Page 46 of Destined to the Lycan
“Because she’s special, and so is her blood,” Lyall deadpanned.
I felt myself blanch, and my blood turned to ice. “What have you done to her? Please tell me you haven’t harmed her?”
He snorted. “I haven’t done anything to her… yet.”
“Please, let her go. There is much better prey out there.”
“There is, but I don’t want them,” Lyall replied in a mysterious tone.
“Then whatdoyou want? Name your price.”
He tilted his head to the side and examined me as if I was some kind of oddity. “What makes you think I don’t already have what I want? You’re both here at my mercy.”
I shook my head. “You don’t need both of us,” I said with conviction. “Your breed doesn’t gorge or waste food. My blood is rarer than hers. Feeding from me will make you more powerful. If you must have one of us, then take me and set her free.”
He narrowed his eyes at me, the redness taking on a brighter shade that made him even more frightening.
“Takeyouinstead?” he asked menacingly.
“Yes. ButafterI have completed my mission,” I added.
By the way he gaped at me, my words truly shocked him. I could understand why. He burst out laughing, the full, throaty sound resonating loudly in the otherwise unnaturally quiet forest surrounding us.
He shook his head at me with an air of utter disbelief. “You’re either extraordinarily stupid or seriously mentally impaired if you think I or anyone else holding you at their mercy would consent to such a thing.”
“I will take a blood oath swearing to return once the mission is completed, whatever the final outcome. Amara’s days are numbered. I must take her to the plateau while there’s still time. It’s only a few more days. I pledge to return.”
To my surprise, my words seemed to infuriate him.
“You would give your life for a dying female you barely even know? Do you think yourself so fucking special that you could survive such a journey? Do you really thinkyouare the one meant to protect her?”
“I do not think myself particularly special,” I replied carefully, baffled by his irrational anger. “But I’m definitely determined to see this through. Amara is my Twin Flame. I’ll do anything to save her.”
“You don’t even love her!” he snarled, further increasing my confusion at his odd reaction.
“You’re correct. I’m not in love with her… yet. But I care deeply about Amara. My physiological responses to her may have been the initial draw, but the past few days in her company were enough for me to know that we’re indeed fated, and that I will fall madly in love with her. I’ve never met such an amazing soul in my life or one whose mere presence makes me happier.”
To my dismay, his fangs descended, and the longest, most vicious claws I had ever seen extruded from the tips of his fingers. By the furious way Lyall was staring at me, I believed he was fighting the urge to lunge and tear me to shreds.
What the fuck is going on?
After what felt like far-too-many seconds, Lyall appeared to get his emotions back under control. Although his fangs remained visible, his claws receded back to a more normal nail length. They remained still a little pointy but not dagger-sharp as they had previously been.
“If you truly care about her, then you will leave her to me,” he said in a mysterious tone, his gaze intense.
I recoiled, my movements restricted by the paralysis he still had imposed on me.
“What?!”
“I can keep her alive,” he continued, eyes locked with me.
My heart leapt. Doppelgangers didn’t lie. Could he possibly help save her?
“You can cure her?” I asked, the hope audible in my voice.
It faded almost instantly when Lyall hesitated before shaking his head.
“I cannot cure her,” he said carefully. “But I can neutralize the poison whenever it resurfaces. Amara could lead a long and safe life. You cannot make the same boast. Unlike you, nothingin these woods or throughout these mountains can harm me, and therefore anyone under my protection.”
