Traded To The Lycan King

*Colette*

Silence falls over us as we wait anxiously for Merikh to explain what he means. It is clear as day to me he is still feeling awful, but he puts on a brave face, like always. I watch my mother as she gives him an encouraging nod before he racks his hands through his hair.

"Giselle is a phoenix. As far as we know, the only one of her kind, yet none of us know how to kill a phoenix. Either they aren't as invincible as we think or they have chosen to keep themselves hidden from her,” he says, clearing his throat.

I have to bite back a smile at how cute he is giving his little speech as if he had rehearsed it all week. But then again, maybe he had. It is not like I have been entirely present when I am with him.

It's not from lack of love or wanting to be near him, though. The water is exhausting, beautiful, but draining in every way. But by the time I crawl into bed, I am too tired to even want to change into something for bed.

He meets my gaze, dragging me back to the point at hand. Giselle, how to get rid of the roach that seems to never die? But I find it so hard to focus when he is near, and I am energized enough to stay awake.

I don't want to discuss death and war. I just want to snuggle into his arms and laugh about our past and think about our future.

“Colette?" I hear my name whispered to my right.

"Yes?" I squeak out.

"Are you okay?” My mother asks, her eyes on me and a frown tugging at her lips.

"It's just been a long day." I give her a tight-lipped smile, looking around at everyone else. "Sorry, I will focus."

"This entire time we have sat and assumed that Colette is the only one who can kill Giselle. What if it's not about killing Giselle, but rather incapacitating her?" Merikh asks.

My dad frowns, his lips pressed tight together as he processes what Merikh is saying. I must admit, the idea of not needing to be the savior of all our species and our allies is appealing. There are many things I wanted in life, goals and aspirations, but being a hero was never one. And still isn't.

"What do you mean?" Caspian asks after a minute. "If Giselle lives, she will always be a threat. She will always come after Colette, or anyone who she sees as an enemy."

"I want to collect her ashes and store her in the ocean." Merikh says.

Everyone blinks like they are in a stupor, trying to wake themselves up. My mom watches us and after a minute, a sharp jab hits my ribcage and I hiss, rubbing my side. She scowls at me, quietly motioning for me to say something as Merikh stands waiting anxiously.

"H-how do we gather her ashes?" I ask him. "She is impervious to heat, so she won't burn."

"Phoenix's are not impervious to heat, they become heat." Ezrah says, speaking for the first time since Lauren's death.

The second the words leave his mouth, my eyebrows rise in alarm. Every time I have been around Giselle, the air is hotter than the last. She seems to be in a rush, forcing things to move faster, as if she won't be around to spur things on. Phoenix's are known for rising from the ashes. They burn up in a heat so intense even a dragon would cower, and then they are born again.

"You think she will evolve-is that even the right word?" I ask, looking around.

"Phoenix's seem to get hotter until the heat consumes them. It is their only downfall, at least that I know of, which, admittedly, is limited." Ezrah says. "Ash form is where they are most vulnerable. Is that correct Caspian?" Merikh asks, looking to my father for verification.

"From what I have been told as well, yes. That is correct." He responds, standing and pacing the length of the deck in thought. "How do you suppose we get her to go up in flames? It could take years for her to reach that heat on her own."

"She is close." I murmur. “Everything around her when her anger rises or her emotions run high gets unbearably hot. She must have been absorbing the dragon's heat when their emotions make them grow warmer. She can be around the dragons, but with their flaring temper, she has doomed herself."

Hope is beginning to spring to life in my chest as I bite my lip, gnawing on it as I process all the information and Merikh's idea. It might actually work, forcing her to end herself so we can make sure she is gone forever.

Zale and Caspian argue quietly to each other in some other language I don't understand while I stand from my seat and move closer to Merikh. His hand slips into mine, our fingers tangling together.

"I know it seems like a long shot, but if we can't kill her, the best we can do is make sure she can't come back again." He says, looking me in the eye. "What do you think?"

"Honestly? I think it could work. She is close to the next stage. Giselle was suffocating in the room, nearly drying me out, and I don't think it was entirely intentional. I think she expedited the war because she knows her time is running out."

"She is a creature of chaos. She thrives off of it, but it is also her downfall in this sense. That is the problem with chaos. There is never a plan and thus things eventually break down and crumble away." Ezrah says. "The very fact there is a plan is a step in the right direction."

Caspian yells something loudly at Zale, who snaps his mouth shut and looks away, his jaw clenched tight before he turns his angry gaze on Merikh. "How exactly do you expect to store said ashes?" Zale says, finally breaking out of the conversation with Caspian. "You have a plan, fine. But what about where it will go? Who will know about it and what it is? There are many factors that need to be considered in such a plan." Caspian frowns, but he stands next to Zale.

"We need to plan more than just ceasing a hopeful opportunity." He says grimly, his eyes settling on me. "You are not strong enough to take her on, even now."

A sigh escapes my lips as Merikh gives my hand a gentle squeeze in support.

“A jar will suffice, and I am sure there is a place in the siren kingdom where you store relics or things you wish to keep safely away from others,” I shrug. "Only the siren king will know, passing it down from king to king to guard and protect it. We will have the time to figure out the details after we have her ashes."

"If you get her to burn up," He says

with a stern look, then he exhales. "Look, I do not wish to be the person who makes such depressing observations, but we can not fight with you. Caspian is still recovering and only the royals can leave the sea for extended times. Everything will come down to you, not your Alpha or the Fae. But you."

Zale points at me and I can feel my heart rate pick up. No matter how I look at it, no matter how much I don't want to be the one to save the world, there is no denying I have a cruciatrole in doing just that. Before, that might have been daunting, but with the bond flowing between Merikh and me, it is so apparent that I no longer have to do anything

alone.

"I will be going." Caspian says. Zale makes an unhuman gurgling noise in his throat, a look of anger crossing his face before he storms off the deck.

“He seems upset,” Mom says as Caspian shakes his head.

"Zale gets angry quickly and cools off faster."

"You should go after him," she whispers, looking out at the water as Zale wades in, dropping into the water.ConTEent bel0ngs to Nôv(e)lD/rama(.)Org .

"So what now?" I ask, when my father doesn't respond to my mom. "Do we wait for her to come to us, or do we take the fight to her?"

Ezrah exhales, shoving his hands in his pocket before he clears his throat.

"I am not one for this type of thing, but I do often find the element of surprise is rather successful. May I suggest rally the allies and set up a meeting spot?" He offers. "I do understand there may still be the issue of trust between us, so I would recommend calling your Beta and setting the meeting up with him."

I watch Merikh as he slides me a small frown before he nods. He slips out the phone from his pocket. Clearly, he planned on making a phone call or expecting one soon. Merikh dials a single number and clears his throat as he places it up to his ear.

"Hayes?" I call out, stepping down the stairs closer to Merikh.

"Not quite," Johannes says. "But he is going to need you both. If you want him to live, that is."