Defying the Lycan King

Chapter 245: Affection That Makes Her Careless

Derek finally wrapped up in his private study, feeling exhausted from a long day of political negotiations and his official speech to the werewolves. Desperate for a bit of hydration, he made his way down the stairs to the kitchen to take some water.

He grabbed a cold bottle from the fridge, intending to head straight back upstairs to get some sleep, when a sudden sliver of brightness caught his attention. One of the secondary studies down the hall still had its light on.

Curiosity overrode his fatigue. He walked quietly towards the half-open door, peered inside, and found Kira inside, seated at the desk, staring intently at the computer in front of her, several books fanned open around her.

She was so completely absorbed that she didn’t so much as glance up when he appeared in the doorway. Derek stood there a while, just watching her. The little crease between her brows when she concentrated, the way she chewed absently on the end of a pen.

He debated whether to go in or simply leave her be, since she’d made it painfully clear she didn’t want him suffocating her with his constant presence.

Just as he was about to turn away, Kira yawned, throwing her arms over her head in a long stretch, and a voice crackled out from the phone propped beside her.

"Have you eaten anything at all today?"

Derek recognised Jessica’s voice on the other end. They had been on a call.

Kira let out a tired sigh, slumping back into her office chair. "I’ll grab some fried plantain and grilled chicken after I finish this research. Something quick. I’m fine, Jess, stop fussing."

Derek didn’t wait to hear the rest. He went straight to the kitchen and began searching the pantry for what she wanted. He rummaged through shelves and drawers, but there wasn’t a single ripe plantain in the entire palace kitchen.

He stood there for a long moment, bottle of water still in hand, genuinely stumped. Then he made up his mind.

He walked out of the main mansion, crossed the grounds to the treelines. Then, he stripped off his clothes, stuffed them in a small leather bag and shifted into his Lycan, not wanting to draw attention by using a car. He ran all the way to the store at the edge of town, and got everything she needed.

By the time he came back, Kira was still in the study, more books open now, typing away, the glow of the screen washing over her tired face. Derek slipped into the kitchen, cooked the meal himself, arranged it on a tray, and carried it in.

Kira caught the aroma before she saw him. She inhaled deeply, her eyes fluttering, then turned in her chair, and there was Derek, walking in with a tray of exactly what she’d been craving. Her whole face lit up, her smile breaking wide and bright.

Derek smiled back, his heart doing a happy lift as he crossed the room, setting the tray down on the coffee table.

"Wow," Kira breathed. She rose from the desk. "Bye, Jess, I’ll call you back," she said quickly into the phone, then padded over to the sofa.

"Hey," Derek said.

"Hey." Kira sat down.

She looked at the meal, then back up at him. "How did you even know I was craving this? Did you install a listening device in my brain?"

Derek chuckled lightly and shrugged. "I overheard you."

"I didn’t even think you were around."

"I got back not long ago," he said. "I finally rendered my formal apology speech to the werewolves."

Kira shifted, tucking a leg under herself. "How did it go?"

Derek shrugged again. "Not all of them were buying it; plenty are still angry. And honestly, I don’t blame a single one of them. If I were in their place, I wouldn’t forgive me easily either."

Kira sighed. "It’s not really your fault. I believe they’ll come around eventually. These things take time."

"I hope so." He nodded toward the tray. "Enjoy your meal." And he began to turn away.

"Hold up, hold up." Kira raised an eyebrow. "Where do you think you’re going?"

Derek stopped, looking mildly confused. "I thought I’d give you space to enjoy your food in peace."

Kira scrunched up her nose. "You still aren’t romantic, are you?"

Derek’s brows drew together, and he stared at her quizzically, genuinely baffled, as he tried to understand what she was hinting at. "What do you mean?"

Kira sighed dramatically, rolling her eyes as she patted the empty cushion right beside her. "You brought the food for me and were seriously going to just leave me to eat all alone like some sad little goblin in a cave? You should sit down and feed me, Derek. I might start liking you."

Derek grinned. "I am very, very capable of doing that," he murmured, his voice rich and deep.

And something in his grin cracked Kira’s walls, and she couldn’t help but stare at him absently as he settled down beside her on the sofa and picked up the spoon. The familiar warmth of their proximity instantly sent a pleasant jolt through the bond.

Kira exhaled through her mouth, taking up her walls once again and then smiled as if she had felt nothing.

"You know," Kira said as he scooped up the first bite, "for a man who ran a whole kingdom by the age of twenty-eight, you’re surprisingly bad at the simple things. Feeding a woman, bringing flowers. The basics."

"I’ll have you know I brought food across an entire town tonight," Derek said, holding the spoon to her lips.

She took the bite, chewed, and pointed the now-empty air where the spoon had been. "In your fur? That’s very dignified. The great Lycan King, moonlighting as a plantain delivery service."

Derek nearly choked. "I did not tell you that part."

"You didn’t have to," Kira smirked. "There’s a leaf in your hair, Your Grace."

Derek’s hand flew up to his head before he could stop himself.

Kira burst out laughing. "There isn’t. But thank you for confirming that detail." She met his gaze. "I truly appreciate it, Derek."

They stayed like that staring at each other for a moment too long. Derek was the first to catch himself, drawing in a sharp breath, and loaded the spoon again.

"Eat your food before I change my mind about the whole romantic-servant business."

"You won’t." Kira leaned in for the next bite, then paused, eyeing him. "You like this, don’t you?"

Derek frowned. Like what?"

"Fussing over me. Admit it."

"I admit nothing," Derek said, but the corner of his mouth had betrayed him entirely, curving up despite himself, and for a moment the exhaustion and the ache in his chest and all the weight of the ruined months simply lifted, and there was only this. The two of them on a sofa, a spoon, and her laughter filling the quiet study.

Kira caught the look on his face, and her own softened. She took the bite, and this time she didn’t tease. She just let him feed her, and let herself, for one small stolen moment, enjoy it.

***

In one of the rooms deep in the main mansion, Gavin stood with a burner phone pressed to his ear, speaking low.

"What’s the situation?" the voice on the other end asked.

Gavin kept his voice down. "She seems truly in love with him here. I’ve watched them. It’s not an act, Alpha. Not on his side either."

"She can fall in love with anybody, Gavin," the voice said flatly. "That changes nothing. Our main priority right now is ensuring she does not reveal the full depth of her powers to him yet. Not until we know it’s safe."

"With respect," Gavin said carefully, "I think the King genuinely cares about her. I’ve seen the way—"

"Gavin," Braxton called with a warning in his voice. "Make sure you remind her of the danger through the mind-link regularly. We can’t trust anyone right now. Not even the King. That is precisely why I sent you there with her, and not simply as a bodyguard. You protect her as best you can. From everything, including affection that makes her careless."

Gavin was quiet for a moment.

"Understood?"

"Understood, Alpha," he said at last, and ended the call.