Page 26 of The Lycan King's Captive

Apparently, that was all over now. Our cold war had gone hot.

Garrick entered and sat in the chair next to Foster’s.

I looked at my steward. “How is she?”

“Fine, as far as I can tell. I told her to stay in her room.”

“Good.” I looked at Foster. “If you ever challenge me in public like that again, I’ll break all your teeth.”

“Fitting,” he said, “since you’ve broken our laws.”

I gripped the arms of my chair. “Abby is my business.”

“No. She’s everyone’s business, Cyrus.” Foster tilted his head, as if I was a mystery he struggled to understand. “Do you really think you can stuff her in a bedroom and everyone will just forget about her? First, you left without telling anyone where you were going. Then you disappeared for weeks. Now you’re back and Garrick says you met with Roman in secret. Your father would have never—”

“Exactly,” I said. “My father would have never met with Roman, or any werewolf alpha.” Some of my anger ebbed. I looked at Garrick because I couldn’t stand seeing Foster’s face as I admitted how stupid I’d been. “I went to Roman to broker peace. He’s the most powerful alpha on the east coast, and he’s been turning wolves left and right. Soon, he’ll have the numbers to overrun us. We can’t beat him in battle. Diplomacy seemed like a wise alternative.”

Foster scoffed. “There is nothing diplomatic about negotiating with a dog.”

“There is when the dog is tearing at your throat,” I snapped. “The werewolves are destroying us. Maybe it’s not kingly to talk with the alphas, but I for one am tired of burying lycans. I want peace.”

Garrick cleared his throat. “What happened in Maine, my lord?”

Memories of the basement flooded me. So many nights of pain and regret. Abby was the only bright spot in that darkness. I’d do whatever I could to shield her from Foster’s hate.

I turned my gaze to his cold blue one. Maybe if he knew how brave she’d been, he would treat her with the respect she deserved. “Roman set me up,” I said bluntly. “I was stupid to go alone, but those were his conditions. He ambushed me. I probably don’t need to go into detail about what happened after that. When things got dire and it looked like I might not survive, he summoned Abby. She’s a doctor. She kept me alive. And Roman bit her. He obviously didn’t expect her to turn.”

Foster’s expression stayed hard. “If Roman sired her, he’ll want her back. The werewolves covet females. And an alpha siring one? He won’t give her up, even if it means coming right to our doors. She’s a threat as long as she’s here.”

Any goodwill I might have felt toward him evaporated. “No one touches Abby. No one.”

He stood. “I’m summoning the council, and we’re putting this situation to the vote. Your pet can’t stay here. She puts us all in danger.”

I was out of my chair so fast it toppled backwards. I snarled over the desk. “Get your fucking votes. They mean nothing to me. I am king here.”

He held my stare. “For now.”

“Is that a threat?”

“It’s an observation. Your father was a realist, my lord. This war will only end when one side is eliminated. It’s werewolves or lycans. And now you’ve brought the enemy into the heart of our territory.” He offered a short bow and left the study.

Garrick waited until Foster’s footsteps had faded. Then he slumped in his chair and gave me a weary look. “I’m so sorry about him showing up today. I know you said to keep him in the dark, but I swear that fucker has a sixth sense. He showed up as I was readying the chopper and prepping the team. He threatened to withhold aid unless I filled him in.”

Fury rose, but I forced it down. It wasn’t Garrick’s fault Foster was a sanctimonious prick.

“Don’t worry about it.” I righted my chair and sat heavily. “Do you think he has the votes?”

Garrick appeared to think it over. “You have the nobles who were loyal to your father, but Foster will make a lot of noise. If he gets a decree, the council could make life unpleasant for Abby.”

“She might be pregnant,” I said bluntly. “With my child.”

Garrick paled.

“Roman…forced the issue.”

Silence reigned for a long moment. Then Garrick swallowed thickly. “The child would be your heir…”

“Yes, which is why Abby isn’t going anywhere, regardless of what the council says.” My blood simmered at the very thought of Foster and his cronies trying to throw her out. “The law is on my side when it comes to a child.”

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