The Lycan King’s Mark (Nevara) by Tiffanie L. Campbell novel Chapter 49

I settled behind my desk, fingers flying across the laptop as I pulled up documents from the northern border patrol and a few new trade agreements I hadn’t had time to look at all week. The reports were dull,

the numbers worse. I rubbed at the bridge of my nose, blinking at the screen.

My thoughts kept drifting.

Back to her.

To the bruise under her ribs.

To the way she kissed me.

To the fact that she still didn’t trust what we were building–and the fact that I couldn’t blame her for that.

A soft knock interrupted my spiral.

Then the door opened before I could answer.

“Whatcha doin‘?” Michelle’s voice sing–songed into the room like a breeze through an open window.

I didn’t look up. “Working.”

She padded across the rug like she owned the place. “Mm–hmm. I don’t know if I believe you.”

I arched a brow, “What part?”

“That’s not your working face.”

I snorted. “This is just my face, Michelle.”

She dropped onto the couch opposite me, legs tucked under her. “Nooo, it’s your ‘I’m up to something‘

face. I’ve known it since you were eight and tried to sneak a garden snake into the kitchen pantry.”

I sighed and closed the laptop halfway. “Fine. You want the truth?”

She perked up instantly. “Obviously.”

“I’m not convinced you can keep a secret.”

Her hand flew to her chest in mock offense. “Excuse you! I am a vault.”

I smirked. “You have the biggest mouth of anyone I know.”

Michelle leaned forward, voice dropping just a notch. “Believe me… I can keep real secrets.”

There was something in her tone.

Something that made even me pause.

< CHAPTER 49 – Secrets and Sparkles

But I shrugged it off and flipped the laptop around, showing her the screen.

Michelle gasped.

Loudly.

A dozen images were pulled up–different angles, different bands. Some with gems, some plain. All

variations of the same thing.

Engagement rings.

“No freaking way,” she whispered, eyes wide.

I lifted a brow. “Relax. I haven’t asked her yet.”

Her hand fluttered over her heart like she was going to faint. “But you are going to?”

“When she finishes training.”

+25 Points

She squealed. “You romantic, sneaky bastard! Oh my god, oh my god. This is amazing! She’s going to freak

out.”

“That’s the plan,” I muttered, trying not to smile.

Michelle practically vibrated in place. “You have to let me plan everything. The engagement party. The rehearsal dinner. The actual wedding. It’ll be the event of the year.”

“I don’t remember agreeing to any of that.”

“You don’t have to. I’m already planning it.”

I leaned back, amused. “You really are the best event planner I know.”

She grinned. “That’s because I’m the only one you know.”

“Still counts.”

Michelle hopped up like she couldn’t sit still. “I’m going to get started immediately. I mean it. We’ll need flowers, and musicians, and lanterns and-”

“Michelle.”

She froze mid–ramble.

“Just… make sure you don’t let anything slip. She can’t know until I ask her. No clues. No hints. Nothing.”

She held up three fingers. “Scout’s honor.”

“You were never a scout.”

“Semantics.”

He narrowed his eyes.

She gave him a wicked grin. “Don’t worry. It couldn’t be waterboarded out of me.”

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< CHAPTER 49 – Secrets and Sparkles

Her tone was light.

But the words…

The words sat just heavy enough to hang in the air longer than they should.

Michelle practically skipped toward the door, already muttering something about color palettes and floating candles and whether she could talk someone into making flower crowns from imported

moonvine.

“And Michelle?” I called after her.

She paused with her hand on the handle. “Yeah?”

“No peeking at the ring site’s purchase history.”

She winked. “Too late.”

The door clicked shut behind her.

And the room exhaled.

25 Points

I leaned back in my chair, fingers drumming absently against the desk as I stared at the now–dark laptop screen. The reflection that stared back at me was half–lit, slightly distorted. Tired.

Gods, I hope that wasn’t a mistake telling her.

I leaned back, let my head drop against the chair.

God, I hope that wasn’t a mistake telling her.

I let the thought fade and rubbed a hand over my face. No alarms. No emergencies. Just… too much to do and not enough hours to do it.

A sharp knock broke the quiet.

“Come in.”

Kael stepped in, already halfway through a scowl. He didn’t bother with greetings. “You know half the new rookies are still limping from this morning, right?”

I arched a brow. “So?”

“So,” he said, dropping a folder on my desk, “you might want to consider staggering sparring days if you

plan on keeping them alive past week three.”

I flipped the folder open, scanning the list of names and notes. A few scrawled flagged for re–evaluation. One marked potential. Another circled with attitude problem underlined three times. I had a guess who

that one was.

“Let them limp,” I said. “It’ll remind them they have bones.”

Kael grunted. “And here I thought you were getting soft.”

CHAPTER 49 – Secrets and Sparkles

“Only in matters of marriage and flower arrangements.”

His brow lifted. “Michelle?”

“Of course.”

“She knows?”

“She’s already planning the fucking rehearsal dinner.”

Kael didn’t laugh, but the corner of his mouth tugged. “You’re insane.”

“Tell me something I don’t know.”

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