Defying the Lycan King (Kira and Derek) novel Chapter 266

Chapter 266: Drawn Lines

Derek stood at the floor-to-ceiling window with his arms crossed over his chest, watching the gazebo out on the lawn where Kira sat with Viktor, as they went through university notes and a laptop on the table between them.

Kai stood beside him, hands clasped behind his back, following his cousin’s gaze.

"He vanished for two whole days," Derek said, not taking his eyes off the pair below. "No word, no explanation. And now here he is, strolling back in with his little laptop as though nothing happened." His jaw tightened. "You’ve had your look at him. So tell me. What do you see?"

Kai let out a slow breath, watching Viktor lean slightly towards Kira as she frowned in concentration at the screen.

"Honestly? The man’s a bit of a puzzle. There’s something about him that doesn’t sit right, I’ll give you that."

He tilted his head. "But if you’re asking me what my gut says, the strongest thing I get off him isn’t danger. It’s that the poor sod is head over heels in love with your wife."

A low growl rolled up out of Derek’s chest. "Then I’ll kill him before he so much as breathes the thought out loud, I’ll kill him."

"There he is," Kai said dryly. "The composed, level-headed King everyone speaks so highly of."

"I’m serious, Kai."

"I know you are. That’s the worrying part." Kai clapped a hand on his shoulder. "Look. He’s human and harmless in a fight. And Kira clearly has zero interest in him beyond her studies. If anyone’s going to send that man packing, it’ll be her, not you. So do us all a favour and keep your claws where they belong."

Derek said nothing. He just kept watching, his eyes fixed on the man sitting far too close to who was his.

***

Out in the gazebo, Viktor wasn’t really looking at the laptop at all. He was watching Kira, the way her brow furrowed when she concentrated, the little movement of her lips as she read.

"Can I ask you something?" he said quietly.

"Mm." Kira didn’t look up. "As long as it’s about the assignment."

"It’s not." Viktor hesitated, then pressed on anyway. "Why did you come back here, Kira? To this place. After everything you told me?"

Kira’s fingers paused on the keyboard.

"I’m scared for you," Viktor went on, his voice low and earnest. "I am. I don’t trust the King, I never have. And I keep thinking, if you’re not happy here, if you ever feel trapped, we could just go. Both of us. Anywhere you wanted. You wouldn’t have to stay a second longer than you—"

"Viktor." Kira finally turned to look at him, her voice gentle but firm. "I trust Derek completely. And I need you to stop talking about my husband like that. Please."

Viktor’s face fell. "Your husband?"

"We’re back together," she said, returning her gaze to the laptop.

"I’m sorry," Viktor said. "I only ever meant to look out for you. That’s all."

Kira sighed. Then, slowly, she reached up and lifted her hair away from the side of her neck, tilting her head so he could see the crescent moon, cradled by its scatter of tiny stars.

"Do you see this?" she said softly. "In the shifter world, this mark means our bond is sealed permanently. There’s no undoing it, and I wouldn’t want to."

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