The Lycan King’s Mark (Nevara) by Tiffanie L. Campbell novel Chapter 15

CHAPTER 15–BOILING POINT

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Thorens jew tensed. I don’t want to talk about my father right now.”

His voice was measured, but I heard the strain beneath it. Like a wire pulled too tight.

“We will be added, quieter. “Just not tonight. Right now, I’m trying to enjoy dinner. Can we do that?”

I froze mid–chew. “Enjoy dinner?” I asked, swallowing the dry piece of roasted meat that suddenly felt like wsh on my tongue. “You want me to sit here and make polite conversation? Pretend we’re… what, old fnends catching up after a decade apart?”

He didn’t answer

“Just overlook the fact that you rejected me without a word? That you disappeared? That you left me to

Thoren’s gaze didn’t flicker, but I saw something stir behind his eyes. Regret? Guilt? Something dark.

“And where’s your mate?” I pressed, setting my fork down with a soft clink. “She okay with this arrangement? With you wining and dining the mate you tossed aside?”

He looked straight at me. “Don’t worry about her”

I laughed, It was sharp, Bitter

“Right” I said, “Same thing you said during the walk here. ‘Don’t worry about her.

His silence was too loud,

“Fine” I snapped, “I’ll just shut up and eat. Pretend this isn’t fucking weird. Pretend it’s totally normal that your father and your mate aren’t sitting at this table. That you dragged me here under the cover of night like some secret you didn’t know what to do with-”

The crack came like thunder,

Thorer’s fist slammed into the table, hard enough to rattle the plates and slosh the wine.

I jumped, startled.

“My father is dead,” he growled, voice low and dangerous. “And I don’t have a fucking mate.”

The hall went still.

The fire in the hearth hissed and popped. My heartbeat thudded in my ears.

“And why are you pushing me like this, Nevara?” His voice dropped even lower, but it carried like a threat. Why do you not like you’re the only one who suffered?”

I stared at him, throat dry. “Because you left me.”

< CHAPTER 15–BOILING POINT

“And look who’s talking.” He leaned forward across the table, eyes glearning with a strange mix of pain and fury. “Where’s your mate?”

“What?”

“Don’t play dumb. I can smell him.” His nostrils flared. “Faint, but there. His scent lingers in your hair

Another male marked you–or at least touched you recently enough to leave a trace.”

I blinked. “That’s not-”

“Why did he leave you?” Thoren interrupted. “Why did he let you run off into rogue territory alone? Did he even know you were in danger? Or was that part of the plan–let the rogues have their way with you and

come collect the pieces later?”

My chair scraped as I pushed back slightly, my hands trembling under the table.

“Thoren, that’s enough.”

“No, it’s not.” He stood abruptly, shoving his chair away with a growl. “You think I dragged you here for fun?

You think I wanted to find you out there, terrified and half–naked with blood in your hair?

I stood too. “I didn’t ask you to come.”

“I know you didn’t,” he snapped. “And that’s what kills me. You didn’t ask because you didn’t expect anyone

1. to. Because you’ve given up on people giving a damn.”

“Can you blame me?!”

We stood there, a table of untouched food and wine between us, breathing like we’d just fought a war.

His face softened for a flicker of a second–only a flicker.

Then the mask slammed back into place.

Without another word, he turned on his heel and stalked out of the dining hall.

Leaving me standing alone.

My legs slowly gave out, and I sank back into my chair like the weight of his words had crushed me.

My eyes stung.

And I hated it. Hated that after everything–after being rejected, after healing myself, after clawing my way back to something that resembled peace–he still had the power to leave me reeling.

“Lady Nevara?”

I turned at the soft voice.

Sabrina stood in the doorway, hands clasped in front of her apron.

She stepped forward gently. “The king instructed me to make sure you returned to your room safely.”

I nodded, numb. “He left.”

2/4

< CHAPTER 15–BOILING POINT

“I know.”

I looked at the untouched food. My stomach twisted. “Tm not honey?

“I can have it sent to your chambers, just in case”

“No,” I said, “Let’s just go.”

We walked in silence.

The halls felt colder now, harsher. Like the castle itself had eavesdropped on our argument and chosen a

side.

When we reached my door, Sabrina paused.

“I’ll bring a tray later,” she said softly. “Just something small, in case you change your mind, You need

eat, especially after sleeping so long.”

I turned the handle, but hesitated, “Sabrina… is it true?”

She blinked. “My lady?”

“About the king. Is he really… dead?”

Her gaze dropped. “Yes.”

“How did it happen?”

She shifted uncomfortably. “It’s not my story to tell, my lady. I’m sorry.”

I nodded slowly. “What about Thoren? Does he really not have a mate?”

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