Defying the Lycan King (Kira and Derek) novel Chapter 272

Chapter 272: A Reckless Decision

The courtyard had turned into chaos all over again, only this time it wasn’t the Umbras causing it. Derek tore through the crowd with his bare chest marked with dirt and blood from the fight, his suit jacket and shirt lost somewhere, his trousers the only thing on him.

He shoved past gammas and Lunas alike, his voice tearing out of him raw and desperate.

"Kira!" he roared, voice cutting across the noise. "Kira!"

No one answered him, just the low murmur of a hundred shaken people trying to make sense of an attack that had ended as strangely as it began.

He reached for the mind-link again, throwing everything he had into it, calling her name down that link that had never once failed him, but it came back hollow.

He stayed calm, focusing on the link and urging Leo to focus on Kira’s scent, but even with that, he couldn’t pick up her scent or a pulse of hers. His heart began to pound heavily against his ribcage.

"Kira!" he roared again, spinning in a full circle, scanning every face again.

That was when he noticed that Viktor was nowhere in the crowd either. He had seen him earlier in the hall today. Something cold slid down Derek’s spine, and his whole body went rigid.

"Viktor," he growled. "Where is Viktor?"

No one answered as everyone looked around. A gamma nearby shook his head quickly.

"We haven’t seen him since the attack started, Your Grace."

Derek’s eyes flashed gold as Leo pushed hard against the surface, desperate to break free and start tearing the courtyard apart with his bare hands. "Find him. Search every bush, every tree, every inch of this territory. Bring the bastard back to me."

The gammas scattered at once, crashing into the surrounding bushes, checking the tree line, the side paths, every possible hiding place.

Derek paced in tight, furious circles while he waited, his fists clenching and unclenching at his sides, his breathing coming too fast, too shallow. Minutes dragged past like hours. One by one, the gammas returned, and one by one, they shook their heads.

There was no sign of him or any sign of her.

Derek’s control frayed further and he began to pace like a man who had lost his mind, his hands clenched and unclenched at his sides, shoulders rolling with the effort of holding Leo back.

Near the steps of the hall, Claire had sunk to her knees on the stone, sobbing into her hands, her whole body shaking with it, while Braxton crouched beside her, one arm wrapped tight around her shoulders, murmuring soft words that did nothing to stop the tears.

Derek stopped pacing only long enough to turn on Kai.

"I told you," he snarled. "I told you I never trusted that bloody tutor. I fucking knew he was up to no good!"

My Dearest Derek,

If you’re reading this, I’ve probably already been taken. Please don’t panic when you get to that part. I need you to keep reading first.

I think Viktor’s here to take me. I’ve felt something off about him for a while now, and today just confirmed it. I’m not running from the Umbras anymore, Derek. I’m done letting them chase me around like I’m something to be hidden away. Whatever I’m doing right now, might seem very reckless, but I promise you it isn’t reckless. I’ve thought this through.

The bracelet he gave me wasn’t ordinary. I could feel it the moment I put it on my wrist, something underneath the metal that didn’t sit right. That’s why I asked Jessica to have a matching one made. The one on my wrist right now is hers. This one, the real one, is the one I’m leaving with you.

I didn’t tell you what I was planning because I know you, and I know you would have locked me in a room and thrown away the key before letting me anywhere near the Shadow King. But I have to do this. I need you ready to bring him down in four days. I’ll find a way to send you a signal when it’s time.

I love you. Trust me.

Kira

Derek’s mouth fell open. The paper trembled between his fingers, and every last drop of colour drained out of his face.

Kai’s brow furrowed and he asked, "What’s that? What is written there?"

Derek shut his eyes. "Oh, Kira, you this infuriating woman."