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AlaricNo further protest emerges as guards begin their methodical search, examining communications, personal items, even scent markers that might indicate recent contact with unauthorized territories. Through the still-strained bond, I focus completely on Sage's presence – faint but persistent, life force strong despite circumstances."My King," a guard approaches, his expression grave as he presents a scroll discovered among one council member's possessions. "This contains detailed security protocols for royal healing visits. Specifically, eastern village procedures."Lord Kincaid – elderly wolf who opposed integration of healing abilities from the beginning – maintains his dignified posture despite damning evidence. "Standard security briefing," he claims, though pallor beneath silver fur betrays awareness of position's weakness."With delivery route information?" The guard indicates specific notation on scroll. "Arrival times? Guard rotation details?"Silence confirms what evidence
SageConsciousness returns in fragments – disjointed awareness of the cold stone beneath me, distant dripping water, unfamiliar scents that speak of underground isolation. The paralytic compound that rendered me helpless gradually loosens its grip, limbs tingling painfully as sensation returns in increments too small to offer escape.But the most significant change occurs within – our bond, previously muffled to mere whispers, strengthens with each passing moment. Through it, I feel Alaric's focused rage, his determined pursuit, his absolute certainty of finding what's his.North, I project, gathering every detail my returning senses detect. Underground. Mountain stone. Running water nearby.My eyes finally cooperate enough to assess my surroundings– a chamber carved from a natural cave but modified with modern equipment. Medical monitors track my vital signs, specialized restraints secure my limbs despite the paralytic's lingering effects, and most disturbing, an entire section appear
SageTime moves in fits and starts as I struggle to focus through the drugs in my system. Still, I try to keep my eyes trained on the man threatening everything I hold dear. With each passing minute, my connection with Alaric grows stronger. I just have to hope Cassius doesn’t suspect, but thankfully his attention is occupied elsewhere. "I'm only being practical." Cassius studies the monitors tracking my vital signs. "Why limit ourselves to a single manifestation of combined bloodlines? Once you’ve delivered this child successfully, further pregnancies could prove just as promising."It’s verbal confirmation that my assumption was correct. Cassius intends not just to take our child, but to keep me as breeding stock for future offspring, experiments for his own gain."Alaric will kill you for this," I promise, certainty flowing through the bond I can now feel more clearly connecting me to my mate whose rage burns cold and calculating. "He won't stop until—""Your mate represents a temp
AlaricI race through the mountainous terrain in full Lycan form, needing a speed unachievable as a human, instinct and rage driving me beyond even Phantom’s normal limitations. My elite warriors struggle to keep pace, fear of disappointing their king nipping at their heels. I follow the weakening thread of our bond like a physical tether pulling me toward my mate and unborn child. Cassius may think he’s found a way to win, muting our bond. But he underestimates the strength of the ties that bind us together. As long a my mark adorns her neck, he’ll never hide her from me. Underground. Mountain stone. Running water nearby.Sage's projected thoughts reach me in fragments, her consciousness fighting through whatever compound Cassius used to suppress our connection. Suddenly the bond strengthens, just for a moment, as the drug temporarily releases its grip, her thoughts coming through stronger than before.North. Medical equipment. Long-term captivity planned.My answering rage flows th
Alaric"Ah, Your Majesty." He straightens with a clinical composure utterly at odds with the sacrilege just committed. "Your timing is impeccable for observation, though approximately forty-three seconds too late for prevention."My roar of pure rage shakes the very foundations, my partial shift completing into full Lycan form as Phantom completely overwhelms my human restraint. I launch toward him with killing intent, claws extended to tear out the throat of the wolf who dared violate my mate."I wouldn't." His voice remains calm despite death approaching at Lycan speed. "The new bond is extremely fragile. Any harm to me transfers directly to her through our currently stabilizing connection."I halt mid-lunge, primal rage warring with instinctive protection of my mate whose safety suddenly depends on our enemy's continued existence. My mind struggles to process the impossible situation I find myself in. Sage’s loss even more profound in the knowledge of how completely and truly she no
SageThe world returns in fragments of sensation – the sterile scent of medical equipment, the soft hum of monitors tracking my vital signs, and most disturbingly, the unfamiliar weight of a bond that should not exist. My hand instinctively rises to my neck, fingers brushing against the tender skin where Alaric's mark should be, finding instead the raw evidence of Cassius's violation."The disorientation is perfectly normal," Cassius's irritating voice, like nails on a chalkboard leaving goosebumps on my skin, reaches me through the fog of consciousness. "The transitional phase between bonds creates temporary neurological disruption."My eyes snap open, the brightness of the medical chamber sending sharp pain through my skull. The first thing I see isn't Cassius, but Alaric – my mate, my king – standing rigidly beside my bed, his expression a careful mask that fails to hide the rage simmering beneath the surface. And despite the small voice in my head insisting something about his pres
Sage"Her condition is destabilizing," one of the doctors reports. "But her heart rate is still elevated, and her blood pressure is concerning for the pregnancy."The mention of our child focuses my thoughts instantly, turning from self-loathing to concern for our pup. Whatever happens to me, I must protect the innocent life growing within. No matter the cost. Through the emptiness where our bond should flow, I try to project this determination to Alaric, hoping some trace of our connection might still exist beneath Cassius's violation. I need him to know I’ll do anything to bring his heir safely into the world for him. Even if it means playing Cassius’s game. For the briefest moment, something responds – not clear communication, not distinct emotion, but the faintest resonance like a distant echo. Alaric's eyes widen slightly, the only indication that he might have felt the same impossible connection."The child." My hand moves protectively to my rounded abdomen. "What effect does
SagePain tears me from sleep like claws ripping through flesh. My back arches off the bed as fire spreads from Cassius's mark, radiating through my chest in waves of agony that feel like my ribs are being pried apart one by one. A scream tears from my throat before I can even register that I'm awake."Sage!" Alaric is at my side instantly, his hands hovering over me, uncertain where to touch when every inch of my skin seems to burn.The monitors surrounding the bed erupt in a cacophony of alarms – heart rate spiking, blood pressure plummeting, fetal distress indicators flashing urgent warnings. Medical staff rush into the room, their voices distant through the haze of pain consuming me."What's happening?" Alaric demands, his voice carrying the edge of panic I've never heard from my warrior king. "Do something!""Her system is rejecting the bond," one doctor explains, frantically adjusting medications. "But this is far more severe than a typical adaptation response."Another wave of a
KieranRather than engaging with the royal physician’s attitude, I turn my attention to Elise. "May I?" I ask, gesturing toward her rounded belly.She nods, and I kneel before her, placing my hands gently on her abdomen.Closing my eyes, I extend my senses to assess the baby's position and Elise's overall condition. The child is indeed awkwardly turned, pressing against her spine in a way that causes significant discomfort without presenting any real danger."The baby's healthy," I assure her, opening my eyes. "Just a bit stubborn about positioning, like its mother."This earns a small laugh from Elise, some tension leaving her shoulders. "Can you help?""A specific stretching routine twice daily and some herbal tea to relax the muscles should encourage proper positioning," I explain. "Plus a firmer sleeping surface—this bed is like trying to rest on a cloud."The palace physician clears his throat. "I recommended complete bed rest to avoid complications.""Which would actually increas
Kieran"Hold still or I'll accidentally stab you with this pin."I glance down at the tailor kneeling by my legs, his mouth full of pins as he adjusts the formal tunic that supposedly makes me look like a respectable court representative instead of a forest healer way out of his depth."How much longer is this torture going to last?" I ask, resisting the urge to scratch where the stiff fabric chafes against my neck."Beauty requires suffering," the tailor mumbles around his pins."I'm aiming for 'not embarrassing' rather than beauty," I correct him, which earns me a dismissive snort."The prince was most specific about the quality of your attire," he replies, expertly pinning a seam. "Royal blue with silver accents to complement Lady Lyra's ensemble while marking you as an official representative of the healing community."The thought of Alexander personally selecting my outfit for tonight's dinner is equal parts amusing and unsettling. Twenty-four hours ago, I'd have bet good money th
Alexander A knock at the door interrupts my thoughts. "Enter," I call, expecting another messenger or council member.Instead, Kieran stands in the doorway, hesitating at the threshold as if unsure of his welcome. "Your Highness," he greets formally. "I was told you wanted to see me?"I blink in surprise. "I hadn't sent for you yet, but your timing is perfect. Please, come in."He enters cautiously, his posture suggesting he's bracing for confrontation. I realize with sudden clarity how rarely we've interacted without Lyra present, how much tension still exists beneath our carefully maintained civility."The moonflower essence is secure in the reliquary," he says, clearly assuming this is about the ritual. "Queen Sage confirmed the potency exceeds expectations.""Good," I nod, "but that's not why I wanted to speak with you." I gesture to the chair Dominic recently vacated. "I have a proposition that requires your particular expertise."Curiosity overcomes wariness as he takes the offe
Alexander"They found her, but she's not exactly rolling out the welcome mat."Dominic drops a report on my desk, interrupting my third attempt to write a diplomatic response to the Northern territories. I've been staring at the same paragraph for twenty minutes, my mind constantly drifting back to last night with Lyra."Vega's niece?" I ask, pushing aside the draft to read the new report."Karina," he confirms, dropping into the chair across from me. "Lives in a tiny settlement called Blackstone Ridge at the edge of the Northern territories. Our messengers found her, but she told them—and I'm quoting directly here—'to go fuck themselves and the royal horses they rode in on.'"I can't help but laugh. "Sounds like she inherited her aunt's charming personality, if not her politics.""She's a healer," Dominic continues, "which makes her refusal more complicated. She's not just rejecting royal authority; she's rejecting what she sees as interference in healer business."I lean back in my c
Lyra "I'm glad," I tell Kieran, meaning it despite the complex emotions churning beneath. "That you have someone to talk to."He looks surprised, then grateful for my response. "It helps," he admits. "Figuring out my place here, now that everything's..." he gestures vaguely, "different."The word encompasses so much—our relationship, our community's situation, our very identities shifting in this new context. I reach across the table to touch his hand briefly."Some things aren't different," I tell him. "You're still important to me, Kieran. That hasn't changed."His eyes meet mine, conflict evident in their green depths. "Just important in a different way now."I can't deny the truth of this observation. Before I can respond, a palace page appears in the doorway, bowing slightly when he spots me."Healer Lyra, Prince Alexander requests your presence in the royal study. He says it's regarding tonight's ritual."Kieran withdraws his hand from beneath mine, the moment broken. "You shoul
Lyra The royal sanctuary glows with morning light filtering through its glass walls, illuminating Queen Sage as she tends to rare plants with her own hands rather than delegating the task to servants. She looks up as I enter, a knowing smile touching her lips."Lyra," she greets warmly. "You look well this morning."Something in her tone tells me she's perfectly aware of why I might look "well," and I feel heat rise to my cheeks again. "Thank you for inviting me, Your Majesty.""Sage, please," she corrects, setting aside her gardening tools. "At least when we're alone. We're family now, after all."The casual acknowledgment of my place in her son's life—in the royal family—leaves me momentarily speechless. I've been so focused on the complications of court politics that I hadn't fully considered the simpler truth: I've gained not just a mate but a family connection.I kneel beside the spiral pattern of silver-blue blooms she’s tending, assessing their condition with a healer's eye. "T
Lyra Sunlight streams through the curtains, painting warm patterns across the tangled sheets. I wake slowly, momentarily disoriented by unfamiliar surroundings before memories of the night flood back. The weight of Alexander's arm draped across my waist anchors me to both the present moment and the significance of what passed between us.I study his sleeping face, softer in repose than his usual royal mask allows. Dark lashes rest against cheeks still bearing faint marks where power surges manifested during our separation. The bond between us pulses with contented warmth, stronger and more stable than it's been since the temporary healing at the Cave of Whispers."You're staring," he murmurs without opening his eyes, a smile curving his lips."Just making sure you're real," I reply, surprised by the vulnerability in my own voice.His eyes open then, violet depths focusing on me with an intensity that makes my breath catch. "Very real," he assures me, pulling me closer. "And not going
KieranMira and I sit in silence for a while, watching stars appear one by one in the darkening sky. The distant sounds of palace life—guards changing shifts, servants carrying out evening duties—remind me how far we are from the simplicity of our forest home."I slept with someone else," I admit suddenly. "After Lyra left with Alexander that first time. One of the refugees from the northern settlement."Mira raises an eyebrow but doesn't interrupt."I thought it would help," I continue. "Thought maybe if I could just be with someone else, these feelings would fade or change or..." I shake my head. "It didn't work. Just made me feel worse, actually.""Because you were using them to try to forget Lyra," Mira points out. "That never works.""I know that now." I run a hand through my hair in frustration. "Gods, I'm a mess.""Yes, you are," she agrees with characteristic bluntness. "But that doesn't mean you can't figure your shit out."A sudden flush of anger rises in me. "Easy for you to
KieranThe palace gardens are annoyingly perfect—every shrub precisely trimmed, every flower arranged in meticulous patterns, like nature couldn't be trusted to look good without human interference. I find a secluded bench beneath a weeping willow, as far from the manicured beds as possible, and drop onto it with a heavy sigh.It's been two hours since I quietly slipped out of my chambers, unable to stay there any longer. The thin walls did little to muffle the sounds from Lyra's room, each soft gasp and whispered endearment like a knife twisting in my chest. I knew this was coming—hell, I practically pushed her toward the prince—but knowing something will hurt doesn't actually make it hurt less when it happens.I lean back, staring up through willow branches at the darkening sky. At least the stars look the same here as they do back home. Small comfort, but I'll take what I can get."Thought I might find you out here sulking."I don't need to look to recognize Mira's voice. She's been