Page 29 of The Dark Elf's Secret Twins

There’s no one else in the dining hall save for the servants and the children. I can’t help but feel flattered about what Braythe told me regarding Lykan, but there’s no place in my life for such thoughts anymore. I call the children over to me.

“Come on then, time for bed.”

They whine and groan, unenthusiastically giving me their hands as we begin the march to their quarters.

“Don’t put up a fight children, Mom has had a very long night and is too tired for your shenanigans.”

I struggle with getting them to their door. As I reach for the handle, the voice I’d long been avoiding calls out to me.

“Cyra, I’ve been meaning to get a word with you.”

Closing my eyes, I let out a sigh of defeat. Slowly, I turn around and face Lykan. He looks again at the kids, who themselves peer up at him with curiosity.

“Lykan, can’t you see I’m busy? Besides, the party's over, go home.”

“Are they mine?” he asks. The question seizes all the air from my lungs. In that moment, it’s as if a blanket is thrown over the mansion, muffling all sounds save for the beating of my heart.

“Look,” I mutter. “I need to get them put to sleep. Afterward, we’ll convene somewhere private and talk more there. Okay?”

Without waiting for his response, I whisk the children into their quarters. Upon seeing my mood, they make no further protest. They settle down quickly and fall to sleep before I leave the room. Exiting their quarters, I turn to see Lykan waiting on a nearby chair.

“This way then,” I call to him.

I lead him to the rear of the dining hall, opening one of the doors to a small storage room. Ushering him inside, I follow him in and close the door behind us. Crossing my arms, I rest myself against the wall opposite him.

“Well then?” he asks.

Sighing, I look down to the ground for a moment, bracing myself for his reaction. I gaze back up with newfound confidence.

“Yes,” I declare. “You’re the father of my kids.”

Lykan exhales, turning around to face the wall. He raises an arm, clenching his fist. Instead of punching the wall however, he instead lays his hand on it.

“You’ve known this since you were first bearing the kids, right?” he groans.

“Yes.”

He spins around violently, hissing his words.

“Two years Cyra, two fucking years that this was kept from me? Why the fuck wasn’t I informed?”

He gets up in my face, forcing me to shove him back. I throw an accusatory finger up at him.

“You shut the fuck up! I tried to tell you that night you showed up at the manor, but you weren’t having any of it because, and I’m quoting you here, it was none of your business!”

Lykan growls, turning his face away.

“Look at me when I’m talking to you! Do you know what your problem is? You’;re too hard headed to listen to people! I never tried to keep any of this a secret from you.”

“Alright, I get it!” he snaps. “But you should have reached out to me!”

“I’m not doing this,” I say, throwing my hands up. “You know the secret now, so do whatever you want, but I’m not about to sit around and have my character attacked, especially by an asshole like you.”

As I reach for the door handle, he grabs my wrist and flings me to the wall. He comes close, pinning my back to the flat surface. Suddenly, he stops, his face just inches away from mine. It’s at that moment that it all comes rushing back to me… the way we’d sneak somewhere private to have our way with one another.

His gaze softens and his body melts into mine. Like magic, our lips are drawn to each other, engaging in a fiery kiss. His hands run up against my body, each squeeze full of longing as though reclaiming something he once lost.

15

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