Lycan Warrior

Destined to mate.

Malek is the brave, heroic Lycan warrior who has served as the king’s chief guard for two hundred years. His prime directive is to protect the royal kingdom. He sets off on a mission from the king that will take him on a journey away from the castle. His mission is not a dangerous one, but there is danger all around him in the form of one beauty, the She-Wolf, Katya, who the king has asked to accompany Malek and his band of guards. Even though she is the key to the success of the mission, Malek has reasons not to trust her. As his attraction mounts for the beauty, so does his frustration. How can he surrender to his wolf’s almost violent need to claim her when he believes she is a threat to the castle?

When she overhears Malek insinuate to the king that she may be a spy sent by Balkathan to infiltrate the castle, Katya is extremely insulted. The fierce looking Lycan warrior doesn’t trust her and she tries very hard to make peace between them. Her anger turns to passionate heat for the Lycan warrior when his touch awakens her inner wolf for the first time in her life.

Will Malek and Katya conquer their inner demons and realise they are meant to be?

To the Reader: This Lycan Legend installment begins one week after Lycan King, Book 2

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Lycan Warrior

Copyright © 2012
Anastasia Maltezos

ISBN: 978-1-77111-379-3

Cover art by Martine Jardin

All rights reserved. Except for use in any review, the reproduction or utilization of this work in whole or in part in any form by any electronic, mechanical or other means, now known or hereafter invented, is forbidden without the written permission of the publisher.

Published by Devine Destinies

An imprint of eXtasy Books

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Lycan Warrior

Lycan Legend 3

By

Anastasia Maltezos

Zoe Maltezos

Chapter One

“I won’t sleep with him!”

“Katya, you won’t be
sleeping
with him, you’ll be sharing a tent. Besides, the only reason I agreed to this assignment is that Malek will be your personal guard. Drago assured me Malek is his best warrior and he will protect you with his life.”

Katya scowled at her reflection in the mirror. “I heard him tell the king last week he thinks I’m a spy.”

Eve sighed. “Drago told me there is a reasonable explanation for Malek’s suspicion, something about his brother.”

Her mother fell silent and Katya frowned, waiting for her to say more. “What was the explanation?”

Her mother’s gaze wavered. “We were in the middle of something and didn’t quite finish our conversation.”

Katya’s anger immediately dimmed as she watched her mother’s face flush with embarrassment. She momentarily forgot the fierce looking Lycan warrior once she realised what her mother’s
middle of something
was. She hid a smile. Since her mother had wed King Drago last week, she never looked happier.

Eve cleared her throat and stepped away from the mirror. “There. You’re perfect. The trousers are more convenient than wearing those dresses with all those annoying layers.”

Katya stared at their reflections in the mirror. They were both dressed in almost identical outfits—leather trousers and vests, with weapons strapped to their legs and waist. They looked more like sisters than mother and daughter, with their slim bodies, long dark hair, and dark eyes.

“Mama, as the new queen, don’t you think a dress would be in order from time to time, or a crown?”

Eve shot her a dark look. “Don’t be silly. If the castle is attacked by Balkathan’s army, how can I fight in ten pounds of material?”

“I feel naked. You can see every curve of my body.”

“A sight I’m sure Malek will appreciate,” her mother murmured innocently.

“You haven’t been listening to me. He thinks I’m a spy.”

“He doesn’t think you’re a spy.” Eve expelled a heavy sigh. “I’m certain, on this assignment, he’ll get to know you and see what a remarkable woman you are. I’m sure you know half the guards are already a little in love with you.”

“Stop it, Mama.” Katya knew where this was leading and she wasn’t in the mood for it.

“Honey, I just want you to be happy. At least consider the possibility one of the guards could be your mate.”

“I can’t believe my mother, the all-powerful, four hundred year old vampire, is a romantic.”

“That’s Drago’s fault. Love changes people. Besides, I’m not a vampire anymore. I’m a hybrid now, with Lycan blood in my veins, remember?”

Katya could never contemplate love. She was plagued with too many demons to trust a man. Balkathan’s wolves raping her for two years did that to a woman.

She took her mother’s hand. “I’m happy the Lycan Legend came true for you, Mama. I really am, but please don’t push its lore on me.” She winced as brief images of her imprisonment in Balkathan’s filthy prison flashed through her mind.

Katya inhaled slowly, forcing those terrifying memories to the dark recesses of her mind. Her wounds were too deep for love to heal them. Thankfully, the distant sound of trumpets blaring in the courtyard snapped her out of her disturbing thoughts. She was going on a mission with the king’s guards and nothing was going to stop her from successfully completing it. Apprehension settled in her stomach as she thought of the other women still imprisoned there. She prayed they were still alive.

“That’s my cue,” she said stiffly. “The caravan is ready to set off.”

Eve hugged her. “God speed, my girl.”

* * * *

Where the hell was she, Malek thought angrily? He glanced around the courtyard crowded with villagers and royal guards ready to send them off and clenched his jaw. His white steed was restless and he tightened his reins, containing his horse.

“Remember, my friend,
scout
the area,” Prince Vasilis said. “Do not engage in battle. This caravan is no match for Balkathan’s army of monsters.”

Malek looked down at the prince. “Aye, Your Highness.” Malek was well aware of the plan, and he refrained from reminding the prince they had gone over it twenty times because he knew Vasilis was worried.

He glanced at the castle doors and gritted his teeth as he watched Katya walk onto the grounds. Even at this distance, he could see her beauty. A thread of tension ran up his spine as he ran his gaze over her body dressed in tight, black warrior garb. He couldn’t explain it, but since he first laid eyes on her last week, every time he looked upon her, his heart thudded. He gritted his teeth and turned his head away from her as he tightened his grip on his reins.

“What is it?” Vasilis asked.

Malek motioned his head toward Katya. “You know how I feel about the wench coming along with us.”

“You need her on this scouting mission. She will show you where Balkathan’s lair is.”

Malek’s inner wolf was telling him otherwise. “She will be a distraction. My men can’t take their eyes off her.”

Vasilis raised a dark brow. “Are you talking about that same woman who escaped from Balkathan’s prison last month? Have you seen her in weapons practice, my friend? She felled not one, but
all
the guards in training yesterday afternoon. They can’t take their eyes off her because they
admire
her, not
lust
after her.”

Malek’s thoughts went to last night when he’d heard about her combat skills. He had been having ale with Vasilis and his men in the Great Hall. The guards had been praising her prowess with the sword, but when the conversation had taken a turn to her beauty, Malek had risen abruptly and had retired to his chambers. For some reason, he had been disturbed when the guards’ conversation had taken a turn to her sexy curves.

Grim-faced, he pushed his unsettling train of thoughts to the back of his mind. “I have better things to do than watch her wield a sword.”

“Well, if you
had
watched her, you would agree with me when I say she will be more asset than a burden to you on this assignment.”

“She could draw us a map.”

“Aye, she can, but as we have already discussed, the lair is camouflaged and the naked eye will miss it. Malek, we wage war on Balkathan in one month. This assignment must be successful. We need to know the terrain before we attack.”

Malek nodded. Like it or not, the wench was coming.

“I won’t let you down, Your Highness.”

Vasilis nodded and Malek watched him stride to the castle entrance to join his royal family where they waited to send the caravan off.

“Which horse do I ride?”

Katya’s cool tone snapped his gaze down to her. She was staring up at him with a challenging glint in her dark eyes. Her sweet scent rose up to him and he grimaced, trying to stave the rush of heat invading his loins.

He gestured to the black steed next to his. “This one.”

Tossing him an indifferent look, Katya marched to her horse and lifted herself in the saddle. His glance dropped to her backside and the aroused heat invading his loins mounted. Grimacing, he flicked his rein and the caravan of twenty guards followed him off the royal grounds.

Malek couldn’t acknowledge the friendly waves and cheers of the villagers lining the road because he was too tense with his awareness of Katya riding stiffly beside him. Her feminine scent wafted around him and his loins tightened. Dammit, he’d been without a female for too long.

How else could he explain this inexplicable rush of attraction he had for someone he thought was a threat to the castle?

* * * *

Damn him!

She slid an indiscreet look to her left and saw him gripping his reins so tightly, his knuckles showed white. A rise of self pity almost choked her and she bit back on a sob.

Damn him!

As far as first impressions went, Malek had made a terrible one with her when she’d overheard him telling the king last week he didn’t trust her, that she could have been a spy sent by Balkathan to infiltrate the castle.

Damn…
him!
How dare he—

“Excuse me?” Malek said dryly.

Startled, she gave him a quick, sideways glance and saw him regarding her with a raised brow. Scowling, she returned her focus on the road.

“I didn’t say anything.”

“Yes, you did,” he replied. “You have been swearing under your breath since we left the castle.”

She stiffened. “Perhaps I have reason to swear. I don’t appreciate people spreading malicious rumours about me.”

“By people, you mean me.”

She shot him an angry look. “Yes.” He didn’t look in the least bit perturbed and that angered her more. “I overheard what you told the king last week in the Great Hall. You told him you don’t trust me.”

She watched his jaw harden as he swung a dark and dangerous look on her.