The Lycan King's Healer
The Lycan King’s Healer – Chapter 50

“Where is Theo?” I demanded, barely registering what was happening.

“I arranged for him to study with the royal tutor,” he answered, his l*p curled amusedly, “he’s learning counting.”

My face flushed like it was hovering above a stove as the realization settled in. Despite this, my eyes greedily drank in his muscular, toned form in the small robe. I noticed the bottle of champagne in his hand along with two glasses, and I wanted to run away.

So I did.

Unable to stifle my childish laugh, I giggled as I fled the room, knowing it was foolish but I was too bashful to face him like that. We had explored our romance slightly more since he had been home, but never at a blatantly sensual state like this. I was not prepared for it, especially now that he was bombarding me with it.

I heard him padding after me as I flew down the stairwell, still clutching my mud stained skirts. He skipped several at once so I ran faster, my adrenaline pumping into my pace.

“You can’t escape me!” he sang ominously, and I felt him so close on my trail, the hairs on the back of my neck rose.

“No!” I squeaked, jumping down the last couple of stairs before beelining for the training grounds.

I ran through the back doors onto the grounds; thankfully, it was decently illuminated, and there were some people still target practicing. I must have looked like a crazy person, sprinting outside in a torn dress bare foot with purple under eyes. It must have appeared even crazier to have the kingdom’s general in my towe sporting nothing but a bathrobe.

Running as fast as my tired legs would go, my trek directed to the garden. I made a loop through the battlefields and sidestepped a cluster of confused guards before stumbling through the dirt.

Just as I was intending to run through the garden and back to the front entrance, a strong arm hooked around my waist. I cried out in surprise as another arm paired it and lifted me off the ground.

“Aldrich!” I gasped, attempting uselessly to get away. His grip only tightened.

“You always run,” he chuckled. I wiggled around in his arms to face him, holding onto his shoulders.

“Can you blame me?” I breathed, “It was kind of a daunting sight.”

“You mean a sexy one,” he said as he set me down onto the ground, but took my hand. He intertwined our fingers tightly as if I was still planning to run.

“What are you doing dressed like this?” I asked, looking up at him with amused puzzlement.

“I figured we needed some time together,” he answered, and finally standing in front of him, I noticed how genuinely drained he looked.

“Aldrich,” I said nervously, my heart pounding. “I wanted to tell you right away but I…I could not let the entire village know, and I couldn’t replace you…I’m sorry–”

He furrowed his eyebrows. “What are you talking about?”

“Alan,” I gasped as I looked at him sheepishly, “I brought him back.”

Aldrich’s entire expression changed. He stared at me wordlessly, his lips muttering blank spaces.

I released his hand to lay my hands upon his cheeks, since he looked like he was going to faint. “I brought him back with healer b***d. He is healing in the infirmary.”

His lips were still moving wordlessly, as if he couldn’t choose a word, his eyes blinking rapidly. “You…brought him back?”

“I did,” I slowly started to smile, caressing his cheeks. “Alan is alive.”

He suddenly brought me into his arms again, encompassing me in a tight and violently affectionate embrace. Breathing heavily, he buried his face into my neck. I felt his wild heartbeat against my chest.

“You’re the best,” he murmured, holding me. “The strongest woman I’ve ever met.”

I smiled at that, grateful for his sudden praise of my abilities. If only I was the actual person who saved him.

He pulled back slightly to k**s my forehead. “You’re the best thing to ever happen to me.”

“I know,” I joked, smiling as I closed my eyes.

“Now you really deserve some time to relax,” he said as I let myself lean against him. “Come with me.”

Confused, I opened my eyes to look at him as he took my hand to lead me somewhere. I followed him through the garden, through the dark, and into the small cluster of trees. I gasped at the sight beyond them.

It was an autumn wonderland. I couldn’t believe I never discovered it before. Willows and maples and sumac trees surrounded a small pond of water. The water was a dazzling reflection of the night sky, liquid black with glittering sparkles sprinkled on the surface. Fairy lights intermingled with the stars, casting a golden image on the water.

“It’s beautiful,” I said in utter disbelief.

“I know,” he said, mimicking my voice from before. He guided me carefully toward the water bank before turning to me. “Well, since you ran out on me, I don’t have the champagne I wanted to give you.”

“I don’t care, Aldrich,” I reprimanded, “it’s too beautiful to care about anything wrong right now.”

He chuckled at that, looking down at me with a glimmer in his eye. “Let’s get you out of that dirty gown?”

My cheeks heated as I nodded. “I’ll do it,” I said, “look away.”

“Of course.”

He turned away, and I heard his robe fall to the sand and the slight ripples of water as he descended into it. My face felt like it was on fire, no longer hovering above the stove, but pressed against it. He had to be fully nude.

I untied the corset and stepped out of the gown, contemplating if I should leave my undergarments on. If he was fully nude, I didn’t want to seem insecure or embarrassed. I’d have to match him; I’d have to be bold.

I peeled off my undergarments.

After I had discarded all my clothing, I tentatively walked toward the water. His back was respectfully turned. I sucked in a breath, trying to suck in some courage along with it.

My feet glided over the cool, smooth sand before I stepped into the pond. The water was warm compared to the temperature in the air, and it was not murky like I expected, but quite clear. I immediately relaxed as the water enveloped me in its calming, aquatic embrace.

He turned to me once he heard me submerge. I tried not to gawk at his bare chest or how much of a god he looked with wet hair. His eyes mirrored my admiration; he stared at me like I was a siren sneaking up on him.

“How do you feel?” he asked, drifting over to me.

I sighed out. “Relaxed for once,” I answered honestly, smiling. I smelled his lavender even more; it seemed to amplify with the water.

I closed the distance between us, peering at his eyes. The moon reflected in them, casting silver along his sharp jawline as well.

“I thought about you every day during the war,” he murmured, and I tilted my head at the sudden confession. “My fear wasn’t dying, actually. It was not getting to tell you I love you before I do.”

Butterflies swelled in my stomach as he continued, “No matter how many times you run away, I’m always going to catch you.”

I swam up to him until I could feel his breath on my face. “What if I always wanted you to?”

He didn’t smile like I thought he would; instead, he stared at me with a focused solumness, his lips parted.

I grabbed his face and drew him down to me before crashing our lips together.