The Lycan King's Healer
The Lycan King’s Healer – Chapter 40

Aldrich

For months, I had been dying slowly every day as I waited to discover if Theo was my son. I knew he was, but I awaited the admitall from Cathy like rain in a drought. Now that I finally knew, I was nervous to meet with him.

After Alan left to arrange for guards and warriors to prepare (even though we all decided to not inform anyone of our knowledge) Cathay looked at me and offered me what I never thought she would in this decade.

“Would you like to say good morning to your son?” she smiled, standing from her desk chair.

I grinned, nervousness getting the best of me. “I’d love to,” I said, then looked at her with concern. “We’re not–”

“No,” she said, shaking her head. “We do not have to tell him today. Let’s wait for a good day.”

I nodded, following her over to their connected door. She added over her shoulder, “Although, I’m pretty sure he is already aware, anyway. He has accidentally called you dad.”

I smiled at that, the one fragment of information enough to squander my overwhelming anxiety.

We entered his rooms to replace him sleeping deeply in his bed. He looked exhausted, his little mouth gaped open and his eyelids fluttering in response to a dream. I was proud to have created something so beautiful. Cathy ran her fingers through his hair, lightly summoning him from his dream. He flinched at the touch then melted into it, opening his eyes.

“Mommy,” he said, frowning, “where have you been?”

She looked over to me. “Adrich and I had some affairs to tend to,” she said. Theo then looked at me, and his whole face lit up at my presence. I chuckled, flashing him a grin.

“Morning, little man,” I said. He instantly sat up.

“Before you ask, we do not have time to play,” she commanded, “Aldrich is being thrown a celebration tonight and we have to get you ready.”

“I get to go?” he asked with widening eyes, joyously surprised.

We decided it was our only choice. Alan had to be at the banquet to command the guards, and we didn’t trust him with anyone else. Cathy’s sister would watch him when Alan was busy, so that someone trustworthy was always watching.

“Yes, but you have to be a very good boy,” Cathy warned, helping him out of bed.

I knew the revelers would assume he was my son if we stuck too closely to him. I did not want anyone to be aware of the fact he was mine yet, not while we were being targeted–although whoever taped an arrow to his back may have been very well aware.

Cathy watched the servants take him off to the bathroom to bathe. She looked at me again, and I noticed she was staring a lot, as if she was still waiting for me to run off.

“There is one positive to this foolish banquet,” I mused as we walked back into her quarters.

“What is that?” she asked, genuinely curious. I smiled.

“I get to see you in a ball gown,” I said. Her pale, ivory skin looked like I painted pink on her cheeks. Seemingly in my presence, she appeared to be coming back to life.

It made me never want to leave again.

The maid servants were summoned, and they came in with chests of our most fancy clothing. It reminded me of when Cathy wore that ruby spun dress, finally getting to showcase her true beauty.

They dressed her in a couple options, but she did not let me see until she finally chose one. As I waited for her behind the changing screen, I was dressed myself. I decided on an off-white loose linen long sleeve shirt, laced up at the chest. The sleeves were puffy, and the fabric was thin, suitable to move seamlessly if need be.

When she stepped out from behind the changing divider, I thought I had been shot by that arrow in the fields perhaps in the chest and was now entering heaven.

She looked like a garden fairy emerging from a canopy of flowers. The tulle dress’s base color was a light, nude pink, the color of pale cherry blossoms. The skirts were adorned with sheer silk over the pale pink, where flowers were embroidered in the sheer, decorating the entirety of the skirts in white roses and daisies. The corset was accented with lace, flowing into a sweetheart shape off the shoulders. The maids also decorated her flowing golden hair with flowers that matched the skirts. Her makeup was just as rich as a garden; her cheeks were pink, her eyeshadow the pastel colors of her favorite spring flowers.

It was definitely a statement. She was showing whoever was hunting us that she had not wilted; she was lovely and flourishing like the petals within her skirts.

She smiled at me shyly, not used to accepting my blatant staring.

Remembering to breathe, I flashed a smile back at her. “You look dazzling.”

“Thank you,” she said breathily, her eyes wandering down to my chest. She definitely approved of the lace up linen.

Theo was dressed in a knightly tunic, comfortable and proper looking enough. He came into the room with his hair fluffed, and he had on his fancy loafers. I took a good look at my family and grinned, reveling in the sight. They were so beautiful.

I had to do everything in my power to protect them tonight.

***

Cathy

We were escorted to the palace in a horse drawn carriage. Weirdly enough, it was not my first time; I had been in a carriage on the way to our wedding. But it was Theo’s first time, and he was enthralled, making noises at the horse. Everyone watched us on our voyage, most women jealous and most men’s expressions drowning with respect and admiration for their prince and army general. There was a chorus of cheers and applause, and Aldrich politely waved at them.

I remembered the last time I was at the palace and shuddered. The Queen would surely be there, and I wish I never healed the scars on my back so that she could see them and feel shame or embarrassment for it each time. A reminder to never mess with a witch. I stared at the towers that loomed high into the sky, kissing the clouds. The sunny afternoon had drained to a gray, foggy evening.

The guards flanked us as we left the carriage, walking into the high arch of the entrance. I couldn’t help but look at the arrow slits in the towers.

“I will always protect you,” Aldrich reminded me softly, placing a hand on my back. Theo walked in front of us.

As we passed through the palace corridors into to grand ballroom, the first faces I recognized were cold and scowling.

Emily, Benjamin, and Elias were seated together, watching us like murderous hawks.