The Lycan King's Healer
The Lycan King’s Healer – Chapter 73

Just as I felt my wolf teeth and claws ready to slip out and attack, I looked into the afraid, wide eyes of my sister:

“Danika,” I gasped, pulling her against me in-shock. I allowed my eyes to fall closed for a moment, breathing her in. “You’re okay.”

She squeezed me reassuringly. “I’m okay, Cath.

You think I’d let these weird looking fuckers lay a finger on me?”

I laughed, pulling back to examine her. She had no wounds, not even a blonde hair out of place. “Let’s go show Alan you’re alive before he secretly has a heart attack.”

She rolled her eyes before taking my hand. I weaved through the crowd again with her, wondering how she found me.

“Where were you hiding?” I asked as we sidestepped a woman trying to console her crying child.

“In the corridors,” she answered, shrugging nonchalantly. “If any vampires got in, I figured they wouldn’t vehemently be searching through hallways. But none got in-all the injured people are from the village.”

“We’ll probably have visitors soon,” I said grimly, “I don’t know where Aldrich is. He’s fighting off the vampires with the guards.”

“The guards?” she asked, a worried tone cloaking her voice for the first time since she found me.

I shook my head, my lips rigidly pressing together.

“What do we do?” she inquired, gripping my hand as I pulled her through the crowd. “The only guard here is Alan? So you mean the rest of the guards haven’t returned?”

“Yes,” I said, looking around for Alan. When I found him, I noticed he was in the same exact spot as he was when we walked in, except surrounded by a mass of the crowd. He was in the eye of the storm.

“Talk about a hero complex,” she snorted when she saw him, “they’re acting like he’s come to save them all.”

“I’m sure dealing with all of them is the last thing he wants to do,” I admitted, watching as Theo gripped Alan’s extended arm and looked around with sad eyes. “But they have every right to be afraid. It’s our duty to govern them.”

We waiked into the knot of people. I saw bleeding mothers, children, people with terror in their eyes. I yearned to go upstairs and retrieve my healing salves, but I knew if I helped one person, I would have to help all of them. I hoped no one asked me to heal their children-not yet.

I wouldn’t survive saying no.

“Let me help,” I told him as we got to him. He did not even hear me, too distracted by the sight of my sister.

“She’s alive,” he mused, smirking at her, ” maybe you’re a witch too, because there’s no way you fought off vampires.”

“Oh shut it, Alan,” she snapped, “I’m perfectly capable of taking care of myself. I’ve made that clear.”

“We found you unconscious in the woods,” he retorted. “Make yourself useful and take Theo up to his room?”

“How about you be useful and do something about this hot mess?” she mocked, proceeding to take Theo’s little hand. It was shaking in her grip.

“What do you think I’m doing?” he demanded.

“Being annoying,” she sassed, hiding her small smile as she turned with Theo to the stairs. I watched them as they made their way up.

I raised my eyebrows in amusement at the encounter before shaking my head with a smile.

No time to tease. I was in no position to judge; it was funny to see Alan flirt, but I knew Danika yearned for a relationship. She never stopped reminding me how lucky I was to have one, especially with a werewolf of power. If she couldn’t have Aldrich, Alan was a good backup, I supposed.

As I prepared to attempt to handle the crowd, a rush of color air enveloped the foyer. Our gazes shot to the door, prepared for a vampire ambush.

Aldrich caught my gaze, a tired smile framing his lips.

My breath hitched, relief nearly knocking me to my knees. I ran over to him. The crowd wavered, people gravitating to him. I had to lightly shove through the admirers to get to him: his eyes never left me. To reduce time, he cut through the crowd and scooped me up, my feet rising from the ground as he held me in his arms. He smelled of lavender and must with a hint of b***d-I didn’t care. I buried my face in his neck, heart racing. He was safe.

For now.

“I was so worried,” he sighed, breathing me in as well, “where’s Theo?”

“He’s okay,” I assured, rubbing his back, “we’re okay.”

He set me down, looking over to Alan, who seemed utterly grateful to be relieved of his civil duties.

“What happened?” he asked Aldrich, a muscle in his jaw clenching. I’m sure he was not happy about being unable to fight alongside his friend.

“We managed to cut down most of them, the others retreated,” Aldrich responded curtly.

Alan knew what this meant, and so did I.

“You have to go to battle,” I murmured, looking up at him grimly.

He snaked his arm around my waist. “Alan and I will have to go right after I make the

announcement that we are once again entering war. I have appointed most of the guards to man the estate.”

I nodded, remaining quiet for a moment before looking at both of them pointedly. “I’m coming with you.”

Alan laughed right in my face. Aldrich paled as white as the vampires outside.

“After your little spectacle in the woods, I would say you did not pass the army tryout,” Alan scoffed, “don’t let good luck make you cocky.”

I shot a cold glare at him.

“Excuse me?” Aldrich perked up, casting an accusatory look at me.

“Oh relax,” I sighed. “Alan here was caught off guard and I stepped in. The exact reason you should let me come. He was almost overthrown by a stray vampire, Aldrich. I did what I had to do.”

“Yes, I was overthrown for two seconds, and you were quite literally thrown. Ten feet,” Alan sassed.

“You took on a vampire all by yourself? Are you crazy?” Aldrich barked scathingly, looking appalled.

“I am stronger than you think,” I glared at him now,

“I see you’re still deeming me helpless.”

Aldrich sighed, knowing this argument would get us nowhere. Especially in the middle of a war.

“Cathy…” he said, hanging his head

exasperatedly, “I am more aware than anyone how badass you are, alright? But if I’m busy worrying about you in battle, I’ll get killed. This needs my full focus.”

“You won’t have to worry,” I insisted stubbornly.

He suddenly drew me into him, cupping my face in his hands. “Easy. I have faith in you, even if that’s hard to believe,” he said softly as Alan stifled laughter, “You also need to stay here for our son. If you won’t do it for me, do it for him.”

I thought about the numb, haunted look in his eyes. It didn’t take me long to purse my lips in reluctant agreement, looking down at the floor defeatedly. “You’re right.”

“You’re a mother,” Alan quoted me from before, his expression softening, “not a soldier.”

“Alright,” I whispered, already dreading how worried I will be while sitting around helpless again. What if he’s at war for a whole other plethora of months again? I nearly didn’t make it out alive last time.

Aldrich and Alan managed to quiet down the foyer, all eyes desperately on them. They announced that they have rounded the troops to fight off the vampire attack and to no longer. The people easily believed them. I didn’t blame them; they were like real life superheroes.

Before they set off, Aldrich grabbed me and pulled me close in front of everyone.

“I love you, my Cathy,” he said, reaching down to press our lips together. He kissed me passionately, our lips moving together like they knew what was going to happen. I prayed this would not be our last.

“To our future king and queen!” someone cheered, and the rest followed. The entire foyer combusted into a chorus of praise, toasting to us, celebrating our power and reign.

It was such a joyful little moment, I almost admitted to him that I loved him, but I told myself I would tell him when he returns.

I didn’t have the courage to tell him such a thing yet.

“Be safe,” I pleaded, immediately feeling cold when he released me, “come back to me.”

“I always do,” he grinned at me with deep affection, dimples prominent.

As the crowd watched us, I looked around at our supportive estate and village, smiling. Amid it all, I caught a glimpse of Danika who must have returned from putting Theo to bed.

She was observing the scene from the shadows, distinct and jarring envy in her eyes.