Traded To The Lycan King by MG Wattsons
Chapter 94

Chapter 94 *Merikh*

Caspian groans as he lowers himself against some rubble, his hand on his back and a wince on his face. It's clear he is injured, but the stubborn fool won't allow anyone to look at the injury. Not that any of us can heal him, but assessing it is probably better than hoping for the best.

"How bad is it?" I ask. He looks away and sighs heavily.

"It is not life threatening, I don't think. Just painful." He admits. "I didn't see him sneaking up on me."

"Yeah, well, it was chaotic, and they got me good, too." I give him a reassuring smile. “It was highly unlikely we would all make it out of here uninjured."

Caspian snorts and nods his head in agreement.

"If we are lucky, we will all make it out of here alive.” He amends my statement.

"I have no intention of losing anyone, Caspian." I tell him. "Not if I can help it."

"That is comforting." He smirks.

"How long do we have to stay here?" Percy asks, pacing as if he is looking for his next hit.

He has been on edge since he joined us, but this is a whole new level of it. Percy looks like he may take off on his own one moment or break down in tears the next. He is struggling hard, but I need him to focus. We all need to be one step ahead this time.

"Sit down, Percy" I insist. He physically frowns, his nose scrunching as he follows my command, but not terribly willingly.

"Are you sure she said to stay here and wait for her?" He asks, his knee popping up and down as he lifts his bloodied hands and behind to chew on his nails.

"Percy." I say sternly, commanding his attention as he seems to snap out of his mind and looks at me. "Are you questioning me?"

His eyes grow

wide and he swallows roughly as he shakes his head no.

"We will be fighting again soon enough, Perc. You just need to be patient." Hayes assures him and Percy drags his hands through his hair, his face looking away.

"Are you sure it was even Colette?" Hayes asks, sitting next to me. I frown at him and he gives me a pitiful look. "It's a fair question and you know it."

He has a point, and I hate that I never even took the time to consider it. Lily has gotten in Colette's head before using her memories to distort her dreams. Granted, that is a usual practice of dream walkers, but who is to say Lily hasn't twisted the magic she uses? What keeps her from doing what she wants when laws and order mean nothing to her now?

But when I recall the sound of her voice in my head, the way she felt like her. It was more than just someone in my head using her against me. It was the full bond, the way I could feel her, and I knew she could feel me. The way I still feel her now, even with this distance. It's a nagging in the back of my brain that screams, this is real.

"It is Colette, I am certain." I say, giving him an annoyed look.

"Unless it is Colette being controlled." Caspian offers, and I scoff.

"I am willing to bet my life that she is in control of her own mind and actions and that it is her." I tell them emphatically. "There is nothing I know better than Colette in this world."

"I say we send out one of us to go lurk around," Percy says. Hayes laughs and shakes his head and I look at Leandra, who seems distant sitting across from us, her knees tucked to her chest with her arms wrapped tightly around them.

"And I suppose you want to volunteer as tribute, huh?" Hayes asks Percy.

"I am the best option." He says matter of fact. Their quibble fades to the background as I reach out to Colette, just needing to hear her voice again. That reassurance she is safe, for real. My lycan stirs, whining as we wait for her response, even though we can feel that she is able to hear and process what I want from her.

-Soon-She says, her words echoing in my mind as my eyes fall closed and a smile flashes over my lips. My heart races at her voice, my stomach knotting as if I am a fool waiting outside the princesses tower for her to run away with him.

-Not soon enough-I tell her and she chuckles.

-Prince Teiran is getting things prepared for our escape. It won't be long, only a few hours.-- she says.

-Are you sure you trust him?-- I ask her and I feel her hesitation.

-Trust is a strong word. But I have faith his hatred for Giselle will win out against anything else. He will come through.-- She says and I frown.

I would prefer to be doing this with some trusted individual who wasn't a prince of the species holding my mate captive and torturing her. But I guess beggars can't be choosers.

-Did

you

replace her?-- She asks, her voice soft, broken, and I know immediately she is referring to Penny.

-We did,-- I tell her,-Percy is, of course, taking it hard.--

"You are talking to her right now, aren't you?" Percy asks, leaning forward. "Does that mean it is time to go? I'm ready."

"It is not go time yet," I tell him, pressing my lips together.

-They came out of nowhere-She whispers, remembering it all.

-We can talk about this in person, so I can hold you while you mourn her-I breathe and I can hear her quiet hum of approval.-Any news of what you need from us next?-- -Merikh they know you are here. They knew it the second you hit their lands. What I need from you is a distraction-

I look at Percy, who seems incapable of sitting still. The over at Hayes, who is holding onto Leandra's hand even if she tries to take it away. It's obvious she enjoys clinging to him, but she clearly is uncomfortable with the affection. Then I glance at Caspian, who watches me with curious eyes.

-I think we can manage a distraction. How big?-- I ask her.

I can feel a tingle of amusement through the link.

-As big as your love for me?-- She asks, and I chuckle to myself.

-I hope you are prepared-

-I will be in touch soon-She says suddenly before I feel her just out of reach.

I press my head to the back of the crumbling rocks and exhale, dragging my hand over my face before looking down and checking out my leg. The burn is still as angry as it was before and I frown at it, confused why it hasn't healed yet.

"True dragon burns don't heal quickly." Leandra says softly. "We learned that quickly while being here."

"They used to hurt you?” Hayes asks, his rage unmistakable. She shakes her head.

"Yes, and no." She shrugs before her cheeks grow pink in embarrassment. "It's complicated. Most of the dragons aren't awful. They don't like us much, but they aren't all violent and 

mean."

"Which means some of them are."

"Hayes, now is not the time." I say, pushing myself up to stand. "Right now, we need to plan a distraction. Which means we need a plan.”

"What kind of distraction?" Percy asks, sitting forward, excited.

"The kind that brings all the heat our way." I say. "Though it was requested, we make it as big as we can get "Explosion?" Percy asks, fully invested in the destruction of anything pertaining to the people who killed Penny.

it.

"They are dragons, Percy. An explosion is common for them." I say, my brows knitting together in thought. "We need all of their attention on us." "With my injury, I can only muster a flood."

I think of the travels here, the way the jungle was so full of life and water, humidity, everything Caspian needed to be in his best shape. Then we entered this fiery pit and he can barely heal. Then it strikes me.

“Would it be easier if you could divert a river or water source this way?" I ask him and he tilts his head, his eyes closing as he seems to be in heavy concentration.

"Percy, you and I will march straight to the entrance of their little castle, and cause a little scene." I say, a plan forming in my mind, and Percy stands, rubbing his hands in excitement. "Hell yes. I am all for this."

"There is a body of water. I can divert this way." Caspian says, "Though it would be easier to do if I were in the water source."

“And what the hell do we do?” Hayes scoffs. “I refuse to stand aside and do nothing."

"Oh, I have a job for you, too." I grin at him and he arches a brow curiously.

"You are going to give Caspian a ride to the water, and Leandra will go with you." I say, trying not to laugh.

"Oh, fucking great. I'm a pony boy now," he grumbles.

"Once

you get him there, I want you to hustle your ass to me and Percy. We will have literal hell fire raining down on us." "And how do we get out?" Leandra asks.

"Good question." I say, avoiding giving her an answer I don't quite have yet. "Anyone else have any?"