Unwanted Mate Of The Lycan Kings novel Chapter 98

~Zirah~

After spending the vast majority of the day at Serenity, swimming, eating and lazing around, we headed back to the castle. Yet as we emerge from the tree line, Agatha is waiting for us.

"Aggy?" Lyon smiles, moving toward her. The old woman grins, her face a maze of wrinkles and creases, her eyes a vibrant blue. "Lyon, my Queen," she smiles brightly.

"We were wondering if you'd be joining the rest of us for dinner tonight?" she asks and I glance at Lyon. "Choice is yours," he tells me and I nod, eagerly wanting to see what the city is like at night.

"Of course," I tell her, motioning toward the winding path back to the city center. As we reach the vast space. Children play, their laughter carrying and echoing around us. The adults had come back from the fields, baskets full of fruit and vegetables, men carrying trays of fish they'd caught that day.

Watching, everyone has a job, a task as the area goes from stalls to an outside restaurant, tables, picnic blankets, fur rugs cover every inch of the place. Everyone brings a plate of something to contribute, bringing what they've harvested. Those that didn't bring food brought entertainment, musical instruments, while others cooked. Lyon, just like everyone else, moves to help before I lost sight of him. I help the women, setting up the tables, arranging food, while children played, danced, and sang. Glancing around, the atmosphere was homely. Something I never realized I craved. Something I never realized I'd lived without.

Breads, cheeses, and cold meats covered the tables, along with freshly picked and peeled fruits and vegetables. Bonfires are scattered around the place, kegs of punch and water had jugs passing under them. When Lyon returns with another man and a group of kids carrying wooden platters piled high with grilled fish, I couldn't help but feel a sense of pride seeing him with his people. I realized this was not the man that betrayed my mother, he had truly beaten his sins and morphed into the complete opposite of who he once was. Gone were the days when Lyon desired only wealth and grandeur. Now, he was content with his humble kingdom, dedicating himself to diligence and humility instead of greed and pride. He no longer gave into the temptation of his sins, but showed grace and honor instead.

As the night wore on, the bonfires burned low, and the laughter and chatter died down to a murmur. I found myself sitting next to Lyon on a fur rug, staring up at the star-filled sky. "This is beautiful," I whisper, leaning my head against his shoulder.

Lyon wraps an arm around me, pulling me closer to him. "It is," he agrees, his gaze fixed on the stars. "But not as beautiful as you."

"Maybe I did?" Lyon tells them, scratching his chin. "I don't know," he pulls out his pockets. "I can't feel them, I must have," he declares. All the kids start tugging and pulling at him, knocking him over and they wrestle him to the ground before checking his pockets. His laughter is contagious; so many tiny hands prodding and pulling and I could tell he was ticklish. "Okay, okay, I didn't eat them, I didn't eat them," Lyon calls out.

"See, told ya, Milo," the little girl named Mimi huffs. Her blonde hair pulled into pigtails as she folded her arms across her chest, giving her meanest look, yet somehow appears cuter, not savage. I chuckle when Milo spoke up. "Then where are they? We shook you down and your pockets are empty!" Milo mocks and Lyon smiles deviously.

"You shook me down! You're right, I don't have them....." he tells them, and the kids pout letting him up. His eyes go to mine, crinkling at the edges as he smiles and lifts his finger pointing at me. "She has them," he tells them. Simultaneously, the children all turn their big bright eyes to look at me. "Have what?" I ask, still not having figured out what it is he promised them. When suddenly I see the inner savage that resides in Mimi.

"Get her!" she screams, and my heart soars and eyes widen when suddenly the kids are charging at me.