The Lycan King’s Healer – Chapter 24
Aldrich finally came home from battle. He looked gorgeous as ever, his long hair flowing in the autumn breeze, his eyes glowing. I missed those eyes so much—it felt like stepping into a familiar forest each time I lost myself in them. He looked like the princes in old fairytales and folklores returning from battle, and I realized we were living in one.
I ran up to him in a field of flowers. The flowers danced and sang around us, cheering on our reunion. My dress was white like my wedding gown, except this time it was more of a silky slip dress. He ran to me, grinning that grin that looked like a schoolboy looking at the love of his life for the first time.
My eyes teared with relief as soon as I was in his arms. His scent— the woody lavender–was one I had been desperately clinging to remember in his absence. I pressed my face against his chest, sniffling.
Aldrich murmured. He grabbed my chin and lifted it up so that our eyes met. I couldn’t he
was going crazy without you here with me.”
w.”
joy.
ething wet and warm suddenly dripped onto my chest. I ignored it,
n ominous crimson. I looked up at him and realized in horror that the blood was coming from him.
an arrow impaling through his neck, blood streaming down in ribbons, and he grinned at me. The blood sprayed onto the flowers, staining the pretty peta
rinning.
e up screaming. I did not remember how to open my eyes, and I was screamin
flew open in shock at that, and I discovered Alan standing over the bed.
.
no bleeding Aldrich, no dead flowers. Only my luxurious comforter around me, my plush pillows holding my head, and Alan looking concerned.
myself. “I’m sorry.”
bed, wincing slightly.
you’re the one in pain,” I demanded, “That was weak of me. I don’t know why that h
. “I think you know exactly why.”
g. “I don’t.”
ut I’m not oblivious. Aldrich appointed me to care for Theo, but also for you.”
t nightmare, worse than the one I just had. The sec
e. Chill out.”
id you pass out?” he demanded, his voice edged with
. You’re my friend and the closest thing I have to Aldrich,” I responded pathetically. I rolled my eyes as if this was the most unnec
“I’m going to give you two options to choose from,” he drawled, “you’re going to tell Aldrich what is goin
ot of pain.
ding information to protect Aldrich, but at what cost? I had to protect the people that were here right now. Danika was shot at and Alan got hit—maybe that would not have happened if I alerted him or the guards.
cry.
ed. “What are you sorry for now?”
nchor from my chest. “And I feel like this is all my fault.” I gestured to his leg, dangling in its bandage looking broken.
for my medicine safe. After it worked on Alan so effortlessly, I made sure the salve I mixed with my blood was readily availabl
again,” he argued.
the salve, trying not to flinch at the sight of dripping blood after the nightmare.
ken long to remove.
not to tell Aldrich.”
, his jaw clenching. His loyalty to Aldrich ran deeper than any other promise
***
m going to try again, the sweet voice in m
m going to try to tell you again, I mocked, I
y hobby had not died, and that there was no reason to worry. To my satisfaction, there was no suspicion in h
e lying to him entirely; at least I could be honest with the gardening.
uess I just worry abo
ed to the sunflowers, straightening their long
miss your crazy self.
ted instead.
I’d ever admit.
ing in the world. Why would you worry about me?
worry about you? I dem
rs. You should not worry about me.
snapped, I love you, you idiot, of course I—
.