Chapter 168

*Hayes*
Dean frowns, a heavy sigh escaping him as he places his hands on his hips and weighs what I have told him.
“And you think it’s a good idea?” He asks, finally looking up.
“No, but I think it’s our best option.” I admit. “Is it ideal? No, not at all, but I’m trusting my instincts here.”
He smirks, his cheek dimpling as he tries to hold back a chuckle.
“Forgive me for saying this, Hayes, but since I have known you, all your instincts have done is find us in fights, almost dying.”
“That was anger. This is logic. It’s obvious that what we have been doing isn’t working, so we need to pivot. Find a better angle, a better plan, and I think this is the way to go.” I admit. “Look, I know trust is hard past a certain extent with me. But if you could just afford me a little grace here, it would help—”
“I trust you.” He says, cutting me off, the skin around his eyes wrinkling as his brows furrow. “What I need to know is that you can trust yourself.”
My lips press together, and I look away, my gaze drifting to Kyra where she stands and stretches as the others wake everyone up. Can I trust myself when I don’t even know what the hell to do about her? About this disgusting spring of hope flowing in my gut? I want her; I want a life with her, all the while knowing I deserve no such thing and I can’t ever have it.
“That will be something I have to figure out along the way.”
“Hmm,” Dean mulls in thought, and I cross my arms over my chest, watching him.
“Hmm what?” I ask, and he looks at the others.
“You should at least take Marcos with you.” He exhales. “Four is better than one.”
“Marcos is a great fighter, but he will only cause tension. We already have tons of that with taking the dragon with us.”
“Yo! You guys ready?” Koda hollers over to us. I give Dean a firm nod and he gives me a weak smile.
“Well, I guess if all goes well, we will see you soon enough.” He reaches out for my hand as I slap mine into his, seizing it in a firm grip.
“You will see me soon. Just make sure you stick to the plan, okay? No letting people wander off and search for us.” I say firmly. “Marcos will not follow you guys.”
“Good. When you see my brother…” I pause, swallowing the roughness in my throat, “Tell him I hope to see him soon.”
His eyes widen, but instead of asking questions, he nods his head.
“Sure thing.”
I reach down near my feet, swooping up two bags, mine and the one I prepared for Kyra. As I stride over to her, my heart thuds like a drum before going into war. I am putting my faith in her and her dragon friend to find Ezrah and get what we need. Knowing what I know now, I realize that the mission of just simply finding the egg is truly just the beginning of the journey.
“You two come with me.” I say, walking past them and into the woods.
Dean calls the others with him, the two of us agreeing it would be much faster with a lot less bitching if we just separate and explain to our group the plan. Kyra and Teiran don’t utter a word, the two just following until we have walked far enough that Kyra clearly grows curious as she slides up next to me. My lip twitches up into a soft smile, a weird sense of excitement growing in my stomach.
“Yes?” I say, feigning annoyance.
“Just curious what the plan is.” She shrugs like she isn’t interested.
“We walk this way until you pick up a scent or see something.” I shrug and she cranes her head to look at me.
“And the others are hanging out at camp?” She asks, her eyes narrowing as she picks on the fact I am not being exactly forthcoming with all the information I have.
I come to a stop, turning to face her as Teiran walks up to us.
“We will find Ezrah on our own from
now on. The others have gone to inform Merikh and Colette of who
we have found and hopefully semet
what they think of our
new..parasite.” I say, looking right at him.
Teiran seems amused by my comment, but he says nothing, only nodding his understanding.
“You think that all of us will be able to take on Ezrah?” She asks, shocked.
“No. I think Teiran and I will be able to take him on while you get the egg.”
She scoffs, looking away before she looks at the ground, her tongue pressing against her inner cheek as she tries to find patience.
“You want me to steal the egg and run off and leave you two to fight a Fae?”
“I have fought many Fae.” Teiran says, his tone flat and unoffended.
“See? Between the two of us, one has fought fae before. It will be fine.” I tease her and she glares at me, then her tongue darts out and licks her lip, wetting the plump rosy flesh. My lycan stirs, wanting to come forward and take her and yank her to me and claim her. But that’s not something we will do, or can do.
“Hah, Hah.” She barks out a fake laugh. “So happy you found a sense of humor now.”
“You are the one who wanted to split up. This was kind of your idea if you think about it.”
“Great. You get yourself killed and I get the blame for it. How quant for me.” She mutters, stalking off.
“How does this plan mean he will die?” Teiran asks, giving me a bemused look before following after her.
“I need quiet, Teiran, if I am supposed to be finding a trail.” She hollers up to the sky, so she doesn’t have to look at us.
“Probably shouldn’t be yelling then.” I call out to her and I hear her grunt before she shoots me an annoyed scowl.
“I liked you better when you were mean.” She hisses, then turns around, stepping to the left and into the trees.
“She said she didn’t get much sleep last night. I assume that is where this temper comes from,” Terian says, his eyes wide, looking a little shocked by her change in mood. “That and she is hungry. And thirsty.” I exhale.
“Mmm, the trifecta.” He muses. “Do we have anything for her?”
“Yes. I do.” I say, holding up the spare bag I packed especially for her.
“Do you plan to give it to her?” He asks, quirking a brow. “Or are you going to wait for her to realize she needs a snack?”
I snort, shouldering both straps to our bags and pat them gently with a grin on my face.
“She’s a big girl. She can tell us when she is hungry or needs a drink.” Then I walk with him chuckling behind me.
“One would think you two are in love.” Teiran says more to himself than to me, so I don’t respond. I don’t dare hope to think love can exist between Kyra and me again.
This mate bond is here, thriving and
Her
pulling me in but I know all too well that a mate bond isn’t instant love. That is part of my pain over Leandra. Knowing her, wanting her but yet having the chance to truly love the way she deserved. And giving that opportunity to anyone else… it feels like a dishonor to her memory.
“Hey!” Kyra hisses under her breath, breaking through my inner thoughts, snapping her fingers frantically. “Get over here. I found blood.”
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