Defying the Lycan King (Kira and Derek) novel Chapter 8

Chapter 8: Saving Face

"How much is he paying you?"

Brian spun Kira around and shoved her back against the cold wall. Pain exploded across her whip marks, and bit down hard on a gasp, refusing to let him see how much it hurt. Her vision swam; she felt light-headed, her legs shaky, but she stayed upright through sheer stubbornness.

"I have no idea what you’re talking about," she muttered, trying to keep her voice steady.

He studied her for a long moment, amber eyes narrowed, as if he could peel the truth off her face just by staring. "I’ll double whatever he’s paying you to leave this pack and never come back."

"Excuse me?" Kira blinked, wide-eyed and innocent.

She had heard their exchange in the ballroom to know exactly what he meant.

And yes, she currently hated Derek with the intensity of seven suns, but she wasn’t about to hand this smug cousin proof that the marriage was fake. Worse than fake. She had been dragged here against her will. Compared to Brian and that creepy Uncle Crane, Derek suddenly felt like the safer monster.

"Don’t play stupid, runt," Brian snapped.

Bingo, Kira thought. He’s got a temper. She decided to poke him a little. "Maybe you should use clearer words? I’m clearly too ’dumb’ to understand your implications."

Brian gave her a sneaky, fox-like smile. "I see why he picked you. He must have been really desperate to choose someone like you."

"What can I say?" Kira shrugged. "I’m a lucky girl, and clearly his best option."

Brian laughed, but it wasn’t a happy sound. "Don’t get ahead of yourself. Derek only married you so he could keep his throne."

"So?" Kira acted like she already knew. "He’s the man I love. If our marriage helps him out, I’m happy to help."

"You think you’re so smart," Brian sneered. "You’re just a pathetic, weak, runt, he’s using to spite me. You can’t seriously believe a King would marry a wolfless idiot for love?"

Those words cut through Kira, crumbling her resolve. They were the exact same ones her father hurled at her whenever he felt like twisting the knife. For a second her mask slipped; something raw flickered behind her eyes. But she refused to show Brian just how much he had hurt her or how scared she was right now. She just gave a casual shrug.

"If thinking that helps you sleep well at night, by all means go for it." She pushed herself off the wall, ignoring the fire in her back. "Now, if you’ll excuse me, I have a wedding party to get back to."

She started walking away. Her heart was thumping against her ribs like a trapped bird. She kept waiting for him to grab her or hit her, but he just stood there.

"I always get what I want!" Brian called out behind her.

Kira kept her head high and didn’t look back. Suddenly, the door at the end of the hall swung open, and she stopped dead.

"I still can’t believe he went through with it," another woman, called Sasha, whispered, sipping her champagne. "A werewolf? She doesn’t even have a presence. She’s practically... invisible."

Another woman, Cressida, younger and more eager still, hurried to fill the silence. "But surely this must only be politics? Everyone knows you were the one expected to be at his side. His Grace had eyes only for you and..." She trailed off, glancing at Ruby for approval.

Ruby’s eyes stayed on Kira. "Ladies, he is a King. He is playing a role. The Council has been breathing down his neck for an heir and a stable border for years. I’m sure he did this to spite them. If he has to put a ring on a stray dog to keep the elders quiet, he’ll do it. I’m not worried about a placeholder."

"You’re right," Mia chimed in, eager to please. "I mean, look at her. She was clinging to his arm like she was afraid she’d trip on her own feet. She looked terrified."

"She should be terrified," Sasha said. "She’s sitting in a seat that doesn’t belong to her. Ruby is the right queen to sit beside the King. She has earned it."

Cressida hesitated, then ventured, "Do you think the King will set her aside? I mean, if he could throw this elaborate wedding just for her..."

Ruby turned her head slowly, regarding Cressida with the mild interest one might give a child who had just asked something adorably naïve. "He will. King Derek Wolfe is a very difficult man to be with, and she will flee like the others."

Although Ruby can’t tell the reason why Derek had suddenly decided to marry a wolfless girl, she tried to save her face with the other women.

"Hey, ladies," a deep male voice said.