men, a silent, knowing look, the kind shared by men who understood exactly how close the night could have gone very differently.

While Nana and Claire went back to gushing over Kira, fixing her hair, fussing over the state of her clothes, Braxton’s voice slid quietly into her mind through the link.

What exactly did you think you were doing, exposing your powers like that?

Kira kept her expression pleasant for the benefit of the fussing women around her, even as she answered him.

I used my power to save people. That’s it.

Save a lot of people. Or save the King?

I saved my husband, Kira shot back, a little sharper now, the father of my child, and every single Lycan who would have died in that courtyard tonight if I hadn’t done something.

Braxton let out a long breath through his nose, visible even from where she stood. You just showed everyone exactly what you are. How could you be that careless? Do you have any idea what happens now?

Kira met her brother’s eyes across the courtyard. Have you ever once wondered why the goddess sent me here in the first place? What use am I to anyone if I never use these powers for what they’re meant for? It’s high time I stopped hiding from everyone, Braxton.

You know exactly why I’m worried, Braxton said, and something in his tone shifted, softer now, edged with old fear. The last Nexus was betrayed by the very man she loved. He used her power for himself.

Derek isn’t going to do that to me.

Before Braxton could answer, Derek’s hand closed gently round Kira’s elbow.

"Alright, that’s enough for tonight," he said aloud, to the whole courtyard. "She needs rest, all of you. There’ll be plenty of time for questions later."

He guided her towards the mansion, and the crowd parted, still murmuring, still watching, as the two of them disappeared inside.

***

Once everyone had drifted off to their own rooms, Braxton found himself pacing back and forth in front of Claire, who sat perfectly still in her chair, watching him with a calm that only seemed to wind him up further.

"She’s going to be the death of me," Braxton muttered, dragging a hand through his hair. He stopped and looked at his mother properly. "How are you so calm about all of this?"

"Because," Claire said simply, "Serene was always going to reveal herself eventually. She couldn’t keep something like this hidden from her own husband forever."

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