Defying the Lycan King (Kira and Derek) novel Chapter 87

Chapter 87: The Traitor’s Daughter

Alistar was already waiting in front of the beach house when their car rolled to a stop, a group of warriors from the lower villages standing silently behind him. They weren’t in suits like the guards at the banquet; these men looked rugged, holding silver weapons that gleamed under the moonlight. Alistar stepped forward the moment Derek opened the car door, holding out a thick robe.

Derek took it, pulling it over his blood-stained shirt, but his eyes were already scanning the dark perimeter of the property. "Alistar," he called out, his voice rasping. "Take the Queen inside. I want every door locked, and I mean every single one. Do not open for anyone until I return."

Kira climbed out of the car, clutching Derek’s suit jacket tighter around her shoulders. She watched as Derek turned and led the rest of the men toward the beach.

Her stomach twisted with worry. She turned to Alistar. "Where is he going?" she asked.

"The King just wants to make sure the grounds around the beach house are truly safe, Your Highness," Alistar replied, and gestured toward the front door. "Please, let us get you inside."

They moved into the warm glow of the kitchen, where Flora was already standing by the stove, brewing a pot of tea. The moment the older woman saw them, she rushed over, her hands reaching out to clutch Kira’s cold fingers. Flora’s eyes moved quickly from head to toe, worry etched deep into every line of her face.

"Oh, my dear! Are you alright?" Flora asked. "The King called ahead... he told us what happened. You poor thing."

Kira gave her a tired smile and squeezed the older woman’s hands. "I’m fine, Flora. Really. Just a few scratches."

Flora did not look convinced. She quickly draped a soft, warm blanket over Kira’s shoulders. "You must be freezing. Come, sit down."

As Kira sank onto a kitchen stool, Alistar moved through the house. She watched him go from door to door, checking the windows, the terrace doors, and finally the service entrance, ensuring the house was sealed like a fortress.

Flora handed Kira a hot cup of tea, the steam rising in gentle curls and carrying the soothing scent of chamomile and honey. Kira wrapped her fingers around the mug, letting the heat seep into her palms.

She took a slow sip, the tea warming her from the inside. She looked at Alistar as he returned to the kitchen. "How is this possible?" Kira asked, her brow furrowed. "I thought King Maurice wiped the Umbras out years ago. How are they back?"

Alistar checked the last window, then came and leaned against the counter, his expression darkening as he shook his head slowly. "Even though King Maurice led a great purge, it is far too easy to raise another army of those things, Your Highness."

Kira frowned, holding the warm cup closer to her chest. "How?"

Alistar sat down on the stool opposite her. "King Maurice was a great warrior, but he wasn’t a Nexus," Alistar explained.

"Only a Nexus has the power to truly destroy the essence of the Shadow King. Maurice didn’t kill him; he only managed to bind his powers and scatter his followers. There was never any guarantee that every Umbra was gone."

"Those creatures can assume the bodies and shapes of their victims. They have likely been lying low for decades, hiding in plain sight within the packs."

Kira felt a cold knot form in her stomach. "What’s prompting them to come out now, then?"

Alistar sighed. "There are only two explanations. Either they have caught the scent of a new Nexus and are searching for it... or someone is using them as a weapon against the Lycans."

His fingers tap nervously on the island. "The Umbras need a Nexus. To unbind their King, his blood must be merged with the power of a Nexus. If that happens, he could rule over everything—Lycans, werewolves, humans, again."

He shook his head slowly. "It would be the end of the world as we know it. That power must never fall into his hands, or any evil hands for that matter. It would be a catastrophe for everyone."

Kira tried to process his words. "But how would they even know a Nexus is available? How could they find them?"

"A Nexus reaches its full potential at a certain age," Alistar replied.

"That is when the powers truly begin to manifest, and when they do, it’s like a beacon to those shadow wolves. They are drawn to that energy. They will keep searching until they find what they need."

VERIFYCAPTCHA_LABELVerify