Page 54 of The Wolf and the Chimera
“You want him to lead an entire race,” I said, “but you can’t trust him with the truth?”
“He would always question his place as Sovereign,” Lyall argued.
He clasped a hand over my shoulder, and I forced myself not to push him away. Madness danced in his eyes.
“Besides,” Lyall said, “we both know the boy is better suited for the role than you are. He grew up here with afamily.”
The dig snapped the leash on my temper, and I shoved his touch off me. Lyall held up his hands in surrender.
“It’s not your fault,” he amended, “but you must see where I’m coming from. Does your brother seem half as jaded as you?”
I flinched, and Lyall’s voice grew even softer.
“Has Kieran had to ask another wolf to protect his mate like you have?”
Resisting digging my claws into the bastard, I stormed out of the cabin. Lyall followed me but possessed the wisdom not reach for me.
“Think about it,” Lyall implored. “I would hate to see Elle hurt because you’re too stubborn to accept what I’m offering you.”
I whirled and bored my gaze into the Sovereign’s.
“Touch one hair on her head,” I threatened, “and you’ll getnothingfrom me—not my power and sure as hell not my mercy.”
Shaking with rage, I turned and shifted into my wolf form. As I raced toward the chateau, my paws dug into theground. I didn’t flee from Lyall, but rather, from the urge to sink my teeth into him.
Another second out here alone with him, and we would see just who the stronger Sovereign was. With no idea how to control the sorceress, too much hinged on Lyall’s good graces for me to attack him.
As I ran, Lyall didn’t chase after me, but I couldn’t run from his words. They followed me all the way back to the chateau.
Chapter Sixteen
Elle
Though the rich aroma made my mouth water, I pushed the plate of eggs, bacon, hashbrowns, and pancakes away. With a disgusted frown, I shook my head and rubbed my stomach.
“I’m sorry,” I whined. “I just don’t think I can eat.”
With his fork halfway to his mouth, Kieran paused and raised an eyebrow at me.
“But we trained,” Kieran argued. “How can younotbe hungry?”
We sat in the private dining room, but luckily Kalli was already painting, and Lyall was with Ryder. As I tipped my head back and sighed, I lifted my gaze to the mural of wolves and traveled to Lyall’s ornate liquor cabinet, then all the way back to my hands, which I tucked in my lap.
“I don’t feel good,” I said and quickly added, “You wouldn’t understand.”
“Are you sick?” Kieran asked. “Canyou get sick?”
His face was so stricken, guilt genuinely turned my stomach. I hated lying, but I wouldn’t get any closer to finding my parents with Kieran stuck to me like glue. Ryder had ordered him to protect me while he was away. I was certain the order had as much to do with keeping me from following the sorceress’s instructions as it did keeping me out of harm’s way.
If my plan worked, Ryder would be beside himself with worry. He wouldn’t rest until he found me. The thought of him in so much fear clenched my heart, but it didn’t eclipse myneed to find my parents. Kieran spoke, but I didn’t catch what he said. I pulled myself out of my doubts.
“What?” I said.
“Did we train too hard?” Kieran asked.
I waved him off. “I’m not that kind of sick. And are you kidding? You’re a saint compared to your brother.”
Kieran smirked. “Well, we already knew that.”
