The Lycan King’s Mark (Nevara) by Tiffanie L. Campbell novel Chapter 108

Thoren

The car idled outside the hotel like it didn’t want to be here either.

+25 Pomts

I sat in the backseat, one leg bouncing, eyes fixed on the front doors while Kael disappeared inside. He was supposed to be five minutes–ten tops. Get Bethany and the boy, escort them to the car, and get to

the lab to let this whole farce fall apart under a microscope.

Fifteen minutes ticked by.

Then my phone buzzed.

Kael: You’re going to want to come up.

I cursed under my breath and grabbed the door handle.

“Stay here,” I told the driver, already striding toward the entrance.

The front desk staff recognized me instantly–too quickly. Bethany must’ve used my name when she

checked in. My jaw clenched at that.

Kael met me at the elevator on the fifth floor, his expression tight.

“She says Jonas is too sick to leave,” he said without preamble. “Fever. Vomiting. Wants to postpone.”

I grunted. “Convenient.”

“That’s what I thought. But…” He hesitated. “He does look pretty rough.”

Room 514 was open when we arrived. Bethany stood just inside, arms crossed like she was waiting to

deliver a speech.

“There he is,” she said sweetly. “The king himself. Finally decided to see your son?”

I didn’t answer that. Just walked past her and scanned the room.

The boy–Jonas–lay curled under the covers, flushed and sluggish. His skin was pale but sweaty, hair plastered to his forehead. Big brown eyes blinked up at me, glassy and red.

Bethany followed my gaze, then picked up a thermometer from the nightstand.

“Watch,” she said, pressing it gently into the boy’s ear.

A second later, the digital chime beeped.

102.3°F.

I exhaled slowly, unwilling to admit it, but he did look sick.

Then the kid bolted upright, one hand clamped over his mouth, and ran for the bathroom. The sound of retching echoed off the tile. Loud. Violent. Real.

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Chapter 108 – Fever Games

Bethany raised her eyebrows. “Still think I’m faking?”

I didn’t answer.

She crossed her arms again. “We’ll reschedule the lab visit when he’s better. I want this cleared up as

much as you do.”

“I doubt that,” I said coldly. “But fine. We wait.”

She turned toward the closet and pulled out two duffel bags, unzipping one.

“What are you doing?” I snapped.

“Packing,” she said calmly. “The engagement party’s over, right? Figured it’s time we come back to the

estate. It’s better for Jonas anyway. He’ll recover faster in a real home.”

I moved before she could zip the bag again.

“You’re not going anywhere.”

Bethany blinked. “Excuse me?”

“You’re staying here. In this room. Until the test happens. I’m not bringing your drama back into my home and making Nevara uncomfortable.”

Bethany’s face darkened. “It’s not drama–it’s my son. Your son, if you’d just-”

“We’ll see about that,” I cut in. “Until the results come in, you’re just a guest in this city. And as king, I’m extending you the courtesy of protection, not a welcome mat.”

She scoffed. “You think keeping us cooped up here is going to change anything?”

“No,” I said. “But it’ll keep things from getting worse.”

Her arms dropped to her sides, fists clenched.

I turned to Kael. “We’ll assign two guards outside the door. They don’t go in. They don’t interfere. They just watch. If the boy gets worse, call an ambulance. Then call me.”

Bethany’s eyes flared. “You can’t treat us like prisoners.”

“Then you’re free to leave,” I said with a smile. “But if you do, you forfeit any chance of making your case. And I promise you–every camera in this hotel will have footage of you walking out before the test. So go

ahead. Make that mistake.”

Silence.

She didn’t move.

Jonas flushed the toilet in the background.

I nodded to Kael. “Let’s go.”

As we turned to leave, I paused at the door.

Chapter 108 – Fever Games

“Notify the guards as soon as he’s well enough.”

+25 Points

We rode in silence for a few minutes. Kael was staring out the window like he was watching the hotel

shrink behind us in the rearview.

“Do you think she gave him something?” he finally asked.

I glanced over. “You mean on purpose? To delay the test?”

He gave a one–shouldered shrug. “Wouldn’t put it past her. I’ve seen women do worse.”

I mulled that over. “Maybe. But he had a fever. You can fake a lot of things, but not a one–oh–two temp and

projectile vomit right on cue. If she gave him something to fake it, it’d show as chemical, not viral. And she

was too calm–too maternal. I think she’s telling the truth. This time.”

Kael grunted. “That’s what scares me most.”

I huffed a laugh, then leaned my head back. “But I don’t want to talk about Bethany anymore.”

“Please,” he muttered. “Say less.”

I turned to look at him fully. “What I do want to talk about is your guest. Or… is it boyfriend?”

Kael whipped his head toward me, scandalized. “He’s not my boyfriend.”

I raised both brows. “Okay, then… a one–night stand?”

Kael shifted in his seat. “I hope not. Don’t exactly make a habit of jumping into bed with strangers, thanks.”

“That’s exactly why I’m asking,” I said. “You’re not just my Head of Guard–you’re basically my best friend. I want to be supportive. I just need to know where we’re leaning here.”

Kael narrowed his eyes. “Leaning?”

“Yeah,” I said, gesturing vaguely between us. “Like, are we leaning toward a hopeful relationship? Or a

disaster in slow motion?”

He groaned. “You’re worse than Michelle.”

“I need to know what lane to be in!” I shot back. “Am I supposed to be happy for you, cheering you on like,

hell yeah brother, get that d**k?”

Kael choked on his breath.

“Or,” I continued smoothly, “am I supposed to be sad with you if he ghosts, disappears without a trace, never calls, and leaves you listening to sad love songs in the gym at two in the morning?”

“Oh my gods.”

“Or maybe I’m supposed to play protective older sibling and tell you to take it slow, keep your armor on, don’t get attached too fast because you barely know this guy and I don’t want to see you hurt.”

Kael threw his head back against the seat. “Stop. I can’t believe this is happening.”

Chapter 106–Fever Games

+25 Pomts

“This is happening because I give a damn, Kael,” I said, quieter now. “You’ve had my back in every war, every room, every godsdamned ambush. Let me have yours here too. Just tell me which version of a supportive friend you need right now.”

Kael sighed. “I don’t know yet. I like him. More than I expected. But it’s new. Intense. And I’m not sure if it’s

a spark or a flare.”

“Well,” I said, smirking, “either way, sounds hot.”

“You’re insufferable.”

“And you’re glowing,” I replied. “So if he makes you feel something? Hold onto it. Don’t let past shit talk you

out of something that could be good.”

Kael didn’t answer for a while. Then he murmured, “Thanks. For asking.”

“Anytime,” I said. “Just… maybe next time give me a heads–up before I accidentally walk in on you and Mister War Sculpture doing the horizontal sparring match.”

Kael groaned and buried his face in his hands. “You are never letting that go, are you?”

“Not a chance.”

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