Ch. 31..35: Alpha King’s Lost Luna Chapter 31-35
Chapter 31 Her grave
CA SSANDRA
The dream began just like many others before it.
I knelt on the floor, begging the intruder to see Asher until my throat was raw. But the soldiers never listened.
Their faces were black, undiscernible no matter how much I stared at them. They were like shadows, mocking my every word, my every whimper, my every cry.
As my voice caught in my throat, one of the shadow men took a step forward and gripped my arm. He pulled me harshly to my feet, gripped my face, and pried my mouth open. I kicked and kicked, but the effort was useless. The shadow man forced a liquid down my throat, and as it streamed into my mouth, I began to gag. It was cold and harsh and burned every bit of the way down.
My mind started to swirl as the room spun around me. I collapsed to the cold ground and froze, unable to move.
The shadow men spit and snarled at me. They cursed me, called me an indecent, terrible woman, and swore that I deserved every bit of what came next. And then, they left the room, locking the door behind them as I sobbed and shook.
Then, the smell of smoke- soft, at first, but then it filled the room. My eyes burned and my skin itched as I struggled to breathe, but I couldn’t move. I was frozen, trapped on the ground, unable to scream.
Fire consumed me until there was nothing left.
“Mommy?” a small voice woke me up, and then suddenly, a push rocked my body. I woke with a start and startled Finnick, who stood beside my bed.
“Finnick?” I managed to say and then I shot him a confused glance. “What’s… what’s going on?”
“Are you having bad dreams again, Mommy?” Finnick wondered, and his serious gray eyes stared into mine with concern.
Truth be told, I’d been having nightmares every night since I’d arrived in Anemond. They varied in subject, but they mostly centered around Finnick in Asher. In those dreams, in particular, Asher discovered Finnick’s identity and wanted to take him far away from me. The Alpha King would stare deeply into my eyes as they hauled Finnick away kicking and screaming, and then a mysterious fire would appear and engulf the room with flames.
They always ended in flames and me waking
un with a scream.
Sometimes, the mu ffled screams against my pillows would wake Finnick up. On those nights, I repeated the same story- that I was just exhausted these days and was struggling to adjust to life in Anemond.
Finnick never seemed to believe me, but he respected my words and didn’t pry further.
“I’m okay,” I assured him now, and then I kissed his forehead. “I’m going to go for a walk, baby. Why don’t you get back to bed and try to get some rest?”
“Can I come too?” my son inquired, but I shook my head.
“I need you to get some rest,” I repeated softly, and I ran my hand through his hair. “I’ll come tuck you in, okay?”
“Okay,” he murmured, and he nodded his head politely. I climbed out of bed and then crossed our large room until I was over in Finnick’s area. I helped him into bed and then pulled up the plush white comforter around him and secured the sides.
Finnick let out a small sound of contentment. His new bed was far more comfortable than the one back home, and aside from my nightmares interrupting him every so often, he was sleeping much better here. The feeling was bittersweet. I was glad my son wasn’t upset about his new living quarters, but I was sad that I’d never feel comfortable here, no matter how fine our surroundings were.
There was simply too much hurt, too many bad memories.
“I love you, Finnick,” I whispered, and I kissed his forehead.
“I love you too,” Finnick replied, and then he closed his eyes. About two minutes later, his breathing changed, and he slipped right back into sleep. I smiled down at him. He was an angel for caring about me the way he did.
Once I was sure he was asleep, I crept to the door and slipped out into the hallway.
It’d been nearly a week since we’d come here to Anemond, and I’d made few breakthroughs. Asher had supplied me with a small lab here in the palace, along with an assistant, a young woman named Becky. Becky was a quiet girl, not nearly as talkative as Marley, but she was intelligent and very helpful. She also didn’t ask as many questions, which is why I assumed Asher had appointed/her to help me.
The Alpha King had also assigned Finnick a babysitter to take care of him while I worked. She was a nice older lady who seemed very attentive to my son’s needs. I’d wanted to request Erika, but I couldn’t. As much as it pained me, I needed to pretend I didn’t know her.
Every day, I would visit the Alpha King’s study at sunset and check the mark on his body. I had to wait until he was finished with his daily duties and appointments so it wouldn’t alert anyone else to the
matter.
At first, it was an awkward experience. With the proximity required to examine the mark, I could feel his hot breath every time I leaned in to examine the mark. As I studied his skin closely, I could feel his steel-like gaze on-me, and the warmth of his body radiated onto mine. The smell of his earthy cologne danced across my nose and reminded me of different times, times when he was mine and would press his lips against mine,..
But I would force myself to not get drawn into the appeal. I had to remain professional and attentive to his condition.
We hardly spoke during this time, and when we did, it was only about his symptoms and how he felt that day physically. He always kept it short and to the point.
Luckily, I also hadn’t seen Adalyn at all. I figured Asher’s wife was making it a point to stay away from me, which I didn’t mind at all.
Yet, I was still uneasy. Something here wasn’t right and I couldn’t put my finger on why.
I managed to make my way down the stairs mostly undetected. A few guards I’d come to know nodded as I walked by, but other than that, the dark palace was quiet.
I took the back way to the doors that led to the gardens and slipped outside. I wandered out into the cool night absently, enjoying the slight breeze as it tangled through my hair. My nightgown flared around me slightly, and I let out a sigh of relief. There wasn’t so much pressure to appear a certain way out here. I could breathe and allow myself to relax.
I wandered down past the beautiful, fragrant garden until I reached Othe expansive dew-covered lawns. The grass was cold against my feet, but it was a welcome sensation.
As I walked, I began to lose track of my destination. I allowed my mind to wander completely, forgetting all about Asher and Adalyn, and the nightmares that plagued me. I wasn’t sure how long I’d been out here until I stopped in place and became aware of my surroundings.
I had reached the gates of Rosepetal, my old mansion. A strange sensation traveled through me as I stared up at the white brick building and nostalgia rushed into my brain. It was the same as ever, just as beautiful as it’d been back then. Tall rosebushes were planted on the other side of the gate, and as I inhaled the red blooms deeply, it felt as if nothing had changed.
I knew it was a bad idea, but there was an indescribable feeling in my heart that told me to push the gate open. So, I did just that.
The lock was rusty, so I was able to get it open quite easily. I peered around to make sure I wasn’t being watched, and once I was certain there was no one around, I opened the front doors and entered the mansion.
I’d expected Rosepetal to look desolate and deserted, and yet, much to my surprise, the mansion was well-tended. The walls and floors, along with the furnishings, were pristine, and there was not even a trace of the inferno..
I continued down the marble floors until I reached the back doors that led to
the gardens. I stepped back outside, and when I did, I was pleasantly surprised again.
The gardens were even more beautiful than they’d been back then. Hundreds of rosebushes were arranged into paths and were filled with white blooms. Their fragrance filled the air with sweet perfume, and after I inhaled deeply, my eyes fell to the ground. Beautiful white stones paved the paths made by the roses and led to a point just beyond me. My eyes followed along the path and as I took a few steps forward, suddenly, I caught sight of something that made me freeze.
Since the mansion had been empty, I’d assumed there wouldn’t be anyone else here. And yet, a silhouette was standing at the edge of the garden. I gulped. Who was that?
Suddenly, they tilted their head, and I realized it was Asher.
I narrowed my eyes to see what he was standing in front of, but I couldn’t see it from back here. So, I took small, quiet steps until I reached a tall bush. I ducked down to make sure I wasn’t spotted, and once I was certain he hadn’t seen me, I peered over at Asher.
My heart stopped.
He was standing in front of a white marble tomb.
My eyes widened and I held my breath as I read the name engraved on the
grave.
Cora Felix.
Chapter 32 He protected her?
CA SSANDRA
My heart sk ipped a beat in my chest and every inch of my skin broke out in goosebumps.
Was this real?
Was that really my tomb?
But as I stared on at the marble monument, I knew it to be true. That tomb was indeed for Cora Felix.
Had Asher built it himself? And furthermore, did he have Rosepetal reconstructed? There was no other logical reason for the mansion to be intact after the inferno. The blaze had rendered everything damaged and destroyed.
I stared at the Alpha King and frowned. His stance, his bowed head… he appeared to be in mourning. As sad as it was, it made little sense to me, and many questions swirled around my mind like a tornado. Why did he do all of this? Was he sorry for me? Why had he left me alone that night and why didn’t he come to my rescue if he was so sad?
My instincts told me to run to him and demand answers, but after a moment of deliberation, I managed to get myself under control.
What would change if I got the answers anyway? It was too late. Cora Felix was long gone.
I decided the best course of action was to turn around and leave. If I was quiet enough I could slip right back over to the palace and put this strange encounter behind me. I could bring Finnick into my bed and snuggle him until I fell back asleep. Perhaps his mere presence would be enough to push the nightmares away.
I turned on my heels and started creeping forward. Each footstep was cautious
and careful until I accidentally lost my momentum and brushed against one of the rosebushes that lined the path. The thorns brushed the skin of my arms and I cried out a little in surprise. My hands suddenly flew to my mouth at the sudden sound.
“Shoot,” I whispered, and even though I said a silent prayer that Asher hadn’t heard, it wasn’t enough.
“Cas sandra Keller?” the Alpha King’s voice called out angrily, and when I turned around, I saw him coming toward me swiftly. The cold light of the moon made his gray eyes even more piercing, and his nostrils flared as he glared at me. “What are you doing here?”
The moment he reached me, he lunged and gripped my arm. The sudden force made me cry out. He was angrier than I’d seen him before and heat spread to my cheeks as I fought back nervous tears.
“Y-Your M-majesty,” I stammered as I fought to find my words. “I’m s-sorry”
“What are you doing here?” he demanded again, his tone even more severe this time. I was in deep trouble, that much was certain.
“I didn’t mean to sneak about and watch you, Your Majesty,” I insisted as I fought back the lump in my throat. “I was… I was just taking a walk, but I got lost out on the grounds. There’s still so much of the palace I haven’t seen and the roses. were so beautiful…”
My lower lip trembled as the lies poured out of me, and my entire body shook with nervousness. Asher’s eyes narrowed suspiciously, but he lessened his grip. around my arm. He studied me for a while in silence, as if he were evaluating my lies. My heart thrummed in my chest like a hummingbird’s wings, and as his lips drew into an irritated line, I wondered what he was going to do to me.
“Do you know anything about Cora?” he asked finally, and it took all of my effort to keep from gasping in surprise.
“No, Your Majesty,” I managed, and then I shook my head for good measure. “I don’t.”
“Hmm,” he remarked, and then his glare intensified. “I think you’re lying Ca ssandra.”
“No, Your Majesty-” I insisted, but Asher raised his hand to silence me.
“I saw your expression just now,” the Alpha King said sternly. “If you were simply lost on the grounds, you wouldn’t have made that face at the mention of Cora. You must have known her or known about her. Unless you were stalking me-”
“I don’t know her, Your Majesty, and I wasn’t following you,” I pleaded with him. His lips curled downward into a frown, and he sighed. His grip suddenly tightened again and when he tugged, I accidentally bumped into his chest with a solid thud.
My heart raced even faster. I had no idea what was happening and what he was about to do to me.
Suddenly, I heard a noise behind us. It was a strange rustling sound, and when my eyes fell to the ground, I spotted an enormous viper heading toward us.
“Your Majesty!” I cried out as the beast hissed at us. Asher dropped my arm and gasped.
The viper was enormous, bigger than any I’d seen before. Its large body was studded with black and red scales, and even from here, I could see its pointed fangs.
It slithered toward us with incredible speed, and before I could react, it lunged right at me to attack.
There was no way to escape. I was trapped by the enormous snake. I closed my eyes at the last second, ready to be attacked. And yet, as braced myself for impact, it never came.
Moments later, a strange gurgling sound and a sudden thud.
My eyes flew open to a gruesome sight.
The black-scaled viper lay on the ground, its large body ripped open from its
mouth all the way to the bottom of its tail. Blood seeped onto the lawn and glinted crimson in the moonlight. My jaw dropped as I took in the sight, and then they raised to see Asher standing off to the side. His hand was raised in the air, blood dripping from his claws.
My voice caught in my throat as I fought to find the right words to say. The Alpha King had taken out that viper like it was nothing.
Suddenly, I spied a mark on Asher’s wrist. I took a step forward and horror spread through me.
He’d been bitten.
“Your Majesty-” I started to say, but before I could finish my sentence, Asher began to tremble. Perspiration broke out along his forehead and his entire body shook. Then, he collapsed to his knees wordlessly, his head practically falling from his neck as he slumped over.
“Asher!” I cried out, forgetting all formalities, and I dropped to the ground beside him. I wiped the sweat from his brow and then grasped his arm. His wrist had started to swell and his gray eyes were absent as they looked at a point beyond
1.
I tried to steady him, but he was much too big and heavy for me to hold up. Seconds later, he collapsed on top of me and the two of us fell onto the wet grass.
My efforts to push him off of me were useless.
“Stay with me!” I insisted.
Asher’s clammy cheek pressed against mine and the sound of his shallow breath filled my ears. Suddenly, a whimper, followed by a single sentence.
“Cora,” he whispered. “I miss you so much, Cora.”
Chapter 33 Troubles
CA SSANDRA
Why had there been a viper near the Palace?
And why had Asher uttered my true name before he’d lost consciousness in the garden?
The questions swirled around in my mind as I stared down at Asher. The Alpha King was fast asleep and tucked tightly into bed. His forehead was still shiny with- sweat and his chest heaved as he breathed laboriously.
Just after he’d been bitten by the viper, I’d screamed my head off and caught the attention of several guards out on the grounds. They’d rushed over to Rosepetal and helped get the king back to his room in the palace.
One of the guards, an older one whose name I couldn’t recall, had asked if I wanted the aid of the other royal healers, but I’d turned down the offer. I didn’t want to risk the others seeing the dark mark on Asher’s skin. Injured or not, I’d made a promise to keep the king’s disease a secret.
Since I’d been appointed as Asher’s private healer, the guards had no problem with me treating him personally. They’d even gone out and retrieved my medical supplies from the palace lab for me.
The viper’s body had been retrieved and sent to the lab with my assistant, Becky. I was assured that once the results were finished, they would be brought to me straight away.
Once I had my supplies, I had one of the guards remain at the door for me, and the other standing just outside the chamber. They’d granted me my privacy and allowed me the space to treat Asher.
I attempted to steady my hands as I cleaned the wound on his wrist, but it was no use. I was a complete and total wreck. Seeing Asher this way made my heart
ache in ways I didn’t know it could. I’d never been this way before. Emmett had always praised me for my calmness when it came to the horrific things I’d seen during medical treatment. I’d always been able to prioritize my patient’s health over my own emotions, but today…
Today I was scared.
But despite my fears, I took a long, deep breath and tried to concentrate. I needed to stay sharp and focused if I was going to be of any use here. Asher needed me to remain calm and collected.
I worked quickly and dabbed the bite carefully with my supplies. Once the wound was clean, I could begin to apply medicine to it and get the swelling under.. control.
Just as I set my rags down, I heard a commotion from outside the chamber.
“Lady Adalyn-” a guard’s voice called out, and then suddenly, the doors flew open, and in walked Asher’s wife.
Adalyn’s beautiful face was rendered furious. Her amber eyes were piercing as they bore into mine with sharp intensity, and for a moment, I thought her gaze was going to set me on fire.
“You murderer!” she hissed as she stormed into the room and raced towards me. Her hand was raised high and her finger pointed right at my face as her ivory nightgown billowed around.. “You backwoods piece of commoner trash! I bet this was all your doing!”
“Lady Adalyn,” I tried to reason with her, but it was of no use.
“Don’t you dare speak my name,” she practically growled as she drew closer. “I mean it. You’re a murderer and a conspirer. I’m willing to bet you used some kind of peasant black magic to control the
viper!”
“Lady Adalyn, please,” I pleaded with her as I took a step backward. “You’re not making any sense. I don’t have any type of magical abilities-”
“I told you not to speak my name!” Adalyn shouted, and then she lunged at me. I closed my eyes and braced for impact, but when it never came, I peeked and saw a guard restraining the Alpha King’s wife.
Let
“Release me!” she screamed at the guard, and when she reached toward me, her fingernails shifted into long, shiny claws.
“I’m sorry, my lady,” the guard apologized as he tried to hold Adalyn still, “Your cannot harm the royal healer, not when she’s treating the Alpha King.”
“Her?” she hissed. “Treating my husband? I don’t think so-”
Adalyn then let out a girlish shout and continued to thrash, but it was no use. The guard’s grip on her was too strong. Once I was certain she wouldn’t be able to break free, I stared deeply into her crazed eyes.
“It’s too late, Lady Adalyn,” I said coldly and calmly, and I raised my chin slightly. “As the king’s private healer, I’ve already started to administer the treatment. Besides, I’m the only one here in the palace with the knowledge needed to treat the viper bite. The beast was nearly identical to the one that bit Prince Marco back in the Wild Crawler Pack, and I was able to cure him quickly if you recall. So, if your don’t wish for the Alpha King to meet a tragic fate, you will please be quiet and allow me to work.”
Adalyn’s eyes shot daggers toward me and her nostrils flared. She opened her mouth as if she was going to speak, but then no sound came out.
Had I bested her? Did she know that she had no choice but to trust me and let me care for Asher like the healer I was?
She stopped thrashing about and stiffened. The
d’s oves were s
as they peered down at her, but after a moment, he released his hold on her. Part of me wanted to brace myself for an attack, but the other part knew I needed to stand my ground. Adalyn couldn’t bring me harm, not when the Alpha King’s life was at stake.
Her lower lip trembled, and then she raised her chin.
“Fine,” she said quietly. “Do what you must. But if anything goes wrong, I’m holding you personally responsible and will tear you limb from limb myself.”
Her tone dripped with irritation, but her posture suggested she wasn’t going to put up a fight. I waited until her arms were crossed in front of her to turn my attention back to Asher. His wife’s temper meant nothing to me right now. There was still work to be done if he was going to survive the night.
I continued what I was doing before Adalyn burst into the chamber. I reached into my healer’s pack and retrieved a few vials and containers I’d filled with herbs, salves, and ointments.
I hadn’t exactly lied to Adalyn. The viper in question had been similar to the one that had bitten her son back in Wild Crawler territory. Yet, the poison didn’t seem to be the same. I wasn’t entirely certain if the medicinal combination I was drafting in my mind was going to be effective or not, but that wasn’t going to stop me from
trying.
I poured all of the ingredients into a large bowl and mixed them together until they made a sort of chunky paste. The smell wasn’t the best, but medicine never was. I took a big scoop of it in my gloved hands and then carefully transferred it
over to Asher.
Before I applied a thick mass of it, I studied the bite on the Alpha King’s wrist. Unfortunately, the bite was still swollen, and Asher’s body was damp with sweat. I carefully used my other hand to touch his forehead. He was hot to the touch, which told me he still had a fever. I was a little worried.
Why had his condition not improved yet?
As I applied the herb salve onto the bit, a loud and concerned voice traveled into the chamber.
“What happened to my dear little brother? You must allow me to enter at once!”
Chapter 34 King’s brother
CA SSANDRA
Though it’d been a long time since I’d heard it, I recognized the voice almost immediately. I stiffened a little at the sound and turned around to see the commotion. Moments later, in walked Kane Collins.
Asher’s elder stepbrother.
I’d only met Kane a handful of times when we were younger, Back then, he was playful, with an air about him that made him easy to talk to and be around. But ever since my return to Merliscire Palace, I’d heard se rvants and guards alike whisper about the Alpha King’s brother. It was said that he’d become something of at womanizer, someone who cared more about his sexual desire more than his power.
I’d heard rumors of his conquests all throughout the palace and I couldn’t help but feel bad for his victims. It was a shame that Kane was no longer the person he had been years ago, but then again, none of us were. We’d all endured our own traumas and experiences that made us completely different people, myself especially.
“Lord Kane-” the guard at the door tried to stop him, but it was no use.
Kane looked exactly as he had before. He was incredibly tall and lean, with a tanned complexion and golden hair that glinted even in the dark chamber.. He was handsome, but his beauty was cold. His eyes were a bright blue, but his furrowed brow took away from their loveliness.
“I wish to see my brother,” Kane demanded, and as he moved closer, I realized there was someone behind him. I peeked around the Alpha King’s stepbrother, and when I caught sight of who had followed him into the chamber. I froze in place.
Another face I’d know anywhere, only this one less beautiful and more sullen. It belonged to Margaret Collins. Asher’s wicked stepmother and the former Luna of the Crescent Pack.
Margaret had come from a commoner family and had been under the employment of Asher’s mother up until her untimely death. Asher’s father, the former Alpha King, wasted no time and married Margaret right away. Back then, rumors and gossip had spread all around Anemond that she had seduced the Alpha King long before the Luna’s death.
Asher’s mother had been revered and loved by everyone, but this new woman… no one found her trustworthy. But it didn’t matter. She became the new Luna of the Crescent Pack, and everyone who despised her had to kneel at her feet.
At first, Margaret was cold but cordial. She treated everyone with an air of superiority, but she was mostly agreeable. However, her true intentions were revealed with time. She made it her sole priority in life to ruin things for Asher.
Margaret did everything she could to try to pull Asher from the line of succession. She tried to insert her own son-Kane- as the next in line, but luckily, her efforts were in vain.
Not only did she hate Asher’s family, but she hated mine as well. In her eyes, the Felix family- known for being the leader of the royal warriors- were always on the side of Asher Collins, which made us enemies.
To this day, I had a strong feeling that Margaret had been involved in the tragedy that ended my family. All those years ago, Asher’s stepmother alone had the opportunity to delude the old Alpha King and convince him of my father’s guilt. I’d always known that she was one of the ones responsible for his downfall. Back. then, I’d tried to find evidence, but my efforts were never fruitful.
I hated Margaret Collins just as much, if not more, as Asher did. For a moment, I didn’t even realize I’d been glaring at her until the older woman glared right back at me. Despite her wickedness and evil
demeanor, she was still just as beautiful as she’d been back then. Her chestnut brown hair fell in perfect waves down past her shoulders, and her almond-shaped eyes, the same shade of blue as Kane’s were perfectly shaded with makeup. Her full lips were pulled taught in a straight line as she stared at me suspiciously.
I averted my eyes quickly. Margaret was dangerous, even more so than Adalyn. She was a manipulative and power-hungry woman who would do anything to give
herself and her son an edge in this world. I couldn’t trust her even now.
“How is he?” Kane demanded when he reached Asher’s bedside, and before I
could stop him, he touched the Alpha King’s forehead. “He’s so warm. How long has
he been this feverish?”
‘He’s been this way for nearly an hour,” I answered him calmly. “For now, he’s stable, and I’m doing everything in my power to bring his temperature down.”
“Oh,” Kane remarked simply, and he nodded his head. His dark eyebrows creased together further and worry painted his expression. “He… he was bitten by a viper?”
I nodded. “Yes. Out in the gardens. It all happened so suddenly, but as I said, I’m doing all in my power to treat his bite. I have a salve here made of herbs and
medicine that should do the trick.”
“Good,” Kane replied, and he continued to nod his head slowly. I was a little surprised by his reaction to this news. Back when I’d known him, I didn’t think he was particularly close to Asher. Even beyond not sharing the same bloodline, the two had completely opposite personalities and demeanors.
Without another word, I continued to apply the salve to Asher’s wrist, and as the minutes passed by, I realized Kane was studying me. I could sense his gaze immediately and heat rose to my cheeks.
“Have we met, healer?” he asked finally. “You look familiar.”
nearly jumped out of my skin in surprise.
“No, I don’t believe we’ve had the pleasure, my Lord,” I replied politely despite the rapidness of my heartbeat. “My name is Ca ssandra Keller. I just arrived recently from the Wild Crawler Pack.”
“The Wild Crawlers?” Kane repeated back, and his frown deepened. “Hmm. I see. I don’t believe we’ve had the pleasure. I just… I could have sworn I’d remember a face as lovely as yours.”
Part of me was panicked at Kane’s questions, but the other part knew that it could all be explained away easily. The Alpha King’s stepbrother was a known womanizer. For all the rest of the palace knew, I was just another on his list of attempted conquests.
“Oh please, Kane,” Adalyn spoke up for the first time, and she rolled her amber eyes in disdain. “That line is old and tired.”
“Whatever,” he remarked, and then he chuckled.
I did my best to ignore them. I needed to focus on treating Asher. Once I was certain the herbs were all in place, I dunked a clean rag into a bowl of cold water. After I wrung it out, I carefully applied it to Asher’s forehead. Though he was unconscious still, he let out a soft sigh of contentment in his sleep.
As I finished administering his treatment, worry rose up from deep in my chest. I’d managed to push aside Kane’s questions, but had my answers been enough?
Did the Alpha King’s stepbrother suspect me?
Chapter 35 Had he come?
CA SSANDRA
Luckily the small crowd of people that had gathered in the chamber left after nearly an hour. Adalyn had wanted to stay and keep watch over Asher, but Margaret insisted that the Luna accompany her instead. It took a little pleading on Asher’s stepmother’s part, but Adalyn finally agreed and left along with the rest of the family.
Once they were gone, relief flooded through me. This had become quite a messy affair, and I didn’t need the added pressure of a million eyes on me while I tried to get Asher’s condition under control.
When I was certain that no one else was going to burst into the room, I carefully lowered the blanket I’d tucked around Asher. Kane had seemed curious about why it was there when Asher was so feverish, but I’d made up some kind of excuse that it was used for treatment. However, keeping him warm was the worst thing I could have done.
In all reality, the blanket had been a means to cover up Asher’s dark mark. I hadn’t wanted his family to know about the Alpha King’s strange disease. It would have only added to the chaos and made Adalyn’s bloodlust rise further.
I placed my hand on his head. Despite the cool rag I’d used to soothe him, his skin was still exceptionally warm, and his lips hadn’t lost their blueish hue. This wasn’t good. I was worried that if the fever continued, the consequences could be dire.
“Asher,” I whispered. “Oh, Asher.”
I stared down at him for a moment and then walked over to the door where the guard had resumed his post.
“Can I help you, miss?” he asked as I approached, and his dark eyes grew serious.
“Yes, could I have a pair of se rvants retrieve a few items for me?” I wondered, and when the guard nodded in response, I listed off the things I needed. “I could use some fresh towels, some cool water, ice, and a dry blanket for the king.”
mea
“Of course,” the guard replied, and after he gave small nod of respect, he walked out the doors and relayed the information to the one posted outside. When he returned, he offered me a solemn nod. “The se rvants will return shortly, healer.”
“Thank you,” I replied, and after I offered a small smile of gratitude, I returned to Asher’s side. I carefully lifted his muscular arm and pulled it closer so I could
examine the bite.
Just as I was scared of, the bite was still swelling.
The herbs weren’t working this time.
The venom from this particular viper seemed much stronger than the one back in Wild Crawler territory. I’d assumed that the two were the same, but apparently, my assessment had been incorrect.
I decided quickly that the best course of action was to cool down his body.
The se rvants entered the chamber not long after with the materials I’d requested, and once they were gone, I asked the guard for a little privacy. He agreed to my request and told me he would be lingering outside the door. I was a little surprised that I was being granted this much privacy, but I wasn’t about to question the blessing.
Once we were alone, I unbuttoned Asher’s white shirt. Once it was open, I carefully lifted him to the best of my ability and slipped it off. Heat spread to my cheeks. I hadn’t expected for things to be this intimate.
Next came the trousers, and my cheeks felt as if they were on fire as I folded them and set them on the ground. I gave the Alpha King his privacy and averted my eyes from his area
When I rolled him on his side, a gasp escaped me.
His lean yet muscular back was covered in scars. The marks marred the entirety of his back, from his spine down to his waist, and as I leaned in closer, I realized they were burn marks.
What was going on?
Why was he covered in such marks?
As much as I didn’t want to consider the idea, I couldn’t help but wonder if Asher had gotten the scars from the inferno. Had he come to Rosepteal after all to
rescue me? Did he rush into the inferno?
Under normal circumstances, werewolves healed very fast, especially a young, strong, and capable Alpha like Asher, but the scars suggested that he had been severely burned by fire.
I resisted the urge to reach out and touch the marks for a while until I could no longer fight it. I gently traced the outline of the worst one that ran down his spine, and tears sprang up in my eyes. I tried to push the thoughts from my mind, but it
was no use.
After I’d recovered with the help of Emmett, I’d finally heard about the inferno. Back then, everyone in Wegalla had known about it and was constantly buzzing about it. The fire had lasted an entire day and burnt everything to the ground. Coral Felix had met her demise at its hands. Some said it must have been a relief to the Alpha King that he had finally gotten rid of her.
After my alleged death, rumors spread that I’d started the blaze myself to get the king’s attention, that I’d done it deliberately. Everyone in Wegalla seemed to hate me.
They seemed glad that I was gone.
At the time, it’d hurt greatly to know that people thought of me that way, that they didn’t know the truth of what I’d been through. But Emmett had told me to remain strong.
I wiped the tears from my cheeks. Why was Asher covered in burn marks? Had
he come to save me after all? And if he had… why hadn’t he been successful? Why had I been left alone to die?
As a cry rose up within me, I managed to push it back down. It didn’t matter and it wouldn’t change what had happened. I had to remind myself over and over that the past was in the past. Right now, all that mattered to me was making sure that Asher would survive the night.
I had to save the Alpha King.
Suddenly, my thoughts were interrupted by the creaking of the door. I stiffened up immediately and wiped the remainder of my tears.
“Who’s there?” I called out in a stern but polite tone, and I quickly draped a blanket over Asher’s bare skin. I couldn’t let anyone see any of the marks that painted the Alpha King’s skin.
“It’s Becky,” a feminine voice called out to me. “I… I have the test results, Ca ssandra.”
My heart stopped in my chest as her tone registered in my mind. My assistant didn’t sound hopeful. In fact, she sounded downright worried.
Panic surged within me, but I took a long, deep breath, and made sure that Asher was tucked in tightly. No matter the results, I needed to stay strong and brave. I would do everything in my power to make sure that the Alpha King was going to make a full recovery.
“Enter,” I said finally, and Becky entered the room.