When his eyes finally peeled open, he shut them back due to the bright light that surrounded him.
There were movents around him, none of which he could make out.
When he finally mustered the courage to open his eyes fully, the ceiling above him seed to want to swallow him whole.
But the room was familiar.
Very familiar.
He was in his room at the Town house.
Then everything ca rushing back to him like a very well-deserved cold slap.
He’d been found?
Then where was Claire? What had happened to her?
Yeren struggled to get up from the bed, but couldn’t muster a single ounce of strength to do so.
He hated feeling so weak - he’d rather even be dead. At least, his n would never have a reason to look down on him.
An exasperated sigh escaped him.
"Your Grace." Andon’s voice ca across, rasped and full of concern.
Sotis, he wondered what would have happened if he’d sent Andon on his exile as the council had wanted him to have done.
Then, another feminine voice echoed, "Is he awake?"
Two heads peered over him. One with dark brown eyes and the other with bright green eyes.
"He’s awake." Her face was smooth, except for the partially visible tear tracks that lined each cheek.
"How are you feeling?" Andon asked.
"Like a heavy block of lead."
Both Andon and Claire laughed.
Then she said, "I should leave you two to talk while I have so rest."
His hand shot out instinctively and caught hers.
She smiled down at him softly and just said, "I will be back. You both need to talk."
Andon’s eyes told him that they had a lot to discuss.
He reluctantly let her hand go, quietly watching her leave the room in her dark blue dress.
She looked perfectly fine.
The last he rembered, they were both in the dungeon.
What had really happened?
From the look on Andon’s face as soon as the door closed, it was clear that Andon could see the questions on his face.
"What happened?"
Andon pulled a chair close to the bed and leaned close to him.
"I have tried in vain to get the details from Miss Stenly, but she has adamantly refused to share them."
Yeren considered his words but continued to look at him expectantly.
"Nevertheless, I found her in the sa alleyway, covered in blood. She was... covered in a torn robe and was cradling you in her arms when I got there."
He drew in a deep, unsteady breath.
"And what about Jarren Straught?"
Andon averted his gaze.
"He managed to flee town. But he had lost an arm from what I could see - his right arm. So sort of fight must have occurred between you and him."
Yeren struggled to sit up once more. "I didn’t fight with him. I think she did."
Andon drew in a sharp breath, his face clouded with disbelief. "She couldn’t possibly decapitate an Alpha’s arm - she’s as good as a human.
"I think we should stop deciding what she can and cannot do for her."
Andon had the grace to look abashed. "Are you telling she now has a wolf?" Then his gaze beca distant as he said, "I did notice that her scent has changed sowhat."
Her scent had changed?
Was it really her who cut off his arm?
Andon briefed him on how many n were sent after Jarren and Redmare’s stealthy arrival in the town.
"This matter is beyond the bread and cheese I thought it was." Andon concluded.
Yeren sighed. "At least you are alive and well, Your Grace."
Instead, he just asked, "Has the poison in my blood been identified?"
Andon looked up slowly.
"The healer made a tonic for you - although it was still based on his assumptions. He claims the symptoms match a tropical plant found in the South." Lowering his voice, he added, "I had my suspicions, so I didn’t let him give it to you."
"Why did you do that?"
"We can’t trust anyone at this point."
"What if it works, Andon?"
"What if it does not?"
Both of them just stared at each other for a few minutes.
Then, Andon stood up.
"I will fetch him for you at once."
As he closed the door behind him, Yeren heard hushed whispers and feet scurrying away from the door before it opened to admit a woman.
If his Lycan hadn’t been subdued, he would have heard what they were whispering about.
But, of course, they knew he couldn’t.
Miss Stenly ca into view, carrying a tray containing a steaming bowl of porridge and a fresh pound of bread.
"All I want right now is so good wine." He murmured.
She gave him a smile that didn’t quite reach her eyes and set the tray down beside her.
He opened his mouth to speak, but before he said anything, she cut him off, "Please... Don’t ask anything about that night. The last thing I want is to talk about what happened."
He searched her face.
She looked haunted.
He reached out and caught her hand with his good hand.
Her hand felt stiff and cold in his.
"Thank you for whatever you did." And with a small, wicked smile, he added, "I intend to keep to the promise I made to you."
With one small tug of his hand, she was pulled down to the bed. She settled down beside him, trying and failing to put a stern glare on her face.
"You’re insufferable, Your Grace."
He noticed that her skin was smooth and unflawed.
"What promise are you talking about?"
He wasn’t sure if she actually didn’t rember, or she was just pulling his leg.
"That I would erase his bloodline."
Her face beca pale. "Let’s not talk about that. And besides, you can not just punish Arlan for the sins of his father."
"I would not sit back and let him get away with what he did to you." His tone grew serious and his eyes grew dark.
"I already did enough damage, Yeren. Nothing you do will ever make feel clean... or loved. And chasing revenge will make us just as vile as he is."
He narrowed his eyes at her.
"Do you really believe that he won’t co after you again?"
She leaned forward, close enough to his ear and whispered, "I know he will. But I am no longer the weak woman he defiled."
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