The Alpha King Marked Me. I Still Haven't Told Him I'm A Girl novel Chapter 161

Chapter 161: Extra Chapters (Valka & Lucien) XIII

Valka

For a long time, I don’t move. I just stare at Lucien. "You can’t be serious. That is Rafael’s daughter--"

He cups my cheeks. He does this every time I am this close to losing my cool. He tracks every movement of my eyes with his. "I know that--"

I jerk my chin from his warm hands. "If you did, if you understood the gravity of the situation, you would have spoken to me about it first. Asked me if I was fine with it. You plan on riding out and returning with the child of a man that tortured me. You will bring her here and I will see her everyday and remember..." My voice breaks off.

"I’m sorry," he says, shifting forward. "I planned on scoping the truth of the situation first. If I didn’t have to, I didn’t want to place the burden on your shoulders. It took years to get over it, the nightmares, the trauma. I thought it best to hold off on possibly triggering you unless I knew for sure that the situation was inevitable, and I see now that I was being an airhead. I’m sorry."

He kisses the tip of my nose. And then my cheeks. And then my ears. It’s hard, I’ve realized, to stay mad at Lucien.

Perhaps, it is because he’s old as shit, but he always knows the right things to say and do when I’m agitated. It makes for easy conflict resolution.

I sigh. "When are we leaving?"

He tilts his head. "You mean when am ’I’ leaving? Because you’re staying here, Valka. I will go. You will stay. And no, this is not an argument."

My lips press firm. "I’m not letting you walk off into possible enemy territory alone. And I dare you to give me that order and see where it gets you. If I am to take in her child, I must see her and speak with her first." His eyes narrow, but he says nothing. "The children will be fine with Margot for a couple of days. We need the break anyway. It’s been years since we’ve been alone. Just us."

That last bit seems to be the only part of what I said that he likes. Pervert. "But we have to tell Evadne---"

"Tell me what? And please, put your fucking clothes on, children."

Lucien and I jerk towards the doorway where Evadne stands with Drustan still sitting on her hips, chewing on the dyed streaks at the ends of her hair. Her blue eyes flick back and forth between us and it hurts me to know I’m about to strip her of that carefree smile. "It’s Astrea."

***

We all end up riding out. Me, Lucien, Evadne, Sebastian. We brought the children along because Drustan and Jessamine just wouldn’t have it that they were being left behind. Asterin very well didn’t care, more interested in the puzzle he was fixing up, breaking it apart only to restart and reset it in many different ways throughout the ride.

Tristan, however, couldn’t stop trying to jump out of the carriage. I have no idea what it is that makes him always so euphoric, but holding Tristan automatically makes you feel like life shouldn’t be difficult. It’s in the way he cups my cheeks and giggles, eyes twinkling with delight. And then he’d gnaw on my skin like it’s candy and squeal excitedly if I so much as breathed. It’s like he is deeply amused by everything, as though experiencing even the things he was used to with new eyes.

I was tempted to hand him to Evadne, who hasn’t spoken a word to anyone since we told her Astrea was dying, just so he could rub off some of his giddiness onto her. She took the news in stride with an "Oh" and left abruptly. And when she reappeared with Sebastian at the carriage, her nose was slightly reddened and her eyes puffy. Sebastian didn’t look any better. His nose was broken and he had a split lip. And I could only guess who had gifted him that. Though, Lucien and I knew better than to interfere or ask questions.

***

Cyrus looks... older. Weary.

It’s only been a few years since he became king but he looks like he’s been wearing that crown for a long time and wishes to be rid of it. His blue eyes are as sharp as ever, but there are dark circles underneath them. His hair is less glossy and looks like it hasn’t seen a brush in ages.

He is still an attractive man, but he looks very... human.

Sometimes, we Lycans tend to forget what a blessing it is that we can all still look younger, even when we’re exhausted. That a simple smile is enough to hide that we’re falling apart. Humans don’t have that luxury. They wear it all on their faces, and it leaves marks. Their grief, their fatigue, their happiness. It always leaves a mark on them.

Cyrus smiles, his black cape billowing out behind him. "I’m happy you could make it."

He won’t look me in the eye, not even when he nods, "Lyra."

I guess that friendship is gone. I’m not mad at him anymore, but I suppose that doesn’t account for the guilt he’ll always feel when he looks at me. Either way, it’s really not my problem.

Lucien has an infuriating smug smile on his face and I can tell what he’s thinking. "I’m amazing. I know."

VERIFYCAPTCHA_LABELVerify