“What happened to Ana? Why is she lying like this?”
I was jolted to my senses by The Lycan King’s furious voice. I snapped open my eyes to find Daciana lying on the fur coat. Hera was sitting with her back against her wall while the Lycan King stood towering over her.
His eyes narrowed, and he shouted in a hysteric voice, “What in the fucking world did you do to my daughter?”
Hera raised her pale face to look at the Lycan king; her chapped lips spreading in a weak smile. “I might have burned her to take revenge.”
“You!” The Lycan King roared, raising his hand to strike her. With a soft gasp, I lunged at her. Wrapping my arms around her, I pulled her closer and closed my eyes.
Swoosh! A soft gust of wind blew past my neck, but I didn’t feel the impact. Turning my head to look at the Lycan King, I stuttered, “Hera didn’t hurt Daciana. If anything, she tried to save her life.”
His eyes narrowed; his piercing gaze boring through me. “How can I trust you when she herself admitted to hurting my daughter?”
I spun around and took a protective stance in front of Hera. “That is how she reacts when anyone accuses her. She… umm… she doesn’t like to explain herself.”
The Lycan King crossed his arms around his chest. “Is there no limit to your obsession, Justin?”
“I could say the same, your highness. Is there no limit to your prejudice? Can’t you wait till Daciana wakes up?”
He wrung his hands, his gaze drifting from me to Hera and then to Daciana. His shoulders slumped, and he walked over to Ana. Crouching next to her, he placed her head in his lap. “If anything happens to my Daciana, I will bury both of you alive in this chilly place.” He threatened before settling down. His expression softened as he continued to brush his fingers through her hair, “Ana, honey, please wake up…. I… I can’t see you like this.”
His words tugged at the strings of my heart. There was something about this scene that filled me with a strange ache; probably because my own father never cared about me.
“Are you feeling okay?” Hera’s concerned voice drew my attention to her. I shifted back so that I could sit beside her. Lacing my fingers through hers, I asked in a low voice, “Why do you always do this?”
“Do what?”
“Pretend that you are villainous.”
“I guess it is easier to let people misunderstand me. I just have to deal with the consequences.” She let out a long, suffering sigh and shrugged. “When you try to explain yourself and people don’t believe, it hurts more.”
I raised our entwined hands and pressed her hand against my chest. “I will always believe you, Hera.” Looking into her eyes, I added, “Always.”
She extracted her hand from my grip and looked away; probably uncomfortable with my sudden display of affection. My lips curved with a weak, rueful smile. I will keep on trying until she got used to it.
Hera walked over to Daciana and placed her hand on her forehead. A wisp of blue light emerged from her fingertips and seeped into her skin. Moments later, Daciana opened her eyes.
“Father?” she gasped and sat up straight. The Lycan King’s eyes raked all over her and he asked in a concerned voice. “Are you okay?”
She stretched her hands and smiled, “I guess I am father…” Her hand moved to her abdomen. Clenching at the fabric, she looked at Hera. “You healed me, right?”
“She did.” I spoke up before Hera could refuse. “Hera had to use all her power to get out of the magical barrier. She was so weak after that, but she still saved your life.”
“Thank you so much, Hera. I will forever be grateful to you.” Daciana said with a slight bow.
Hera shifted uncomfortably and changed the topic. “How did you get injured, Daciana? The wound showed symptoms of being both burned and poisoned. It took so many spells to cure you. If it was an ordinary witch, I don’t think she could have managed.”
Daciana looked at her father with a guilty expression, pressing her lips as if stopping herself from telling anything.
The Lycan King burst into a soft chuckle and ruffled her hair. “I already know that you have been sneaking out of the palace every weekend. How else do you think I came here so quickly?”
Daciana’s eyes widened in horror, “Father, I….”
“It’s okay. As far as you tell me what happened, honestly, I will forgive you.”
“We were passing through La plaza when some gigantic creatures attacked. They had lizard like bodies and they could fly… I think they were….”
“Dragons.” The Lycan King supplied, his face turning pallid with horror. “They are making a move for real this time.”
“Wait! You are saying that dragons are for real?” I asked in a bewildered voice. This was crazy. It was just impossible.
“I know this sounds crazy,” The Lycan King replied, picking the thought right out of my mind. “But, this is real….”
Hera didn’t look surprised. She massaged the back of her neck. “How long have you known?”
“Two years. The first dragon was spotted in Ginseng Valley during the upsurge.” He pinched the bridge of his nose. “First, I thought it was just their wishful thinking. I ordered my men to investigate. They found charred trees as if fire had burned the wood, but the trees turned ashen in a few days.”
“The description matches the wound on Ana’s abdomen.” Hera said as she stepped forward to take Daciana’s pulse. “Are you sure you are okay, Ana?”
She nodded and smiled at her. “I am feeling good, thanks to you.”
Hera turned to the Lycan King. “I have an audacious request to make.”
He raised his eyebrows and his expression grew wary. What was wrong with this man? Hera had just saved his daughter’s life, yet he was looking at her as if she was the one who attacked Daciana.
“I am worried that the symptoms of the wound might show up later. So, I want you to let Daciana stay here for the night.”
I had expected the Lycan King to object, but he accepted it without question. He brushed the stray hair off Daciana’s forehead and said in a resigned voice, “I think that would be for the best.”
His lips pressed into a thin line, his eyes flitting with uncertainty, “Will you be okay here, honey?”
“Of course.” She skipped over to me and laced her hand through my arms. “I will be fine. Justin will take care of me, right?”
I nodded and bowed from my waist, “You can rest assured, your highness. I will protect her with my life.”
Het out a long-drawn sigh, “Fine then…. I will leave the guards and servants here just in case…. I will also send Arnold with some supplies after I reach the Lycan Palace.”
His gaze lingered on Daciana for one long moment before he sauntered out of the cell. Daciana squealed with delight the moment her father had left.
“I can’t believe that he actually let me stay here!” Tugging at my hand, she chirped in an excited voice. “I have never stayed outside the palace before. This is so cool!”
I flicked my fingers, tapping her forehead gently, “You do realise that you are staying in the dungeon with two convicts, right?”
“Yes, that is why I am so excited.” She left my hand and spun around. “I can do whatever I want.” Her giggles filled the room as she spun round and round.
She stopped all of a sudden and rushed over to Hera. Grabbing her arms, she looked at her with a pleading expression. “Can you ask my father to let me stay here for a few more days? You could say that I am not fully recovered and….”
“Daciana!” Hera raised her eyebrows in warning. “You should never joke around with your health. Do you know how worried your father was?”
She stuck out her lips and blinked at her with the best puppy face she could manage, but it had no effect on Hera. She ruffled her hair and said, “I will never lie about your health, Daciana.”
“But I can still request your father to accompany us for a few days.” Seeing her saddened expression, I piped in.
Shrieking in delight, she threw her arms around me. I don’t know why, but I felt this urge to pick her up and spin her around. I found myself doing just that before I could give it much thought.
By the time I realised that it might not really be appropriate; she looked so happy that I just went through with it.
An hour later, two guards and a few servants came rushing with all sorts of stuff. Within another hour, they had turned the room into a cozy, comfortable place.
They set up a makeshift bed with mattress, pillows, and comforters. They even set up a mantle piece with fire burning underneath.
“You both will have to move upstairs for the night,” a girl with long, golden hair said as she handed Daciana a fresh change of clothes.
“No way! Have you seen how cold it is upstairs? They will freeze to death, Lily.”
“But, your highness. They can’t sleep in the same room as you.”
“Then we will not sleep, okay? We will just stay up and chat.”
“Princesss…. If the Lycan King finds out….”
“He won’t….” Daciana narrowed her eyes. “Unless, of course, you tell him.” She wrapped her arms around her and pushed her onto the bed; her eyes twinkling with mirth. “Now, if you dare to tell father anything, I will tell him that you slept on the bed and pushed me down.”
Lily’s eyes widened, and she scrambled to the ground. She knelt and kowtowed. “Princess, please have mercy. They will slaughter my entire family.”
She tossed her head proudly. “Will you tell my father about anything that happens here?”
“No.”
“Will you follow all my orders?”
“Yes, princess.”
“Then you have nothing to worry.”
“Go and tell the guards to set up a secure camp, burn fire, and stay warm.”
The girl rose and walked out after a curt bow.
“You are so natural at being a princess.” I praised with a soft smile.
“I am right?”
“Hmm…”
“Then you both have to listen to me as well….” She crossed her arms over her chest. “You both have to sit with me on the bed.”
“It’s okay, Ana. I am already used to the cold floor here,” Hera said and settled on the floor, leaning her back against the hard wall.
I led Daciana to the bed and tucked her in. “You should sleep, Ana.”
“But….”
“You were burnt by a dragon’s and we have practically no clue what that does to a werewolf. So, please listen to us and rest.”
She curved her lips in distaste; her accusing gaze boring holes through me. “I thought I will have fun but you are just like father, always nagging me to rest.”
I couldn’t help but chuckle at her statement. Patting her head gently, I assured, “Rest for a while then we will play some interesting games.”
“Promise.” She said, raising her little finger.
“Promise.” I said in a sincere tone, but she didn’t relent until I laced my little finger with hers. I adjusted her blankets and walked over to Hera.
Sliding to the floor beside her, I asked, “How are you feeling?”
“I am fine… I will recover fully in a few more hours.” She opened her eyes and turned to look at me. “What about you? Is your wolf doing well?”
All that I felt was a sense of void when I reached out to my wolf. I tried using my werewolf powers, but nothing. Drawing in a deep breath, I plastered a smile on my face, “He is fine…” My lips spread in a grin, “Actually, he is more than fine. He is very excited that we will spend the night together.”
Hera rolled her eyes and turned away. Leaning against the wall, she settled into a more comfortable position and closed her eyes.
I closed my eyes too, but sleep stayed miles away from them. When Hera told me that I could lose my wolf, I hadn’t really given it much thought. But now; now a sense of dread had gripped my heart. What if I really lost all my wolf powers?
How would I protect my mother? How would I take care of Hera?
A pained sigh left my lips, and I covered my eyes with my arm. I just hoped that this was temporary and everything would go back to normal in a few days.