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Kai made it about three or four steps before his feet were knocked out from under him and he crashed to the floor of the balcony, on his back and looking up at the stars. He sensed more than saw Lucas’s big booted foot coming toward him and rolled out of the way, catching only a part of it on his hip. He scrambled back to his feet and only barely managed to miss another kick at his ankles. He backed wildly away and felt the balcony railing at his back. Off balance, he tried to catch himself, but still felt his feet go out from under him. As he fell helplessly backward off the rail, a big hand hauled him back upright and set him on his feet. Lucas’s face pushed down into his, and his body plastered itself to him.
“Don’t fucking move, boy, or I’ll hurt you. ”
“Hurt me?” Kai huffed out a short, harsh laugh. “You’ve damn near killed me as it is. Go ahead. They’ll finish the job anyway. ”
Lucas narrowed his eyes. “Who? What the fuck are you talking about?” His hand clutched the front of Kai’s robe, and he used the grip to haul him only inches from his lips. He shook Kai slightly. “Tell me. ”
“The council doesn’t know. When they do…”
“Then what?” Lucas shook him again. “Tell me, damn you. ”
“They’ll arrest my mother and re-assimilate me. ” He glared up at the alpha. “Isn’t that what you want? Go ahead. Get it over with. ”
Lucas frowned and straightened slowly, pulling Kai with him. He put Kai back on his feet and glared at him for a long moment. “How could that be possible? What do you mean re-assimilate you? What the hells does that mean? The council surely knows about this trickery. You and your mother almost pulled it off too. ”
Kai stared at him silently. He would say no more, and he’d probably already said too much. He raised his head hopelessly and stared into implacable dark eyes. He had to try to save his mother. He had failed her, and the poor women like Merrial who tried to help him all his life would be imprisoned along with her. He felt an almost crushing guilt. “Just…just please don’t blame my mother. It was all my fault. I did it. She just went along with it for me, but it was my idea. I-I know you don’t owe meanything, after all this, but please. ”He took a deep breath, wincing as his ribs protested the move. “Please don’t blame anyone but me. I beg you. ”
Lucas continued to stare down at him, with no sign he’d even heard his plea. He took a step back and blew out a long breath. “Straighten yourself. ”
Kai looked up at him in confusion. “What?”
“I said, straighten yourself. ” He pulled a handkerchief from his pocket. “Wipe the blood from your face and neck. Do it now. ”
Kai took the handkerchief from him and wiped it over his sweaty face, wiping away blood from his lips and nose that he hadn’t even known was there. He pulled the handkerchief down and saw that most of his makeup had come off with
the dirt and blood. He pressed it to the back of his head and winced as a fresh jolt of pain shot through him. Trying to calm his breathing, he pulled at his robe to straighten and close it. It was torn and dirty and all the fastenings were gone, but he did the best he could, holding it closed around himself. His body was still taut with adrenalin and tension coursing through him, but he was thankful that the Lycan had given him a moment to gather himself before he had to face the council.
When he’d done the best he could, he handed the scrap of cloth back to Lucas, but Lucas looked down at it scornfully, then tossed it over his shoulder to the floor. Gripping Kai’s arm, he hauled him toward the council room. Kai tried one more time. “My mother…please. ”
“Shut up,” Lucas snarled and Kai shut his eyes, wincing against the sudden glare of lights from inside the room. Blayde, still stationed by the door of the balcony, goggled at them in shock as they emerged, and a hush fell over the crowd. Both of them were stained and dirty, and looked as if they’d been rolling around on the floor—which they had been, of course, only seconds before.
Queen Ashlan cried out in alarm when she saw Kai and rushed toward them, but before she could reach them, Lucas held up a hand to stop her. “There was a slight accident. The. . . princess is fine. Don’t alarm yourself. ”
Kai blinked and looked up at him in surprise, but he was striding across to the council, pulling Kai with him, his grip strong and sure. He stopped in front of the council’s table and Kai gazed at their shocked faces. Before they could say anything, Lucas’s voice rang out firm and loud. “The wedding between us will take place immediately. I’ve received word that I must get back to my ship right away. Have Kai’s servants prepare her things. We’ll go back to my ship directly after the wedding ceremony. ”
* * * *
The council members stared at Lucas in shocked surprise, but he could feel his family gathering at his back. Lucas faced the Scythians confidently, fully prepared to fight his way out of this chamber and take his mate if he had to.
The members looked to the queen, who stepped forward and held a hand out to Kai. Kai made a move toward her, but Lucas jerked him back by his grip on his elbow. The alpha growled menacingly at his mother, and Kai shook his head at her. Lucas thought he must be concerned for her safety and rightly so. His wolf was angry and restless inside him, urging him to let it free.
He glanced over at Kai and winced when he saw the blood still trickling down the back of his neck. He hadn’t meant to hurt him enough to draw blood, but when his wolf sensed his mate trying to escape, it exerted its dominance in no uncertain terms, and he’d no longer been fully in control. Lucas lifted his head to the queen.
“Does this meet with your approval, Queen Ashlan?”
She wrung her hands a little and glanced at Kai again. “May I speak with Kai first, Alpha?”
“No,” he replied shortly. “Kai is fine, and will remain that way. There’s nothing more you need to know. ”He knew he was being abrupt and rude, but hardly cared. This woman had tried to make a fool of him, no matter what Kai had said, and Lucas’s fierce, unrelenting pride wouldn’t allow him to unbend. He was angry and frustrated. The bond between him and Kai was so strong already, that it made him physically incapable of leaving Kai behind, as his logical mind very much wanted him to do. He felt betrayed by his own body and that stupid curse, and he felt like raging at all of them. It was taking everything in him to control himself at the moment, especially after what had happened between them on the balcony.
He had very nearly fucked Kai out there. Once he felt Kai’s warm cock in his hand and smelled his sweat and arousal, he almost gave in to the strong urge to take him there against the wall, and he wasn’t normally that kind of man. Kai would have to agree to mate with him—he wouldn’t force himself on the boy, no matter how angry he was. A strong wave of lust washed over him again, just thinking of mating with Kai, and he had to clench his fists. Kai cried out softly at the increased pressure on his arm, and he forced himself to back off so he wouldn’t crush the bones under his hand.
“Well?” he asked gruffly. “Are we to have a ceremony or should I just take Kai and leave?”
He could hear the sounds of his family bristling behind him, ready to back his play, but the council members seemed to be in shock. Queen Ashlan stepped up to him, braving his wrath, her eyes flashing in her face.
“Do you guarantee Kai’s safety? Tell me the truth, Lycan. I’m aware of your strength, and I know you can take Kai with you easily. But promise me Kai will be safe, or there will be bloodshed in this chamber tonight. ”
Lucas narrowed his eyes and almost told her exactly what he thought of her and her son, but managed to bite his tongue. He grudgingly admired her fighting spirit. “I guarantee it. My word of honor as a Balenescu. ”
