The Lycan King’s Mark (Nevara) by Tiffanie L. Campbell novel Chapter 37

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CHAPTER 37 – Doubt in the Details

Nevara

The halls smelled like cinnamon and spiced tea as we made our way to the dining room, Michelle’s arm

looped easily through mine, her energy bouncing off the walls like a stray sunbeam that refused to be

ignored.

She kept up a steady stream of chatter about the castle’s architecture, her terrible sense of direction, and

how the last time she visited, she got locked in the library for three hours because no one heard her yelling

from the east wing.

I was still smiling when we stepped into the dining hall, the long table already set with fresh bread, fruit,

and silver–domed trays that still let off curls of steam. A maid rushed in to remove the covers as we

entered.

Michelle flopped into a chair without hesitation and sighed dramatically. “If I had to wait one more minute,

I would’ve eaten my own arm. Or Thoren’s. Honestly, his probably has better seasoning.”

Thoren pulled out the chair across from her and shot her a look. “You’re not touching me, Chelle.”

“Aw. You used to be so cuddly.”

“I was six. I didn’t know any better.”

I slipped into the chair next to Thoren, watching their exchange with a faint smile.

“Aww,” Michelle faked pouted, “I wanted you to sit next to me.”

Thoren just shook his head and said, “Now I’m truly convinced you didn’t mature past the age of ten.”

I tried to hold in my giggle as best I could.

“It’s ok,” she said, “I suppose it’s better that I can see you across from me and I don’t have to put a crick in my neck trying to talk to you sitting next to me.”

“You two seem pretty close,” I said, reaching for a piece of warm bread. “Did you grow up together?”

“Pretty much,” Michelle said through a mouthful of fruit. “We were practically raised like siblings. I’m an

only child. So is he. And both our mothers were determined to make us into socially functioning adults-

which was honestly a gamble either way.”

Thoren poured himself a cup of tea. “We had no choice. It was survive each other or be eaten alive.”

Michelle grinned. “Spoiler alert: I won. I always win.”

“Only because I let you,” he muttered.

“You didn’t let me do anything. Remember the spring festival? When you tried to climb the old pine tree to impress that girl–what was her name? Oh right, Laria something–and your pants ripped so bad the entire

village saw your-”

< CHAPTER 37- Doubt in the Details

“Michelle.”

“-pale little thirteen–year–old ass?”

He set his tea down slowly. “That was not an invitation to revisit trauma.”

“Oh please, you’re lucky I stopped there. I could write a whole book.”

“You already did. In my birthday card.”

She cackled. “Damn right I did.”

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Laughter bubbled up in me before I could stop it. I bit into a slice of pear and leaned back in my chair,

watching the ease between them–the way their banter filled every gap like mortar between stones.

It felt genuine. Safe. Familiar.

And yet…

Out of the corner of my eye, I caught a flicker of movement.

Michelle leaned sideways, murmuring something to the maid as she passed. It was fast–barely a whisper

-but the tilt of her head, the glance she gave toward the hall, and the maid’s subtle nod made my skin

prickle.

When Michelle turned back toward me, her face was bright, carefree, like nothing had happened.

“So,” she said, spearing a piece of melon. “Thoren tells me you’re kicking ass in training.”

I blinked. “He did?”

She winked. “He doesn’t use those words exactly, but I read between the lines. I’m a chronic line–reader.”

I nodded slowly, something cold and uncertain curling in my gut.

Maybe it was nothing.

But once you’ve spent years living with someone who wore masks as skillfully as Tobias did, you learn to

notice the cracks in the seams. The way smiles can hide blades. The way affection can be weaponized.

And it wasn’t that Michelle had done anything wrong, exactly.

She was charming. Effortlessly so.

But the whisper.

Why whisper?

I shook it off and reached for my tea. “It’s been… intense. But I like it. Kael doesn’t go easy on anyone.”

Michelle groaned. “Ugh, Kael. Has he gotten any less uptight, or is he still barking orders like a drill sergeant with a caffeine addiction?”

Thoren didn’t answer.

< CHAPTER 37- Doubt in the Details

Michelle snorted. “Right. Still uptight. Noted.”

I sipped my tea, trying to quiet the unease worming through my chest.

Maybe she was just catching up with the staff. Maybe she knew them from before.

But something about the angle of that whisper…

The direction of the glance…

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“Hey,” Michelle said suddenly, her tone dipping into something warmer. “I know I come off like a chaotic tornado most of the time, but I’m really glad I finally got to meet you.”

My gaze snapped to hers.

The sincerity in her voice was undeniable. Her smile was soft now, her eyes focused entirely on mine.

“I’ve heard a lot about you,” she said. “From him. From others. And I think… I think you’re stronger than you

give yourself credit for.”

My throat tightened.

“Thank you,” I said softly.

“Also,” she added, “I’ve been dying to find someone to gossip with, and I feel like you and I could cause some real damage. I’ve always wanted a sister or sister–in–law, and since I have neither, you’re the closest

thing to it.”

The moment cracked. Laughter slipped free again.

Thoren groaned. “Gods help me.”

Michelle just shot him a smug grin and raised her glass. “To chaos.”

“To caution,” he countered, clinking his glass against hers.

And me?

I just sat there in the middle. Between the warmth… and the whisper.

Between trust… and that nagging thread of doubt I couldn’t quite shake.

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