All Chapters of The Healer and The Beast: Chapter 11 - Chapter 20

In the early hours before dawn, I slipped through the castle corridors toward Vera's room. We'd planned this carefully—leaving while Kael slept and before Thane began his morning patrol. If his loyal Beta discovered our plans, Kael would know within minutes. And I couldn't afford that kind of interference, not when the mate bond already clouded my judgment with every breath I took.I knocked softly on Vera's door, my heart racing with more than just urgency. The bond hummed constantly now, a low-level awareness of Kael somewhere in the castle that made it hard to think clearly."Vera," I whispered. "It's time."The door opened immediately, revealing the housekeeper fully dressed and alert. "I've been waiting," she said quietly. "Best we leave now, before the castle wakes."We crept through the corridors like thieves, avoiding the main halls where Thane might be making his morning rounds. Every creak of floorboards made my pulse spike, but we made it to the servants' entrance without i

The moment the words left my mouth—*I think she might still be alive*—Kael's grip on Vera loosened. She dropped to the ground, gasping and clutching her throat, but his attention had already shifted entirely to me."What did you say?" His voice was deadly quiet.Before I could answer, his hand closed around my wrist with bruising force. "Thane," he barked without looking away from me. "Take care of Vera.""Kael, wait—"But he was already dragging me toward the castle entrance, his grip unforgiving. I stumbled, trying to keep up with his longer strides while my heart hammered against my ribs."Kael, you're hurting me!"He didn't slow down. If anything, he moved faster, hauling me through the corridors like I weighed nothing. I caught a glimpse of Dr. Ashford's concerned face as we passed, but Kael's focus was singular, terrifying.I turned back desperately, catching sight of Vera still on her knees by the gate. Our eyes met across the distance."I'm sorry," I mouthed, the words barely

Later that night, sleep eluded me completely. I tossed and turned in my bed, the sheets tangling around my legs as an inexplicable restlessness consumed me. Through the mate bond, I could feel Kael everywhere—his presence pressing against my consciousness like a weight I couldn't shake.But this wasn't the usual pull of attraction or even the lingering tension from our earlier conversation. This was something else entirely. Something that made my skin crawl with unease and set every nerve on edge.Rage pulsed through the bond. Not worry or frustration, but pure, violent fury that didn't feel like it belonged to the man I'd left in his chambers hours ago. It felt wild, untamed, dangerous—like a storm barely contained within human flesh.Something was wrong. Terribly, urgently wrong.I sat up abruptly, my heart hammering against my ribs. The air in my room felt thick, suffocating, as if the very atmosphere was responding to whatever darkness was consuming him. Every instinct screamed at

The past weeks had been hectic, my mind constantly churning over the same questions without finding answers. I sat in the library, staring at that blood-written note for what felt like the hundredth time, cracking my head against the mystery of who had sent it and why.*I am coming for the healer.*The words seemed to mock me from the parchment. Every time I thought I was getting closer to understanding, another question would surface, sending me spiraling back into confusion."You're going to burn holes through that paper if you keep staring at it like that," Vera said from her chair by the window."I can't stop thinking about the timing," I muttered, running my fingers through my hair in frustration. "Why now? Why did this threat appear right after we went to the Silvers mansion?"Kael had been more tense and agitated than usual, pacing the halls like a predator sensing danger but unable to identify the source. Through our bond, I felt his constant state of alert, his barely contain

By the fourth night , I couldn't take it anymore.The questions circled in my mind like vultures, pecking at my sanity until I had to know the truth. My aunt and uncle were locked in the castle dungeons, and every hour that passed felt like another piece of a puzzle slipping away from me.I made my way through the castle's lower levels, past guards who nodded respectfully at the beast king's mate. The dungeons were carved from the living rock beneath the castle, cold and damp with the weight of centuries pressing down from above.I found them in separate cells, which had probably been wise. Henrik sat on his narrow cot staring at the wall, while Marta paced back and forth like a caged animal."I need answers," I said without preamble.Henrik looked up, his face haggard in the torchlight. "We told you everything.""You told me lies." I stepped closer to the bars. "Who sent you here? And don't give me that story about selling every