Ch. 201..205: Alpha King’s Lost Luna Chapter 201-205
Chapter 201 A note
We sat there in silence, and as I held Finnick tightly in my lap, Erika and I gazed at each other sadly. It seemed as if no one knew what to say. My mind was in a million different places and I wasn’t sure what thought to act on.
I was so grateful to have Finnick and Erika with me, but I was sad that we were all in this position. Guilt flooded through me as I ran my fingers through Finnick’s soft dark hair and I fought the urge to cry.
Erika released a soft sigh and wilted a little.
“Is this it?” she wondered quietly. “We are leaving our homeland for an unknown
country?”
I nodded. “I’m afraid so. I’m so sorry that I got you involved in my mess again,
Erika. This is all my fault.”
But the maid shook her head and reached out to touch my arm. “Don’t be silly, honey. That’s not what I meant. I’m more worried about you. As far as I’m concerned, I’m bored with Anemond anyway. If we have to leave, let’s make the best of it.”
I knew she was just trying to cheer me up, and I appreciated her kindness in such a terrible situation.
Finnick suddenly shook his head and gazed up at me. His lovely gray eyes were wide but his expression was serious. “I agree with Aunt Erika, Mommy. I don’t like Anemond and I don’t like Prince Marco. As long as I’m with you, I don’t mind where we go. I’ll keep you safe.”
He smiled up at me and I leaned down and kissed his forehead.
We snuggled up for a moment and I gazed beyond us at the window on the far side of the room. Looking through it, I could see the downpour and the misty
surroundings, and I thought of Asher. My heart began to ache as I imagined his beautiful face and for a moment, I was about to cry.
I wasn’t sure what had happened to him and I hadn’t had time to worry about him before. With all of the commotion, my mind had been in a thousand spots, but now that things were quiet, the Alpha King was at the forefront of my thoughts.
I couldn’t imagine if something terrible happened to him.
If he had been hurt by Kaleb… I didn’t know what I would do.
Just as I began to panic, I tried to force myself to not think about it. But then… if Asher was fine, where was he now? Had he known that I had left Anemond? Was
he looking for me now?
I glanced over at Erika. “Do you have a pen or something I can use to write
something?”
The maid’s eyebrows crinkled as she thought about it and then she perked up. “There are some crayons I brought in a bag for Finnick to color with. And some paper as well. Would that work?”
“Perfectly,” I replied, and I offered her a smile. She smiled back and then got up from her chair and walked over to where she’d placed her backpack. She rooted around in the pack for a moment and then retrieved the materials.
I accepted them gratefully and Finnick climbed out of my lap without another word. He patiently sat beside Erika and studied me quietly.
“What are you going to write?” Erika wondered.
“I’m going to leave a note for Asher,” I replied.
She frowned again in confusion. “A note?”
I nodded. “I know this house is for the patrolling soldiers to rest at night. If I leave a note here, one of them is likely to find it.”
“Is it a letter of help, then?” she asked.
“Sort of,” I said, and then sadness ran through me. “But it’s more of a letter of farewell.”
Erika nodded solemnly and didn’t ask more.
***
Not long after I finished the letter, someone knocked on the door.
“The rain is letting up, Healer Cas sandra,” a guard called out from the other side. “We need to leave.”
“Just a minute!” I called out quickly and then I glanced at Erika.
“Where will you hide the letter?” she asked me in a low voice, and she peered
around the room.
There was only a cot, a table, and several chairs, so there was no good place to
hide my note.
Even though I didn’t have a plan, I placed my finger on my lips and then folded the letter and put it in my pocket. Once it was there, I walked over to open the door. I knew better than to keep these villainous guards waiting, not when Finnick’s
safety was at sake.
The guard on the other side glared at me as I stepped out and his dark eyes darted around the room. He studied us with an intense gaze and then nodded once.
“Follow me,” he ordered, and then he walked down the hall.
Erika, Finnick, and I obeyed his harsh command. I let them get ahead of me, once they were occupied, ‘quickly slid the folded letter back into the room from under the door.
Sweat broke out across my forehead. I had no idea if the letter would find Asher, but I hoped and prayed that he would get ahold of it.
We met Kaleb out in the parlor and the Northern King eyed me with a raised
eyebrow.
tone.
“Did you have a good rest, Healer Cas s andra?” he asked me in a lofty sort of
5%D
“Yes,” I replied quickly and then I offered him a fake smile of gratitude. “Thank you for allowing me a moment to breathe. I’m feeling much better now.”
“Good,” he remarked, and then he turned to the guard, who offered him a nod. When he turned back to us, his expression was much more serious. “It’s time to get
back to our journey. Let’s go.”
Finnick grabbed my hand, and I looked down at him and squeezed it. He nodded at me and then rolled his shoulders back.
My brave little boy.
We walked out of the house and as we stepped out into the misty forest, I glanced back at the closed door wistfully. I hoped with all of my might that Asher would get the letter.
We were escorted back to the same car, and to my surprise, Kaleb got into the car with us. I wasn’t surprised that the king of Yurene was keeping us close, but I wished we could have had more privacy.
Once we were settled in, the car started up and continued to drive into the woods. I stared out the window and watched the trees go by. My eyes began to glaze over a little and I started to lose track of time.
We passed the final sentry post in Wegalla, and as we went by, I looked back and saw the light of the post gradually vanish as the car twisted onto another path.
It was my very first time leaving this country. Going from Anemond to Wild Crawler had been a big change of scenery, but this would be on a whole other level.
I didn’t know what was waiting for me.
But I could only hope for the best.
Chapter 202 Love forever and always
I continued running in the forest. My lungs cried out in pain with every stride, but I didn’t want to stop, not now. Silas raced alongside me, but I barely acknowledged his presence.
I wished this was a dream. I wished I could wake up and say that none of this was real, that I wasn’t in this position, and that everything was alright. But this wasn’t a dream. It was a living nightmare.
Ca ssandra was leaving.
I couldn’t allow that to happen.
When Silas told me what was happening, I couldn’t believe him. I had frowned and stared at the Beta in complete and total shock as his words set in. His golden. eyes had stared into mine with intensity and solemnity as he shared the truth, and though I knew he was being honest, part of me wished he was just being duplicitous.
But he wasn’t. Ca ssandra had been taken by the king of Yurene hours ago. He’d stolen her away while I’d been sedated by Adalyn at the military base.
Despite the heavy rain that likely delayed their departure, she had probably passed the borders of Wegalla and left the country entirely.
Rationally, I knew it was unlikely that I would catch up to her. But I was still running anyway. I would go to the ends of the earth for Ca ssandra.
As I dashed through the thick line of trees, I continued to ruminate on the situation. Despite his surname, I couldn’t blame Silas. He had proven his loyalty to me by saving Ector.
Before the Beta had told me that Ca ssandra had been taken by Kaleb, he
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Chapter 202 Love forever and always
informed me that Ector was in stable condition. He had borrowed a car from the military base and had driven Ector to Anemond. Once he arrived at the capital, he checked Cas sandra’s brother into Keller’s under a fake name and arranged for a royal healer to look after him.
I was relieved that Ector was alright. His absence had been a major cause of concern and I was grateful that the Beta had made sure he was safe and far away from Oliver Moses’ clutches.
But when he told me about Kaleb and his dastardly intentions, I’d lost all sense of calm and grabbed him by the collar.
While I couldn’t blame the Beta for not being able to stop the Northern king, I was still angered.
At the end of the day, I couldn’t blame anyone but myself. It was my st upidity that made me lose her again. If I had claimed her and made her my Luna…
But there was no point in considering the possibilities. She was leaving me, and
I was losing her. That was the only thing that remained in my mind. It was an imminent nightmare, and I knew that my life was going to fall into darkness yet again.
So, I kept running.
I knew well that this was all possibly in vain. Ca sandra was probably well past the borders. But I couldn’t stop. Following after her was the only thing that gave me hope.
After a while, I could taste blood in my mouth. I knew that my eyes were probably bloodshot and my muscles were crying out in anguish. Even my claws ached, and I was certain they were bleeding as well.
Suddenly, in the distance, I saw a wooden house. I wasn’t sure if it was the same one I had seen when I was running back to Anemond from the military base, but they looked very similar.
I remembered the figures I had seen and stopped in place. What if they hadn’t
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been rogues as I’d suspected and were the diplomatic corps of Yurene? What if one of them had been Ca ssandra?
I couldn’t get the idea out of my mind and immediately dashed to the wooden house.
Silas followed suit and we shifted out of our wolf forms and into our human
ones.
As we entered the house, Silas flipped a switch and lit up the entry, and we quickly spotted ash and dry wooden branches in the fireplace. The Beta squatted down and touched the brick-laden structure, and his eyebrows crinkled with
concern.
“Someone lit a fire here,” he noted. “But they must have left a while ago. The ground is cold now.”
I nodded but didn’t speak.
Since it was only meant to be a place to stop and rest, there were only two rooms in the wooden house. I approached the first door on the left, and when I stepped inside and flipped the light switch, I found a folded piece of paper lying on the floor as if it were waiting to be picked up.
I grabbed it and my heart ski pped a beat when I saw my name written on the
front.
To Asher Collins.
A lump formed in my throat and my hands began to shake.
It was written in Cas sandra’s handwriting.
I held my breath for a moment and my head began to ache. I steeled the worst and my claws dug deep into my hands as I opened the letter.
myself for
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Chapter 202 Love forever and always.
My Dearest Asher,
25%D
By the time you read this, I’ll have left the country already.
I want you to know that I didn’t leave you willingly, and if I had another choice, I wouldn’t have gone. But the fact of the matter is, I didn’t see another way to get out
of this.
I know you’re likely worried about me, but I want you to know that I’m fine, and Finnick is fine as well. Our safety has pretty much been guaranteed, so please don’t fret.
The reason I’m writing this letter to you is this- I don’t want you to look for me or try to save me from Yurene. I wouldn’t be so pompous to think that you would launch a war against the North for me, but I want you to know that it isn’t the right time for me to make my escape. I will do it in time, of course, but not now.
I don’t believe I’ll be mistreated in Yurene since Kaleb needs me to cooperate. This is all to do with Emmett Keller. He had some involvement in Yurene, and the king needs a piece of information that he believes Emmett left behind. I intend to find the truth behind Emmett and Yurene. Asher, I think there’s a big conspiracy here that is related to Wegalla as well. Kaleb told me that Yurene’s true target is Wegalla.
You need to be careful about this. Oliver Moses is working with the Northern king and is plotting against your crown and the country.
While I sort through this mess of a situation in Yurene, I want you to fight your battle in Anemond and be the great Alpha King I know you can be. I know it’s going to be hard, so much so that you might want to give up, but I need you to win. I believe in you more than anything else and know you have the power to triumph, but I want you to be cautious, Asher. Don’t get yourself hurt on my behalf. I’d never forgive myself if you were injured fighting my battles. I’ve involved too many people in this mess. I can’t risk you getting hurt.
Know that we aren’t fighting alone. Though we’re in different battlefields, we’re
Chapter 202 Love forever and always
fighting together, and working toward a future where we won’t be separated again.
I love you, Asher.
I’ll love you forever and always.
– Ca ssandra
Chapter 203 Left you something
C
CA SSANDRA
As the car drove past the borders of Wegalla and into those of Yurene, it was very late into the night. Finnick was fast asleep on my lap, and I ran my hands through his soft, dark brown hair. It was a ritual of ours, one that put the child at ease almost immediately. He’d been so nervous as the ride had continued, so I’d pulled him close and tried to get him to relax.
Beside me, Erika had her elbow propped up against the window, and her eyes were closed. I didn’t know if she was asleep or simply resting, as we hadn’t spoken since we’d first gotten into the car, but I couldn’t blame her if she weren’t asleep. How could we dream so easily when we were leaving the place of our birth, not knowing if we would ever return?
The car kept driving in the deep, dense forest before we reached the other side of the trees and came up on a town. The light was spar se and dim, but I could make out a sign that read “Gliolis” in the distance.
What a strange name, I thought as the car drove down the winding road slowly. I supposed that everything in this foreign land would seem strange, and a knot formed in my stomach. I knew I’d made the right decision, the only decision to be made at the time, but it didn’t mean that I was feeling particularly brave about it. I was putting on a face for Finnick, but inside… inside, I was terrified.
Kaleb turned around from the passenger side and cleared his throat.
“We’re going to rest in this town tonight,” the king of Yurene announced in a considerately quiet voice. “Then we’ll depart in the morning and continue on our way.”
I didn’t say anything in response because I knew the foreign monarch wasn’t asking me but telling me. But his tone was surprisingly soft and gentle. I was surprised by the calmness, though I still didn’t trust him.
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The driver stopped the car just outside of an inn. I glanced up at it through the window and was surprised by the sight. It was nothing much, just two stories, but I’d been prepared for something worse. I knew Kaleb wasn’t going to put us in shackles or anything, but we were prisoners of a sort, so I hadn’t expected us to go
somewhere nice.
As Kaleb exited the car, I took a moment to steady myself and then roused Finnick. He sat up slowly and then blinked his large gray eyes at me.
“Mommy?” he asked as he glanced around. “What’s going on?”
“We’re stopping for the night, honey,” I explained, and then I offered him a small smile. “Come on, follow me. We’ll get you into a bed, okay?”
Finnick nodded and then turned to Erika. The maid opened her eyes and then let out a soft sigh. She glanced at me for a moment and offered me a small smile of her own. After I exchanged the gesture, we stepped out of the vehicle.
Kaleb led us inside but didn’t say a word. His guards and diplomats followed along, and we were stuck in the middle of the group.
The receptionist was an old woman. She lolled against the counter, book in hand, but her dark eyes were half-closed. As our group approached the counter, she yawned and lifted her head in surprise. When she scanned the room, her eyebrows knitted together in confusion. She seemed taken aback by the number of potential guests and flashed us a warm smile as we filtered into the lobby.
“Good evening,” she greeted us. “Welcome to my inn.”
Kaleb and his diplomats looked utterly exhausted and didn’t speak. Instead, the guards did most of the talking and arranged rooms with the old woman. I half-expected the woman to recognize the king of the country, but she didn’t seem to notice him. Perhaps there were simply too many people present.
We were ushered into a room on the second floor, and I was grateful that Kaleb allowed Erika, Finnick, and me to stay together. I’d been worried about us being split up, but the king of Yurene assured us that we would be in the same room tonight.
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“Would you like a hot bath?” the old woman asked kindly once we stepped into the room. “If you need one, I will prepare it immediately, but you will have to wait an hour. I rarely have guests this season,
and the boiler room isn’t functioning at the moment.”
The North was much colder than Wegalla, and a hot shower would be nice, but when she led us to the bathroom and I saw the stained bathtub, I declined her offer.
The room was far below Anemond’s standards, but than kfully, the sheets were clean. The room had two beds, a small bedside table, and a clock. Kaleb informed us that we only had a few hours to sleep and advised us to get into bed right away.
After the old lady brought us some hot water and clean towels, we thanked her and then closed the door of the room. Erika and I didn’t speak much; just wished each other a good night’s sleep, and then we turned off the light and crawled into bed.
Silence hung in the room, but there was nothing to say. We had yet to learn what awaited us tomorrow or what Yurene would be like. It seemed we were both too nervous to talk about it, so I snuggled Finnick close and soon drifted off.
My dreams that night were strange.
Emmett appeared to me, clad in a black robe. It was apparent that he was a sorcerer now, not the healer I’d grown to know. He was facing me, but his face was
blurred.
Had I already forgotten how he looked?
Or maybe I had never seen his true face. Perhaps his actual appearance was different, just like his identity.
He apologized at once./”I’m sorry for involving you in this, Ca ssandra.”
“What do you mean?” I asked, and then a question appeared in my mind. “Was it you who took my wolf spirit, Emmett?”
He nodded. “I had to do it.”
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As anger swelled within me, I leaped forward and tried to grab him, but he moved backward at the last second. I tried drawing closer, but it was no use. I couldn’t touch him or kick him. Tears welled up in my eyes.
“Why did you do this?” I asked as I cried. “Why did you take it from me?”
“I had to,” he replied. “I hope you understand-”
“Understand?” I repeated back, and then I laughed. How could I understand him when he’d taken away something so important? Not being able to shift into my animal form left me with only half of an identity. I wasn’t myself without my wolf.
Was it also part of his plan that he saved me from the burning house and sheltered me in Wild Crawler? Was it because he wanted to use me one day for his
own hidden purposes?
But I didn’t ask. I was too afraid to. After all, what was the point of asking in a
dream? There was no way the answers could be real.
But Emmett spoke again anyway. “You need to stop Kaleb, Ca ssandra. He’s a liar. He’s horrible and ruthless.”
He took a step closer to me. “I left something for you, Ca ssandra, and you’re the only one who could use it. And the thing…”
His voice suddenly trailed off, and another voice appeared in the distance. It was m uffled at first and then became clear.
I woke up to find Erika crouching down beside me. The voice had belonged to her. The maid’s hand was on my forehead, and her kind eyes were wide with
concern.
“Ca ssandra?” she asked quietly. “Are you alright?”
Chapter 204 Mysterious woman
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CA SSANDRA
I blinked in confusion and tried to gather myself, but my heart raced, and my head felt as if it were drowning in a sea of thoughts.
Beams of sunlight filtered in through the window, which told me it was already morning. That dream had felt so short, but hours had passed by like minutes.
“I’m sorry to wake you,” Erika apologized when I met her eyes again. “I found you shaking and grew worried. Your teeth were clenched, and you were whimpering. Did you have a nightmare, honey?”
I shook my head, but only a little. It wasn’t exactly a nightmare, though it had been unpleasant. I wondered if “Emmett” would have told me something useful if my dream hadn’t been interrupted. I didn’t believe the dream would have been prophetic, but I wondered if my late husband had indeed left me something like he’d said.
He must have because otherwise, why was Kaleb so determined to bring me to the North? But what could it be? Emmett hadn’t left me anything besides thick medical tomes and some of his notebooks. Nothing in those books seemed suspicious… but had I missed something?
Part of me wanted to scream in frustration. This was all such a tangled mess. All I wanted was to go back to my life at Kellers and divide my time between patients, Finnick, and Asher. I dreamed of a world that didn’t involve warring Packs, military coups, mysterious illnesses, and hidden identities. I just yearned for a
normal life.
But I knew that wasn’t possible. I was too deep in it now to go back to living a normal, carefree life.
I managed to gather myself and convince Erika that I was fine, and though the maid didn’t seem all that convinced, she let the subject go. We woke Finnick up a bit
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later, and soon after, a guard arrived at our door and informed us it was time to
leave.
25%L
We tidied the room quickly, left the inn, and filed back into the car. Just like last. night, we remained silent, and once Kaleb was seated in the passenger seat, the driver started the car, and we resumed our journey.
I stared out the window the entire time and admired the snow on the ground. It wasn’t a thick layer, but it was enough to make me stare in wonder. Though Yurene thus far was different than Wegalla, it reminded me a lot of Wild Crawler in the winter. It was full of forests and wildlife, something that was wholly absent in the bustling city of Anemond.
It was already noon when we finally arrived to a place Kaleb informed me was called Vlokwell. It was a large city, resembling Anemond, but with much fewer people. The streets weren’t even remotely bustling, and there were half as many tall buildings. I was taken aback by the architecture. Everything was all white and gray brick, giving it a sort of gloomy, wintery feeling.
Eventually, the car stopped at a palace, or rather, a large structure more like a castle or fortress. The white brick walls were very high, with towers rising into the sky and a large, s piked gate surrounding it. The many windows of the palace were covered by thin black bars, and I noted that the structure’s stone sparkled in the sunlight. It was beautiful but strange to see.
The gate was patrolled by several guards outfitted in heavy silver armor, and as they let us through and into the palace grounds, I wondered if Yurene was at war. I wasn’t sure if they had any conflicts with any of the surrounding countries or Pack s at the present, but the security here was obviously strict. We had passed quite a few sentries after entering Vlokwell, and I had the feeling that once we entered the palace, there would be many more security checks.
When the car stopped, Kaleb turned around to face us.
“Welcome to my palace,” he said, and though he still appeared tired, there was a glint in his dark blue eyes.
We got out of the car, and as we followed the king into the castle, he spoke
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again.
25%B
“I have a meeting with all of the diplomats, so I’ll be indisposed for a while,” he announced, and he ran his hand over his golden brown hair to smooth it. “I trust you can handle yourselves in my absence.”
He introduced us to the head ser ant, a woman named Ms. Benn. She was a serious woman with pale blue eyes, a slightly pinched mouth, and blonde hair that was pulled back into a neat bun. She greeted us simply, and then Kaleb turned to
me.
“Ms. Benn will take you to your room,” he said. “I’ll visit you when I have the
time.”
I nodded and shoved down the lump in my throat. When the king left us, Ms. Benn escorted us to our room, which was located in the side building. She didn’t speak much, but I was alright with that.
The room was clean and large, though somewhat sterile and plain. Like the rest of the palace, the walls and floors were white, and while there was a little color from the pale blue bedspreads, it wasn’t enough to feel comfortable. Though it had many amenities, like the enormous beds, a desk, a small dining area, and a sitting room, this place was akin to an ice palace. Cold and uninviting.
“If you need anything else, come visit me in my parlor,” Ms. Benn announced after she finished the tour of the room. “It’s located at the left corner of the first
floor.”
us.
“Thank you,” I replied, and after she gave me a slight nod, the head se rvant left
Once we were alone, Erika and I exchanged a glance, and then she offered me
a bitter smile.
“It feels like a prison,” she commented, and I nodded. She was right. The whole castle felt like a well- guarded prison. There weren’t any guards inside because there was no need for them. The walls surrounding the place were thick and high. Looking through the window, I could see nothing but the gate.
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Strange.
As we began to unpack, I realized Finnick had been quiet since our arrival. While normally, that wasn’t too unusual, I noticed that his face and lips were pale. Since our departure from the inn this morning, he had been sleeping in Erika’s arms, but I hadn’t thought much about it.
When I placed my hand on his forehead, I realized he had a fever.
Erika laid him on the bed, and I checked his temperature to confirm my suspicions. I supposed it could be a cold due to the quick weather change.
I tried to keep him warm and wrapped a thick blanket around him. I held his hand and rubbed his back with the other gently.
He didn’t say anything; just closed his eyes and shivered
After a couple of hours, I began to wonder if it was more than just a cold. Despite the heavy blanket, Finnick wasn’t sweating at all, and his fever persisted. His lips were not only pale but had started to turn purple.
I knew I needed to seek help at once.
“Can you keep an eye on him?” I asked Erika, and once she nodded, I swiftly left the room and hurried down the winding staircase to the first floor. I followed Ms. Benn’s instructions and found the parlor, but it was locked. I glanced at the clock. It was 3:00 PM, yet the space seemed rather empty, with no se rvants in the long, white marble hallway.
I wasn’t sure what to do. I needed help, but no one was around. I wondered if I should yell and call out for someone. But I heard a woman’s voice behind me before I could do so.
“What are you doing here?”
I turned around to find a young woman standing there. She was beautiful, with high cheekbones, large, curious greenish-blue eyes, tanned skin, and shoulder-length wavy black hair. She was quite tall and had a thin but subtly
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muscular build. She wasn’t wearing armor or a se rvant’s attire, so I wasn’t sure what her station was, nor her identity.
“I’m looking for Ms. Benn,” I explained.
“Ms. Benn is usually busy at this time and is probably in the kitchen overseeing dinner preparations,” the young woman explained, her voice heavily accented like Kaleb’s. “What do you need?”
Her tone was polite and hospitable enough, so I quickly explained Finnick’s
current condition and asked if there was a healer in the castle.
The woman nodded thoughtfully. “There isn’t a healer here, but I know what you’re talking about. It sounds like a poison, but don’t be worried. I can help.
Chapter 205 A sorceress
CA SSANDRA
Poison.
My heart nearly ski p ped a beat upon hearing it, and panic rose up from my chest. I felt my lower lip tremble, but before I could get too upset, I studied the woman’s expression. Though this was a dire situation, she didn’t seem too alarmed. In fact, she seemed rather confident.
If she said she could handle it, I needed to at least halfway trust her.
“Okay,” I said reluctantly, and then we headed back up to my room. As we ascended the stairs, I introduced myself. “My name is Ca ssandra Keller.”
I wasn’t sure how much to tell about myself in case Kaleb didn’t want me to. I wasn’t sure if anyone knew about me here, but I didn’t want to put myself in hot water just in case.
“My name is Raven,” the woman said, but she didn’t reveal her occupation. “And just for future reference, there aren’t many servants in the side building, so if you need to find one, you’ll need to go into the main building.”
“Is that permitted?” I wondered, my tone expressing my uncertainty.
“Of course,” Raven replied. “Why would anyone need permission to ask for help?”
She seemed a little confused by my question and continued speaking. “How long have you been here, Ca ssandra? I haven’t seen you before.”
“I just arrived a few hours ago,” I explained, and then the young woman nodded.
“I see,” she remarked.
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Upon reaching our room, Raven approached Finnick and immediately checked his condition. Erika stared at me in confusion at the sight of the beautiful girl, but I simply shrugged and mouthed that I would explain later.
Meanwhile, Raven touched my son’s forehead and examined him closely, and after a few minutes, she turned back to face me.
“There’s no need to worry,” she stated, retrieving a small bottle from her pocket and handing it over to me. “He will be fine once he takes the antidote.”
Naturally, I found this whole situation suspicious.
“Why would Finnick be poisoned if he hadn’t consumed anything special?” | wondered as my eyes narrowed in her direction. “We haven’t eaten at all today.”
“It’s the forest mist,” Raven explained, and my eyes widened in confusion. “It’s poisonous and acts as a barrier.”
A poisonous barrier?
Erika and I stared at each other in shock as her words set in. Who would invent
such a thing?
“Then why were we unharmed?” I wondered.
“You were likely given antidotes beforehand,” she said with a shrug. “Perhaps in your water. It’s common when newcomers arrive in Vlokwell. Antidotes are given without notice. However, some individuals, like children and the elderly, might still fall ill due to their relative weakness.”
I remembered that Finnick had been sleeping the whole trip, meanwhile, Erika
and I had been handed bottles of water during the car ride. I hadn’t forced Finnick
to drink since he was asleep.
Raven seemed to notice my hesitation and simply smiled. “I understand your concern, Ca ssandra. But if your son doesn’t take the antidote promptly, the poison could permanently impair his body.”
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I stared at my son, and my stomach twisted at the thought of all of this. While I wasn’t happy or comfortable with giving my child an unknown vial of liquid, I could see that his condition was worsening, and there was no time to waste.
So, I decided to trust Raven. I reasoned that I had no other choice, and besides, I couldn’t see a reason why she would harm a child. It seemed cruel, even by Yurene’s standards.
“Go ahead,” I said, and with no hesitation, Raven administered the antidote. She gently opened Finnick’s mouth and poured the contents of the vial into it. He made a face at the taste, but it only lasted a moment. He laid back down, and she tucked
the blanket around him.
A few minutes later, color returned to his cheeks lips, and relief flooded through me. A few minutes more, and he appeared to be back to normal.
him.
“Mommy?” he prompted me, and I rushed over and wrapped my arms around
“I’m here, baby,” I assured him, and then I glanced at Raven. She simply shrugged and smiled at me, and then I expressed my gratitude. “Thank you, Raven. I appreciate it.”
“It was nothing,” she replied humbly, and then she sat down in a chair nearby. The gesture indicated that she wasn’t going to leave immediately, so I decided to show her some hospitality.
“Erika, can you prepare some tea?” I requested.
“Tea?” Raven repeated back, and when I nodded at her slowly in confusion, she tilted her head to the side. “That sounds like a Southern thing.”
I’d seen Kaleb do that exact gesture many times, which led me to believe it was very Yurenian.
I smiled. “Yes, it is, I suppose. We’re from the South. Wegalla, specifically.”
Raven’s big blue-green eyes widened further in surprise, and then she
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Chapter 205 A sorceress
murmured. “You seem more… civil… than I’d expect.”
“Civil,” I repeated back. I wasn’t sure how else to respond, and then she spoke again.
“It’s your manner of speech and behavior,” she explained. “I noticed it downstairs when you were looking for Ms. Benn. Compared to everyone else here, you seem overly polite… worried about what others would say. No one here would be concerned about that. You can do anything you like here.”
She paused and then flashed me a white-toothed grin. “Except killing, of
course.”
I was immediately taken aback and glanced at Erika in fear. The maid’s eyes were equally frightened, and I was glad that Finnick had fallen back asleep after taking the antidote. Raven was a little unnerving, and I didn’t know how to handle
her words.
Raven then chuckled at me. “It was a joke, Ca ssandra.”
I managed to smile, though it was quite a savage “joke.” “Of course.”
The young woman’s eyes narrowed mischievously. “Were you brought here by our king?”
I nodded, though I wasn’t sure why she seemed so strange about it. “Yes, we
were.”
“Are you the king’s mistress?” she blurted out, and heat spread to my cheeks instantly.
“No!” I exclaimed. “No, I’m not a mistress! I’m a healer. The king invited me to the North because of my skills in medicine-”
“A healer?” Raven cut me off, and she frowned deeply. “Why would he need a healer? Of course, I don’t mean to belittle you, but a healer is useless here.”
“What do you mean?” I asked in confusion. A healer was always useful. There
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were always burns, scrapes, illnesses, and wounds to attend to. I was constantly busy treating people. Surely, a healer would be needed in a castle as big as this.
Raven suddenly snapped her fingers, and Erika let out a yelp.
“The kettle’s button turned on without me touching it!” she exclaimed.
I glanced between her and Raven, and then I gulped heavily as I understood. The woman raised a thick, dark eyebrow.
“Do you understand now?” she asked me, her head tilting yet again.
I did, though I was in complete shock. Of course, this place wouldn’t need a healer. They had sorcerers and sorceresses.
And Raven was one of them.