Humans

Valen’s POV

“Absolutely not.”

My voice cut across the bedroom just as a pink velvet gown went sailing through the air before landing dramatically over the horn of a carved wooden chair.

Anastasia didn’t even blink.

She stood knee-deep in silk and lace like a tiny empress preparing for battle. She kept ruthlessly tossing dresses over her shoulder while muttering to herself under her breath. 

The floor had disappeared beneath layers of expensive fabric. Judging by the destruction surrounding her, half the wardrobe staff would probably cry when they saw this room later.

“I have to look pretty, Daddy!”

She yanked out a pale blue gown before pressing it against herself proudly. Her silver eyes practically sparkled as she twirled toward me.

“It’s my first official appointment with my new angel.”

Her new... What? I stared at my daughter for a long moment. Then I pinched the bridge of my nose.

“She is not an angel,” I said flatly. “Angels generally do not arrive covered in blood and handcuffs.” I snap, and Anastasia gasped in outrage.

“She fixed my head!”

“She also trespassed into our territory. That's hardly celestial behavior.” I fired back only for my daughter to stomp her foot hard. 

“You’re being mean, Daddy”

“Yes,” I agreed calmly. “That does tend to happen when people murder your wife.”

The moment those words slipped out, Anastasia froze instantly.

Damn it.

I didn't mean to say that. I did. But not in that way. 

Hearing my daughter speak about that human like that made something ugly twist in my chest. 

As I wrapped my hand around the wooden bedpost beside me, I forced my temper back under control. Every instinct I possessed screamed at me to shut this down immediately. 

The human should never have been brought into this castle. She should have died in the execution yard like every other criminal standing beneath my judgment.

Instead, she'd be healing my daughter.

The irony was disgusting enough to leave a bitter taste in my mouth.

For three years, I had watched Anastasia suffer while healer after healer drained the treasury dry pretending they knew how to save her. All they ever accomplished was turning my daughter into a sedated little ghost who slept through most of her life.

Then one irritating human woman touched her for less than a day, and suddenly Anastasia was laughing again.

I hated that.

Almost as much as I hated the fact that

I had ruined Anastasia’s mood. By now, she no longer looked at me. 

I wasn't going to push her, so I decided to leave. 

“Do not let her out of your sight,” I ordered the guards standing near the doorway.

Both men straightened immediately.

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

With that, I turned to leave after a final glimpse at my daughter. 

She was still sorting through dresses. 

After a sigh, I stepped onto the hallway. 

All I wanted was peace, and a little bit of quiet. But it seemed I did not deserve that. 

“Well, you certainly sound delightful this morning.”

As if the universe was punishing me for yelling at my daughter, I encountered this asshole. 

I stopped walking immediately, and with a head turn, I saw him. 

Cassian leaned lazily against the stone wall with the kind of expression that usually made me reconsider the laws surrounding fratricide. He looked entirely too entertained for someone existing this close to me while I was already in a murderous mood.

“Move.”

“Good morning to you too, brother”

“I’m serious, Cassian.” I grunted, balling my hands. It was either that or I’d punch him. 

“So am I. You look like you’ve been personally betrayed by sunlight.” as he beamed, I just stared at him.

Unfortunately, my younger brother interpreted prolonged silence as encouragement.

“I heard about the execution yard,” he continued cheerfully while falling into step beside me. “The servants are obsessed with it already. Apparently our terrifying Lycan King spared a human”

“The human is a killer,” I replied coldly.

I tried to out pace this pest. And yet matched my flow easily. 

“And yet she’s alive.” Cassian was misinterpreting everything. 

“She’s useful.” I corrected. 

And he just hummed thoughtfully. 

“Ah yes. Nothing says emotionally stable like imprisoning the woman you blame for your wife’s death because your daughter likes her.”

I knew where he was going to, and I paused, my jaw tightening. 

“Careful.”

“No, seriously,” he continued like a broken record. 

“We both saw Selene’s body,” he said quietly. “A car accident didn’t leave those wounds, Valen.”

Instantly, my claws pressed painfully against my fingertips.

“Choose your next words carefully.”

“No,” Cassian replied evenly. “You should. Because deep down, I think you already know the human isn’t the one who killed her.”

A snarl tore from my throat before I could stop it.

I grabbed the front of his shirt and slammed him violently against the stone wall hard enough to crack the stone behind him. Dust scattered across the corridor while nearby guards immediately looked one second away from fainting.

Cassian simply looked annoyed.

“You’re proving my point,” he muttered.

“I could kill you.”

“Yes, but then Mother would complain during dinner, and honestly, neither of us has the energy for that conversation.”

I nearly hit him again.

Before I could decide whether strangling him would finally bring me peace, the heavy iron doors at the end of the corridor burst open.

A guard sprinted toward us looking thoroughly panicked before dropping to one knee.

“Your Majesty! Forgive the interruption!”

With my attention diverted, I released Cassian roughly.

“What now?”

“It’s the Princess’s new servant, sire. She collapsed in her chambers. Her breathing has become unstable.”

I blinked once.

“That sounds unfortunate.” I muttered, entirely unimpressed. 

Why should I care for her? 

Cassian turned toward me slowly. “Valen.”

“What?” I replied flatly. “Should I pretend to care for dramatic effect?”

“If the nanny dies, Anastasia will lose her mind.”

A humorless laugh slipped from my throat.

“Nanny?” I repeated mockingly. “Is that what we’re calling her now?”

I adjusted the cuffs of my tunic before continuing down the corridor without the slightest urgency.

“She is not a nanny,” I said coolly. “She is human garbage with medical knowledge and a surprising talent for irritating me.”

“If the human dies,” I continued lazily, “throw her body into the outer trenches and let the wolves sort it out.”