Chapter 25

VIOLET'S POV

"I'm sorry, but you can't see His Majesty."

A voice I had come to know so well grumbled from the doorway.

I craned my neck and saw Kyran standing by the doorway, his body leaning casually against the doorframe, his arms crossed over his chest.

I hastily stood up from the floor and took a step forward.

"But..." I trailed off, wondering if I could afford to be so demanding. "But I want to meet His Majesty. It's very important."

"You can't." Kyran shook his head, his hair falling messily across his forehead, with a few strands getting into his eyes. "At least, not yet," he added, moving away from the doorway and walking further into the room.

The two women turned to face Kyran. Neither of them said a word, but they certainly had their attention on him.

I didn't know much about the man standing before me, but he seemed to be someone of considerable importance to the Lycans' royal family. Or so I thought.

Kyran stopped right in front of me. He puffed out a breath before turning to face the head maid, whom I had come to know as Lilian.

He bowed slightly. "Greetings, Madam Leah."

"Greetings, Kyran," the woman replied with a bright smile.

For some reason, she seemed a little too happy to see him, as though he were someone particularly important to her.

"Why can't I meet him? I have something important to discuss with..." I swallowed hard. "His Majesty."

My heart thumped against my chest as I wondered if something had happened to the Lycan King.

What if he was in critical condition and that was why Kyran wouldn't let me see him?

"That can wait. His Majesty is attending an important meeting at the moment," Kyran blurted out, staring at me as though there were something particularly interesting about my face.

But I doubted there was.

A meeting? What meeting could he possibly be attending in the state he was in?

If what I had seen before passing out on the cold floor the previous night was anything to go by, the Lycan King couldn't possibly have recovered enough to attend a meeting.

I shook my head. That couldn't be right. The man standing before me was lying so I wouldn't know what was about to hit me from behind.

"Last night, he was so..." I began, trying to explain what had happened to the King the previous night. But with the head maid and the woman who claimed to be my personal maid standing right there, I wasn't sure I should reveal such information in front of them.

I suddenly stopped when I heard the heavy thud of boots against the floor, as though someone were hurrying towards the room.

"Warrior Kyran!"

Someone yelled his name, the sound of heavy footsteps growing louder as they approached.

Kyran must have recognised the voice because he stiffened, his eyes widening in shock.

"Jayden?" he gasped, turning around just as a familiar yet unfamiliar-looking man rushed into my room, panting heavily as he tried to catch his breath.

Jayden's gaze swept across the room, assessing everyone present. He groaned, clenched his fist, and mumbled something I couldn't make out.

"Everyone, out!" he ordered, his chest heaving as he slowly lifted his gaze.

Both Lilian and the other woman, Rae, gave a curt bow before scurrying out of the room. Probably out of the building, too.

I remained rooted to the spot, wondering if I was supposed to leave as well. But this was my room, and I shouldn't have to leave it. At least, that was what Kyran had advised.

Jayden's eyes eventually landed on me. He mumbled something about a silly werewolf.

"You..."

"Not necessary." Kyran cut him off, turning fully towards the strange man. "Just say it."

"Oh." Jayden cleared his throat, eyeing Kyran before slowly nodding. "It's about His Majesty."

My ears twitched at the mention of the King. Whatever had made this strangely familiar man come rushing to Kyran with news about their King, it couldn't be good.

"What about him?" I blurted out, surprised by how fierce my voice sounded. It was much harsher than I had intended. "Is something wrong with His Majesty?"

"What makes you think something is wrong with His Majesty?" Jayden growled at me, his fists clenching in anger.

Perhaps he was angry because I had interrupted him or because I had stayed behind to hear whatever he had to say.

Of course, something was wrong with him. I had seen it. I knew what I was talking about. King Renzo had been badly injured before I drifted off to sleep, and I had woken up to find him gone.

"He was..."

"Tell me what happened," Kyran demanded.

He took his eyes off Jayden for a moment and shot me a dirty look before turning his attention back to the man, who seemed to be holding himself back from blurting out whatever he had discovered.

Lycans were full of secrets. That much I knew.

I knew Kyran must have been cutting me off because he already knew what had happened to the Lycan King the previous night. But what I couldn't understand was why he didn't want Jayden to know.

Weren't they the same species? Didn't they work for the same person? Why, then, would Kyran want to keep it a secret from him? Jayden deserved to know, too.

I thought about it, but no matter how hard I tried, I still couldn't understand his reasoning.

"A strand of hair was found in the underground dungeon where His Majesty had imprisoned the rogues. A test was conducted, and it matched the hair of Lady Leila's most trusted guard. His Majesty ordered his arrest, and you're in charge here," Jayden explained, letting out a breath.

I desperately wanted to know what they were talking about. Why would that information make him rush over to Kyran for help?

"I..."

"I have to go." Kyran grabbed Jayden by the shoulder and gave his arm a slight squeeze. "Take her to the King's Hall, just as His Majesty ordered."

With that, he dashed out of my room.

I couldn't say anything. I simply stood there, watching Kyran leave until he disappeared from sight.

"So, you're the girl?"

A voice beside me made me flinch.

I craned my neck, only to find Jayden staring right back at me. He seemed to have seen me before, but I couldn't tell whether I had ever met him.

"What girl?"

"The werewolf girl from the other night." He grinned darkly, and I felt my heart skip a beat.

He remembered me?

Jayden fucking knew I was a werewolf, and he still hadn't pointed it out?