The Lycan King's Healer
The Lycan King’s Healer – Chapter 38

As if by instinct, he wrapped his arms around me. The anxiety that was causing a raging storm inside me finally settled as we laid there silently. I even placed my hand upon his chest, closing my eyes. It was the most calm I had felt since being a child, roaming in fields and getting grass stains on your nice skirt was the only worry. I smelled his scent with immense pleasure, the lavender soothing me, my perfumed lullaby.

“I’d call this a victory,” Aldrich sleepily mumbled, “the girl who ruthlessly attacked me this morning is now in my arms in bed.”

I reached my hand up and flicked him in the nose. He flinched, chuckling softly.

“Goodnight, Aldrich,” I said, mentally rolling my eyes.

***

When I awoke, I realized two very striking pieces of information. The first one was: I actually slept through the night. And there was no night terror, no screaming. The only thing I was waking up to was uncontained, unfiltered sunlight pouring in waves through the bare window.

The second one was, this is how everything was supposed to be the night everything went wrong.

I remembered waking up contently that morning, deliciously sore from the former night covered in k****s and sunlight. I was not in his arms like I expected to be, but I theorized we had just turned over. I opened my eyes and turned over to replace a bare, blank space in the mattress.

This time, when I opened my eyes and turned over, he was there. Lightly snoring, his long hair extremely tousled, his closed eyes making him appear younger. This was the image Emily stole from me that night. I decided to drink it in now, to cherish the sight of my sleeping husband holding me tightly, despite the fact I eventually turned over in my sleep.

In spite of it all, I smiled.

His face pinched together for a moment before his eyes fluttered open. I instantly looked away, pretending to be rising from sleep as well. I yawned, playing it off casually. His grip tightened as he surfaced from his unconsciousness, as if making sure I was there.

“How did you sleep?” he said, his voice roughened by sleep. It awakened something in my core, and my heart fluttered.

“I slept,” was my answer, smiling lazily, “so, the answer is good.”

He smiled in return, a soft look of triumph.

“Are you sure you want to go back?’ he asked as I sat up. “For the first time ever, no one knows where we are except Alan. No servants, no guards, no ominous stalkers…”

I ran a hand through the knots in my hair, entertaining the idea. “And live here the rest of our lives, surviving on chestnuts and grass?”

He chuckled, shaking his head. “I meant for the day. Theo is safe with Alan, and I’m sure there will be some celebratory banquet in my honor that I’d prefer to avoid,” he wrinkled his nose in distaste.

Realization settled in as I looked down at him. “I would think you’d be quite eager to get back to Theo, now that you know.”

Aldrich met my gaze. “I told you, I’m not running off.”

I smiled, sliding off of the bed. My feet hit the cold floor, and I shivered at the morning briskness. Autumn was in full force.

“Well, I am. Theo will be confused,” I said, “he hasn’t seen me in more than a day now.”

He nodded. “We’ll go back then.”

We decided since it was early, breakfast at the estate would be served in time of our arrival, so we left the small cottage to trek back. I had no reluctance to leave my former home; I thought someone would have to drag me out. But I was content going anywhere Aldrich was.

The air was cold, and I hugged my tunic closer to my chest. It was light and the cold air permeated through it with ease. We walked upon the dead forest leaves, the only sound between us being the crisp crunching and our breathing. It was nice, and I relished in the tranquility of the morning after such a chaotic night. It felt like being on fire then suddenly you’re dunked into a tank of cool ice water.

Before we approached the opening of the forest to the estate, he grabbed my wrist. I stumbled back, about to mouth off at him, before he grabbed my face and kissed me softly on the lips. It was abrupt but tender, and he pulled back too soon. My face heated as I looked at him in surprise.

“Just in case I don’t get to do that for awhile,” he said, then continued to the opening. Suddenly, I was no longer cold.

Our return was much anticipated. There was a multitude of guards dispersed in a perimeter around the grounds, both in front of the building and the large front yard. The stone path was completely blocked off. I had never seen so many guards, crowded around like a flock of crows.

“We have been awaiting you, sir,” said the first warrior we passed, “The King is here.”

Aldrich sighed, nodding as if he was told to obey the worst command.

“You were right,” I muttered, walking behind him as other guards greeted him with relief. Now that their Prince was home, I was chopped liver. Not even one glance traveled my way. They also seemed angsty about the King’s presence.

“It’s not all bad,” I tried encouraging, but my voice fell flat, “you did win your last battle. Just pretend you’re celebrating that victory.”

“A victory that cost me all my best warriors,” he responded dully, “you don’t understand how dangerous a banquet is right now.”

“Why is a revel dangerous?” I whispered.

“Anywhere Prine Benjamin is is dangerous,” Aldrich answered under his breath.

We were escorted into the small palace I called home now. Immediately, a thousand eyes were on us. The foyer watched us as we passed through, but I did not meet anyone’s gazes; Aldrich had the decency to wave to his people, assuring them of his safety. We passed through the corridors to the dining area.

The King was seated at the head of the table, flanked by a couple of guards. He was grand, an innate representation of ancient power and wisdom. He did not look like Aldrich. His face was more narrow, his nose small and perky and his graying beard thick. He looked more scary in the way of cunningness and intelligence rather than the brute force Aldrich displayed, his eyes blue and critical. Despite his colored eyes and his essence of ominous wit, he did not come off as reptilian like his wife.

“My son,” he greeted, looking at us with amusement. “We have a celebration to throw.”