Unwanted Mate Of The Lycan Kings
Prey Of The Lycan Queen Chapter 23

~Zirah~

After spending the vast majority of the day at Serenity, swimming, eating and lazing around, weheaded 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 andcreases, 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 atLyon. "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 thevast space. Children play, their laughter carrying and echoing around us. The adults had come backfrom 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 tocontribute, 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 lostsight 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 andvegetables. Bonfires are scattered around the place, kegs of punch and water had jugs passingunder them. When Lyon returns with another man and a group of kids carrying wooden platterspiled high with grilled fish, I couldn't help but feel a sense of pride seeing him with his people. Irealized this was not the man that betrayed my mother, he had truly beaten his sins and morphedinto the complete opposite of who he once was. Gone were the days when Lyon desired only wealthand grandeur. Now, he was content with his humble kingdom, dedicating himself to diligence andhumility instead of greed and pride. He no longer gave into the temptation of his sins, but showedgrace and honor instead.

As the night wore on, the bonfires burned low, and the laughter and chatter died down to amurmur. I found myself sitting next to Lyon on a fur rug, staring up at the star-filled sky. "This isbeautiful,” 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 thestars. "But not as beautiful as you.”

I blush at his words, feeling a warmth spread through my body when some children came over tous. Lyon sits up on one elbow, looking up at them, their faces smeared with dirt, yet smiles bright ontheir faces. "Did you bring them?" one boy asks him and Lyon chuckles.

"Don't I always?" he asks, and the two boys and a little girl smile brightly. One boy with sparklinggreen eyes spins around, looking behind him. "He did bring them, I told ya, I told ya!" the boyteases, when suddenly we are rushed at by dozens of children. "Who doubted me?" Lyon asks,placing his hands on his hips and giving them a mock scolding look. He clicks his tongue waiting foran answer when a group of boys come over.

"Milo, did," the little girl spoke up. She must be around seven. "Did he now, Mimi?" Lyon asks her.She nods eagerly, looking up at him. "So can I have his?" she asks.

Lyon pulls me to my feet before I am accidently trampled by storming little feet as children rush athim from every direction, he grabs his bag he had with him, pulling the strap over my head andsitting it on my shoulder. The bag is heavy and I glance at him, but he smiles slyly. I am tempted tolook in the bag to see what causes such weight, but he addresses the children.

"Since when have I failed to bring them back from the kingdom?" he asks another boy, who Iassume was this Milo. "But you didn't come down last night for dinner," he shrugs innocently.

"So you assumed I didn't bring them?" Lyon asks him. "He said you ate them," the little girl laughs,the boy hisses for her to be quiet but she sticks her tongue out at him.

"Maybe I did?" Lyon tells them, scratching his chin. "I don't know," he pulls out his pockets. "I can'tfeel them, I must have," he declares. All the kids start tugging and pulling at him, knocking him overand they wrestle him to the ground before checking his pockets. His laughter is contagious; somany 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 shefolded her arms across her chest, giving her meanest look, yet somehow appears cuter, not savage. Ichuckle when Milo spoke up. "Then where are they? We shook you down and your pockets areempty!" 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 himup. His eyes go to mine, crinkling at the edges as he smiles and lifts his finger pointing at me. "Shehas 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 seethe inner savage that resides in Mimi.

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