Defying the Lycan King Recap Part 3: Ruby's Fall

Defying the Lycan King recap part 3 covers chapters 91–150. Spoilers up to chapter 150. The novel is for adult readers; this recap is non-graphic.

Dear Overworked Tyrant (chapters 91–101)

Back in Dravengard, Derek buries himself in war councils, and Kira leaves notes: "Dear Overworked Tyrant… Your very neglected Queen." He tucks a blanket around her when she falls asleep in his study, and for the first time in his life he doesn't mind being conquered. The scoreboard climbs.

Kai reveals that Sandra's boy is Brian's son. Then Derek hijacks Kira's evening out: a Ferrari, a leather jacket, a cap, and the night market at The Central. He nearly loses his temper at a scarf seller, wins every prize at the stalls so she can give them to children, and laughs out loud for the first time when a fight with a gang of drunks turns into a chase through the alleys. They keep the photo-booth strip.

At the fertility festival they win the couples' dance, and Kira finally asks: why did you marry me? Derek tells the truth. He wanted to take away something Rolf cherished, and ended up with his most hated daughter. "Fate has a twisted sense of humour." Then they kiss.

Ruby's long game (chapters 102–118)

The reader learns what Kira doesn't. Weeks ago, Ruby asked Ishita, the cook, to add a "fertility supplement" to the Queen's meals. It was the opposite. Now Ruby wants it stronger.

On the night of Kira's fundraiser, Ruby lures Derek away with a fake Umbra alert, pockets his phone, and leaves the royal booth empty. Alphas call Kira a fraud; Nana, who mysteriously fell asleep after eating, arrives late with Kai and saves the night with an auction. Jessica's wolf recognises Kai as her mate.

When Derek finally comes home, the row is ugly. He says the worst thing he can think of: if he'd wanted nagging, he'd have married a real wife.

Lydia, and a door (chapters 119–125)

Kira gives her guards a sleepy brunch and slips away to meet Lydia in secret. Lydia admits she protected Kira where she could, and says Rolf ended Claire's life. Kira begins to wonder whether Rolf is her father at all.

Derek sits all night outside her hotel door. At dawn she trips over him. He apologises properly this time, acknowledging the hurt instead of explaining it away, and then shifts into Leo, his seven-foot black Lycan, and carries her home through the woods.

The staircase (chapters 126–135)

Ruby's next move is a love-potion perfume. When Kira walks in on Ruby climbing onto a dazed Derek, she throws Ruby across the room with a strength she doesn't understand. Ruby pushes her down the grand staircase. Leo nearly ends Ruby before Kai drags him back.

Kira is bruised and concussed; there was never a pregnancy. Ishita, the cook who began to suspect the herbs, is in hospital after an "accident". From her confinement, Ruby orders Sasha, the young widow she has blackmailed for years, to finish Ishita off.

Hold your peace (chapters 136–150)

Derek walks through Ruby's family home and finds Ishita's herb container in her bin. Kira, quietly, does the rest. She lets Sasha sit with her dying son instead of being dragged off in handcuffs, listens to Sasha's whole story, records it, and with Nana's help finds the people Ruby thought were gone.

At the tribunal Ruby pleads not guilty to almost everything. "If anyone has actual evidence…" Kira walks in: "I do." Behind her come Lara, whose death was faked, and Sasha, alive. Ishita reveals she faked her memory loss and kept a camera in her kitchen. Kira tells Ruby she only ever measured her by what her body couldn't do, never by her mind. Ruby lunges with a hidden knife; Connor takes the cut. The pack passes judgement, and Ruby's story ends.

What we noticed

Ruby is the book's first true villain, and the way she falls says a lot about Kira: not by force, but by mercy that turns into evidence. Watch the two strange moments of strength, though. Something in Kira is waking up.

Previous: Part 2: Snow Crest. Next: Part 4: The White Lycan.