The Lycan King’s Mark (Nevara) by Tiffanie L. Campbell novel Chapter 102

Chapter 102 – After the Storm

Nevara

The castle had never felt so full–and yet now, in the wake of laughter, music, and a thousand congratulations, it felt utterly still.

I sank onto the edge of the bed and sighed into the silence. The buzz from the party still hummed in my bones, but it was a good kind of hum. The kind that came with relief, and pride, and knowing–for once- everything had gone right.

Thoren entered a moment later, having discarded his jacket and rolled up his sleeves. The top buttons of his shirt were undone, exposing just enough skin to make my thoughts slow.

“You looked…” I shook my head with a laugh. “Nope. There’s no word for it. Just–thank you.”

His brow lifted. “For?”

“For making sure she didn’t ruin it. For making it perfect. For making me feel like your fiancée, not your liability.” I met his eyes. “Thank you for making absolutely certain Bethany didn’t ruin the party.”

His jaw flexed slightly, but his gaze stayed soft. “I had a momentary lapse in judgment. I thought… maybe politics required diplomacy. That handling things quietly would be best.”

“And now?”

He stepped closer. “Now I realize we can deal with any fallout later. You’re far more important than optics, Nevara.”

A slow smile pulled at my lips as I reached for his hand. “I think she’s bluffing anyway.”

“You do?”

“I don’t think she’ll go to the media. You said the kid is not yours and I believe you. Which means she’s lying and going public on a lie is risky. If she was telling the truth, she’d have gone public already. But she hasn’t. She’s still hanging around, hoping to manipulate you into reacting first.”

His thumb traced lazy circles on the back of my hand. “So you think she’s fishing.”

I nodded. “Or trying to scare you into confessing something that doesn’t exist. But Thoren…” I tightened

my grip on his hand. “Even if she did try something, even if it blew up into a headline tomorrow–I wouldn’t doubt you.”

His expression changed, something deeper surfacing. That quiet, guarded pain that always lived behind his eyes.

“You should,” he said quietly. “You should doubt me more often.”

“Why?” I asked, frowning. “So you don’t have to live up to expectations?”

“No.” His voice dropped lower. “So when I do everything right… It feels like a miracle.”

< Chapter 102 – After the Storm

+25 Points)

I rose slowly, standing in front of him, resting my palm against his chest. His heart beat steady beneath it. Steady like him. Fierce. Relentless.

“You’re not a miracle,” I whispered. “You’re a king. And I’m not going to let anyone–especially her–try to

rewrite your story with lies.”

His arms came around me, slow and sure. “Then I guess it’s a good thing we’re writing it together.”

I leaned back just enough to look up at him, mischief curling my lips. “So… did you catch Kael flirting with

that man tonight?”

Thoren blinked. “What?”

I grinned. “Don’t play dumb. You were watching everyone like a hawk. You had to see it.”

“I saw him talking to people, sure,” he said, shrugging like it didn’t matter. “But I saw no flirting.”

I gasped dramatically, hand to chest. “Then you, my king, are blind. Because he was definitely smitten with

the tall, dark, and handsome stranger.”

Thoren arched a brow, suspicious. “Oh, he was handsome, was he?”

I tilted my head, playing it up. “Well of course. I do have eyes.”

His mouth parted in mock offense, but I didn’t give him a chance to interrupt.

“But aside from the fact that I could never want anyone other than you“-I pressed a kiss just below his jaw-“that man was clearly batting for the same team as Kael. And judging by the look he was giving him? He was ready to play ball.”

Thoren groaned. “Nevara…”

“No, no. Be honest.” I smirked, eyes glittering. “Who do you think will be pitching and who’s catching?”

“Nevara!” His voice cracked with half a laugh and full outrage. “I am not about to be having a conversation

head of guard and how he gets down in the bedroom!”

about my

I burst out laughing, nearly doubling over as his arms wrapped tighter around me, either to shut me up or keep me from escaping. Maybe both.

“Stars above,” he muttered. “You’re incorrigible.”

“And yet, you still love me.”

“Against my better judgment,” he muttered, but he was smiling now, head shaking as he kissed the top of

mine.

“Kael deserves someone,” I said more softly, brushing my fingers against his chest again. “And that

someone might just have shown up tonight.”

“Gods help us if Kael falls in love. He’ll be even more of a menace.”

“Then we’ll just have to make sure his ‘tall dark stranger‘ can keep up.”

2/3

< Chapter 102 – After the Storm

+25 Points

Thoren exhaled through his nose, still grinning. “I’m never letting you near court gossip again. You’re worse

than Sabrina.”

“Don’t be silly.” I kissed him again. “Sabrina wishes she was this entertaining.”

“But,” I said, slipping my arms around his neck and lifting onto my toes, “enough about Kael’s love life.”

His hands settled on my waist automatically, warm and sure.

“How about you help me out of this dress?”

Thoren’s brows lifted ever so slightly. “Is that a royal command, my queen?”

I gave him my best innocent look. “A humble request.”

He made a low sound in his throat and turned me with deliberate slowness, his palms dragging lightly

along my sides. I heard the soft rustle of fabric and the faint slide of the zipper being undone. His fingers were slow, torturous, dragging the pull all the way down until cool air kissed my spine.

The gown loosened instantly, slipping off my shoulders with a gentle sigh. I let it pool at my feet.

He didn’t step away.

Instead, his hands brushed upward again, gliding over my ribcage to the thin band of silk across my back. He trailed his knuckles along it, then let his thumbs rest at the clasp.

“Do you need help with this as well?” he asked, voice low, lips hovering near my ear.

A shiver raced down my arms.

I turned my head just enough to glance at him over my shoulder, smiling like a wicked secret. “Would it be a tragedy if I said yes?”

He leaned in, grazing his nose along the curve of my neck. “Only for the part of me that’s trying to behave.”

“Lucky for me,” I whispered, “I’ve never liked the well–behaved part of you.”

The clasp came undone in a blink, and his hands stayed right where they were–holding, teasing, waiting.

“Then I suppose you’ll get exactly what you want,” he murmured, voice dark honey.

I

And gods help me, I wanted everything.

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