The Lycan King’s Mark (Nevara) by Tiffanie L. Campbell novel Chapter 54

CHAPTER 54 The Calm Before the Trial

Nevara

–

The dining room wasn’t formal tonight–no crystal goblets or stiff protocol, just a fire crackling in the hearth and trays of roasted meat, vegetables, and still–warm bread spread down the center of the long

table. It almost felt normal.

If anything in a castle full of secrets could ever feel normal.

Michelle plopped down across from me with the energy of a squirrel on sugar, grinning like we were back

at the cupcake shop instead of the king’s personal table.

“So,” she said, spearing a roasted carrot with her fork. “How’s training going? You still kicking ass and

taking names?”

I snorted, tearing a piece of bread in half. “Something like that.”

Thoren glanced at me from his seat beside me–expression unreadable, but I could feel the subtle shift in

his attention. Always listening. Always watching.

Michelle didn’t seem to notice. She took a big bite and chewed happily. “You guys find out yet about the

off–site mission thing? You know, that big end–of–month challenge? I heard it’s brutal.”

I perked up. “Actually, yeah. We found out today.”

She leaned forward, eyes wide. “Ooh, do tell.”

“It’s split into two parts,” I said, reaching for the pitcher of water. “Four days total. The first two are

team–based, and the last two are solo survival.”

Michelle blinked. “Wait–solo survival?”

“Mm–hmm,” I nodded. “Everyone gets dropped in a remote location alone. No supplies, no

communication. Just your training and whatever you can find.”

“That sounds… absolutely horrifying,” she said, shoving another bite into her mouth. “Also kind of badass.”

Thoren finally spoke, his voice low but steady. “It’s hard work. But rewarding. The point isn’t just survival-

it’s about discipline. Focus. Strategy.”

“And maybe a little trauma,” Michelle added with a grin.

“It’s not trauma if you come out stronger,” I said dryly

He gave a quiet chuckle beside me. “That’s the spirit.”

Michelle looked between us and wiggled her eyebrows. “Look at you two. Finishing each other’s

sentences.”

I froze, but Thoren just smirked and reached for his drink.

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“Anyway,” I said quickly, forcing my tone light. “They assign us randomly to teams of three for the first ha

I’ll find out tomorrow who’s with me.”

“I hope you get good ones,” Michelle said, suddenly more serious. “I mean, obviously you’ll hold your ow

But still. It’d be nice if they didn’t pair you with two total incompetents.”

“Yeah,” I muttered. “That would be… inconvenient.”

She reached across the table and tapped my plate with her fork. “You need to eat more. You’re gonna

need your strength.”

“Mom,” I teased, but I took another bite anyway.

Thoren nudged his knee against mine under the table, subtle but grounding. He didn’t say anything, but I

caught the slight smile at the corner of his mouth.

Michelle leaned back in her chair with a dramatic sigh. “If I had to do something like that, I’d probably ju:

curl up under a tree and wait to be rescued.”

“That’s a solid strategy,” Thoren deadpanned. “If your goal is to fail.”

“Exactly why I’m not in the program,” she said cheerfully. “Zero survival instincts. Unless you count hoarding fancy pens and cupcake wrappers.”

I laughed, even though something about the way she said it stuck in my ribs like a splinter.

I was halfway through licking the butter off my fingers when Michelle perked up across the table with tha

unmistakable sparkle in her eyes.

“Oh! I almost forgot,” she said, sitting straighter. “I have a surprise for you.”

I narrowed my eyes, instantly suspicious. “Please don’t tell me it’s another errand.”

She laughed and pointed at me with her fork. “Even better. Carrot cake muffins.”

My jaw dropped. “You did not.”

“I absolutely did,” she said proudly. “I told you I was going to, didn’t I?”

“You actually remembered?”

Michelle beamed. “I have a ridiculously good memory when it comes to food.”

Just then, the kitchen doors opened, and a servant carried in a covered tray, placing it in the center of the table. When the lid was lifted, warm spice–scented steam billowed up, and the muffins inside looked straight out of a bakery window–golden brown, beautifully domed, flecked with orange and cinnamon.

Thoren raised a brow beside me. “You really went all out.”

She flipped her hair, smug. “I always go all out for my friends.”

I reached for one even though I was pretty full. Michelle did go through all the trouble to make them and the muffin practically glowed with temptation.

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Michelle grabbed one too, already halfway unwrapping it as I lifted mine from the tray.

Then she froze.

The second her teeth sank into it, her eyes widened–and not in a good way.

“Oh my gods,” she gasped. “Nevara–drop it. Don’t eat that!”

I froze, muffin halfway to my mouth. “What?”

Thoren was already standing, his hand snapping around my wrist. “What’s wrong?”

Michelle turned pale. “There’s nuts in this.”

My stomach dropped. “What?”

“There’s nuts in it,” she said again, horrified. “I just bit into one.”

I shoved the muffin back onto the tray like it had burned me. “Why would you put nuts in it? I told you–l’

deathly allergic.”

“I didn’t!” Michelle cried, eyes wide and panicked. “That’s why I told you not to eat it. I swear, Nevara–l

didn’t put any in.”

Thoren’s voice was sharp and low. “Then how did they get in there?”

Michelle blinked fast, shaking her head. “I–I had everything out, I swear. I was prepping the batter this

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