Unwanted Mate Of The Lycan Kings (by jessica hall) novel Chapter 97

~Lyon~

The next day.

I glanced sideways at Zirah, her mesmerizing gaze scanned the horizon of my kingdom. There was a vibrancy about her, an energy that seemed to reflect onto the landscape, making it seem more alive, more inviting. And yet, the insecurity gnawing at my insides was hard to ignore.

Will she like it here? Could she accept the simplicity of my world?

We moved towards the outskirts of the city where I'd planned for a picnic, an opportunity for Ziarah to soak in the everyday life of my people. My kingdom may lack in luxuries, but it doesn't fail in providing a sense of community, warmth, and belonging and no one goes without.

"So, is it always like this?" Zirah asked, pointing to where everyone had converged in the city center, everyone pulling up chairs or lazing about while snacking from the grazing tables. "Yes, we are the produce kingdom, we have most of the farms here, along with a huge salmon farm. We supply the other kingdoms with fresh produce in exchange for what we need, everything is then shared amongst the kingdom." I explained as she picked up a piece of watermelon.

"So you eat most meals together?" she asked and I nodded. "Every night, I would have brought you here last night, but didn't want to overwhelm you on your first night here," I told her. "This place is overwhelming," she admitted. "But for all the right reasons," she added, just as Agatha approached us.

She was one of the locals, an elderly woman with a twinkle in her eyes. "My King," she nodded, handing me a basket full of food and a blanket. "You should take your Queen to visit Serenity, I hear it's warm at the moment,"

"I will think about it, Aggy," I told her. Serenity - our local secret, a serene waterfall that has been the source of leisure and joy for my people since we discovered it. It is in the mountain behind the castle, but the water is always unusually warm, like hot springs. Zirah turned to me, her eyes filled with an eagerness I can't deny. "What's Serenity, Lyon?" The woman smiled fondly and I chuckled.

"I guess I better show you then," I told her.

My kingdom may not be grand, but we've thrived on our ability to live with the essentials and nothing more. Everyone has a place, a role and no one goes without. I hope Zirah understands this essence of what I am trying to build here. This is my redemption for my sins, the only way I knew how.

Grabbing her hand, I pull her toward the forest. The sun is shining bright overhead, and a gentle breeze ruffles through the leaves as we walk through the forest. I can feel Zirah's excitement growing with every step we take. Her hand is warm in mine, and I find myself staring at her fingers, admiring their delicate beauty.

We soon reach the base of the mountain, where we start to climb up rocky terrain. Zirah is athletic and nimble on her feet, and she climbs up with ease which makes me want to ask her what it was like to grow up in a cave. I try to keep up with her, but she moves too quickly for me sometimes.

As we climb higher and higher, the forest becomes denser, and the canopy above thickens. Eventually, we reach a clearing where sunlight filters down through the branches of trees, casting shadows on the ground.