The Lycan King's Healer
The Lycan King’s Healer – Chapter 62

Aldrich immediately stiffened, shooting a glare at the woman. But I recognized the voice.

The woman with eyebags dark as her hair looked down at me, her two children hugging her legs. They looked almost unrecognizable, their cheeks flushed with lively color and their eyes no longer hooded and unmoving. Their scabs were nearly fully healed, faded all the way to a pale and unnoticeable pink. The woman’s were healed as well, and when I saw her smile, it was like seeing the planet rear upside down in the best way.

“And I know you,” I answered with a grin. Aldrich shot a confused look at me, his glare dissolving.

“You saved my children and I,” the woman commended, holding a small wicker basket of goods. She looked down at it before offering it to me. “I told you I would never forget your kindness.”

“Please don’t,” I waved the basket away, shaking my head, “We have enough goods at the palace, and you need it more than me.”

The woman still held the basket out to me while ignoring my refusal. “Think of it as more for me. I cannot bear to think of someone saving my children’s life without repaying them. It’ll drive me mad.”

I sighed, understanding that logic. “Alright, if you insist,” I said as I reluctantly took the basket. I glanced down at the children and smiled. “Would you guys like to meet the prince and army general of our kingdom, Aldrich?”

Their eyes widened as they realized who my acquaintance was. The change was emotionally massive; the way they were practically dead the night I met them, and now they were lively children meeting a superhero. They were both boys, so they babbled excitedly. Aldrich chucked, graciously exchanging names with each one and encouraging them to become strong soldiers one day. He was so great with kids–I never knew that, assuming he was only good with Theo because he was his son.

The family eventually moved on to allow us to enjoy our tea and cheese. Thankfully, no one overheard the conversation, so we remained unrecognizable when we finished our brunch and continued on a stroll through the village.

“I don’t know why you felt the need to lie to me about that,” Aldrich mused as our arms swung back and forth, hands interlocked.

“About what?”

“You venturing out to heal those people,” he said with admiration in his tone, “I know I’ve disappointed you before, but hell Cathy, you know how much I value saving people.”

“I’m sorry.”

“I’m not trying to guilt you,” he chuckled, and he looked beautiful in the afternoon light, even in his silly costume. “I’m telling you how much I love what you do.”

“I assume you love only the healing part, and not so much the Clement part?” I questioned, glancing at him through my peripheral vision.

“Admittedly,” he answered.

I chewed my l*p, nodding. “I suppose I understand.”

“But I’d rather you not be unattended,” Aldrich stated, “perhaps I could accompany you on these missions?”

“We go at night, when no one recognizes us and the only people out are homeless or poor,” I countered “that’s when you plan for war against your brothers, or whatever you’ve been doing.”

“We have spent too much time apart,” he answered, sighing. “I should fill you in.”

“Usually Alan does, but he’s supposedly too good to talk to me now,” I grumbled.

He barked out a laugh. “That has nothing to do with you.”

“Can you tell him you forgave me?” I said, shooting him a mocking glare, “before I throw something heavier than a croissant at him?”

“You what?” his laughter deepened, looking at me incredulously. He seemed to deem this the most humorous story in the world.

I told him about the time I threw the pasty at his friend one day when I was mad about him ignoring me. I filled him in on everything he missed, including Danika’s incident and the note. He told me about their planning, and how they were going to approach striking against his brother and what form of battles they would be, and if they should indulge their time in at all, since Benjamin seemingly has not done anything since.

The romantic date continued until sunset. We walked by a duck-filled pond, danced along the cobblestone to some street performers, and laughed every time we looked at each other in the obnoxious outfits. Not one person recognized us, however, which deemed them absolutely worth it.

“I think this may technically be our first date,” I declared with a laugh. We had never done anything traditionally romantic until now as a real couple.

“Why do you think I planned it?” he asked, grinning. “What kind of husband am I to not have taken my wife out once?”

“Wife?” I jokingly retorted. “Calm down, it’s the first date.”

He couldn’t help but laugh at that. When we returned back to the palace, I decided to stop by the library to apologize to Clement if he had been waiting for me in case I showed up. I also wanted the two men to formally meet, so that Aldrich would not be intimidated by him anymore.

Clement was nowhere to be found, but there was a note in scratchy yet elegant letters left on the coffee table in front of the love seat. Next to it perched a jar of dark salve. I read the note as Aldrich stood behind me on alert at the sight of another note.

I have found the antidote, it read, I mixed the ingredients with my b***d to assure that it will work.

-Clement

“Oh,” I gasped out in joy, a grin spreading across my face. “Aldrich, this is Clement’s handwriting. He found the cure.”

“Are you sure?” he asked doubtedly.

“He is the only one who would’ve figured it out,” I exclaimed, feeling like I could skip across the room. I read over the list of ingredients and then closely examined the salve; it was a dark, brown tinted black, slime looking jelly. It would’ve seemed suspiciously ominous if I didn’t recognize the color of the b***d mixed in it with.

I couldn’t believe he practically saved another important person in my life, and he wasn’t here for me to properly thank him. I mentally vowed that I would somehow compensate tomorrow when I saw him.

I pocketed the jar before turning to him, my eyes pricking with tears of relief. “He saved you, Aldrich.”

He nodded, seemingly reluctant to trust my judgment. “Let’s apply it tonight.”