All Chapters of The Healer and The Beast: Chapter 81 - Chapter 90

*Sena's POV*The silence stretched on for what felt like eternity. I could see Kael's mind working, his jaw clenched as he stared at Lydia with barely contained fury."You want me to claim you as my mate," he said slowly, his voice eerily calm."That's right," Lydia replied, her smile widening with satisfaction. "Publicly, in front of witnesses, so there can be no doubt about your choice.""And execute Sena myself.""After she confesses to practicing dark magic, yes. It will be quite the spectacle."I felt tears burning my eyes as I watched Kael's expression. The knife at my throat remained steady, but I could barely focus on the physical threat. The emotional pain of watching him even pretend to consider her demands was tearing me apart."I need time to think about this," Kael said finally.Lydia laughed, the sound echoing off the stone walls of the courtyard. "Time? My dear Kael, you don't have time. But..." She tilted her head, considering. "I suppose a few hours wouldn't hurt. Aft

I woke to the sound of activity echoing through the stone walls of the dungeon. My body felt better than it had the night before - Kael's warmth and comfort had helped restore some of my strength, and the nausea had finally subsided."Do you hear that?" Vera whispered from her cell across from mine.I listened carefully. There were voices, footsteps, what sounded like preparations happening somewhere above us. The sounds carried through the thick walls in a way that made everything seem distant and muffled, but there was definitely something going on."Sounds like people are busy," Thane said quietly. "Lots of movement up there.""What time do you think it is?" I asked, pressing my hand to my stomach where our baby was stirring restlessly."Hard to tell in this place," Aunt Marta replied from her cell. "There's no sunlight down here."The sounds above us were getting louder - voices calling to each other, footsteps rushing back and forth, what almost sounded like... celebration?My he

The master suite was beautiful - far more luxurious than anything I had expected. Large windows overlooked sprawling gardens, the bed was covered in soft linens that looked like clouds, and there was even a sitting area with comfortable chairs arranged around a fireplace.But none of it mattered when all I could think about was Kael back at the castle, facing Lydia alone.Tristan and Finn had shown us to our rooms, with strict instructions that I was to stay in the master suite as Kael had ordered. Then they had taken Thane away for what they called "discussions," leaving me with Vera, Aunt Marta, and Uncle Henrik.I sat on the edge of the massive bed, staring out the window without really seeing the beautiful view. My hand rested on my stomach. "Sena," Vera said softly from where she stood near the door. "Are you hungry? I could go down to the kitchen and prepare something for you. You need to eat, especially in your condition."I shook my head, unable to muster any appetite. "I'm n

"Sena, you're scaring me," Vera said, her hands gripping my shoulders gently. "Come on, let's get you to the bathroom. You need to wash your face and calm down." I let her guide me like a child, my body still trembling from Lysander's visit. The bathroom was large and well-appointed, with a basin of clean water already prepared. Vera wet a cloth and handed it to me. "Here. Wash your face. Take deep breaths." I did as she instructed, the cool water helping to clear some of the fog from my mind. My hands were still shaking, but at least I could think more clearly now. "Better?" Vera asked after several minutes. I nodded, not trusting my voice. "Do you want to talk about what happened?" I shook my head. How could I explain Lysander's visit without revealing our bargain? Without admitting that I'd made a deal that could endanger everyone I loved? "Alright," Vera said g

I needed air. The walls of the mansion felt like they were closing in on me, suffocating me with their safety while Kael faced danger alone.I slipped out through the back entrance, finding myself in a small garden overlooking the estate grounds. The morning sun was warm on my face, but it did nothing to chase away the cold fear that had settled in my chest.Seven days until the full moon.Seven days until Kael would lose his sanity completely, until the curse took full hold and he became a danger to everyone around him - including himself.I pressed my hand to my stomach, feeling the gentle swell that was becoming more visible with each passing day. Our child was growing, thriving despite all the chaos surrounding us. But what kind of world were we bringing this baby into?My healing abilities could help him. I knew they could. During the full moon, when the curse was at its strongest, if I could just be there with him, maybe I could ease some of the pain, help him maintain some cont