Page 79 of Destined to the Lycan
I blinked in confusion. “Fighting? But you said—”
“I will let him explain everything to you. Ihateyour mate. Every fiber of my being wants to kill him,” he said angrily, taking me aback. “If not for you, I probably would have. For all that, he has earned my respect.”
I stared at him for a few moments. It took everything in my power not to challenge his words. Despite what he said, I knew at a visceral level that he didn’t actually hate Remus. I just felt guilty to be the cause of the sadness he felt.
“Remus is a good man,” I said softly.
He made an indistinct sound that could be both an angry growl and a grunt of assent.
“He would gladly die to save you, thus why he has earned my respect,” Lyall said reluctantly.
But my mind remained stuck on the first half of that statement. “Don’t let him die!” I exclaimed. “Whatever mad plan he’s putting together, please protect him. I don’t want to live without him.”
I flinched inwardly even as the words left my mouth. As much as I meant them, I could have been more sensitive in my wording not to further twist the knife in the wound.
“I’m well aware of that,” he said in a clipped tone, although I didn’t miss the pain in his eyes.
He turned his back to me and rested both hands on the stone railing, his claws extruding as they sank into the stone.
“You know, I would have died for you, too, Amara,” he said bitterly as he stared in the distance. “I could have offered you a much easier and far-less-painful path than the one you are treading.”
“I know, Lyall,” I said in an appeasing tone. “But we both would have regretted it later. You have a good heart. Somewhere out there, your soulmate will find you and will see what a wonderful male you are.”
He jerked his head to the left to glare at me over his shoulder. “Really?Yousee mygood heart,and yet you don’t want me. So why would that hypothetical soulmate?”
“Because she will be destined to you!” I countered in a soft but firm voice. “I belong to another. It is how Fate intended things to be.”
“Why did the Weaver send you to me only to take you away?” he asked angrily, his eyes going out of focus. “Is that her way of punishing me?”
“No, Lyall. She’s not punishing you. She blessed me and Remus by putting you in our path,” I said with fervor. “Your good deeds will be rewarded. Karma will repay you a thousandfold.”
With a will of its own, my right hand settled on his cheek in a comforting gesture. Lyall turned to face me and pressed his hand to the back of mine, leaning into my touch. My heart shattered as he closed his eyes, his face taking on an air of deep pain and sorrow. It lasted but a few moments. He released me and took a couple of steps back, his face suddenly devoid of any emotion. I almost wondered if I had imagined this brief display of intense vulnerability.
“I will bring your mate to you,” he said in a conversational tone before waving at our mesmerizing surroundings. “You have free rein here. Whatever you imagine or desire will happen. If you want to have wings and fly, visit an exotic place, or enjoy a feast fit for a king, you only have to wish it. Fear not, I will not spy on you.”
Before I could respond, Lyall vanished. Half a beat later, Remus appeared in his stead, looking utterly confused.
“Amara!” he exclaimed the moment he noticed me.
I threw myself into his arms. He effortlessly picked me up and spun us around as we kissed. When he stopped twirling, he didn’t put me down but kept me in his arms, my feet danglingabove the floor. Arms wrapped around his neck, I feasted my eyes on his beautiful face.
“By Ferazan, this feels so real!” he whispered to himself.
“It’s an illusion by Lyall,” I explained softly.
His eyes widened in shock, then his face took on an air of disbelief laced with gratitude.
“What do you know… That doppelganger never ceases to amaze me. He brought you here so that you wouldn’t feel pain. I was sleeping next to you when I got pulled here. I thought this was just a much nicer dream. Seems like I will have to thank him for yet another thing.”
“Yet another thing?” I echoed with curiosity.
“Mmhmm. I have a lot to update you on,” he said with a grim expression.
He took my hand and led me to one of the three sets of comfortable couches on the immense terrace. He sat down then pulled me into his lap. I snuggled against him, my fingers absentmindedly playing with the short hair on his chest.
He launched into a detailed recounting of everything that happened after Ranael’s snake tail bit me. The way he’s been killing himself trying to run back freaked me out, but I nearly lost my mind upon hearing about his encounter with the witch.
“By the Gods! Why would she attack you?! Who was she?” I exclaimed.
