19. The Blood Within
The Blood Within
“What happened?” Ezra gasped as he hurried behind Luka toward the king’s private quarters.
“We were out at the hot spring when Beta David and his guards attacked us. I managed to escape, but barely. I was poisoned, I fed from her, and she hid me while I recovered. She held off Beta David and his men. I returned to retrieve her as soon as the poison wore off. I need the physician immediately. I want you and several of our guards to return to the springs to retrieve the wolves. If they are dead, so be it; if they aren’t, to the dungeons they go. Please make haste.”
“Yes, King Alesi. Right away.” Ezra was prepared to carry out his assignment when he paused. “King Alesi?”
“What is it now?” Luka spat in anger, desperation, and dread.
“Whatever my feelings toward her… I pray she recovers.”
Luka nodded stiffly before proceeding to his quarters. Once inside, he rushed to the bed that was covered in thick blankets of fur. He carefully stripped her of her wet garments and swaddled her like a newborn before placing her on the floor before the raging fire in the hearth.
Seconds and minutes passed as Luka anxiously paced his bedchamber floor. His gaze returned to her blue-tinged lips every few seconds, desperately searching for the first hint of their natural pink.
“She’s still too cold,” he worried as he discarded his clothing.
Naked as the day he was born, Luka breached her furry cocoon and entangled his limbs with hers.
He closed his eyes and did something he’d never done before.
He prayed. To whom? He wasn’t sure, but someone had to hear him.
Someone had to answer his pleas. It was only fair since Anastasia couldn’t be saved.
Whoever was up above calling the shots owed him.
“C-can you please get your dick off my thigh? I’m trying to slumber.”
Luka rolled his eyes and looked toward the ceiling. “Forgive me for the troubles; you may take her.”
Daybreak
Matilda hummed as she tapped her feet together under the blanket. She was in a magnificent mood. She had been pampered throughout the night, and now, her future husband sat by the bedside, spoon-feeding her porridge with fruit.
“I fail to see how you can’t do this on your own. I do have a kingdom to run, in case you’ve forgotten.”
“I have not,” she replied, opening her mouth for more. Before she could wrap her lips around the spoon, a violent cough erupted from her.
“Shit,” Luka cursed, leaning her forward and patting her on the back until she was finished. He handed her a cup to spit in.
“Oh my,” Matilda sighed, falling back against the mountain of pillows. She closed her eyes and prayed she wasn’t coming down with lung sickness. When she opened them, they landed on Luka, who was observing her with heavy scrutiny. “I’m fine,” she lied, ignoring the heaviness in her chest.
“You’re a pitiful liar, Tilda.”
She shrugged her uninjured shoulder. “I can’t be great at everything. Taking down several werewolves on my own is an accomplishment in itself.”
Frantic knocking interrupted the pair. “Do not disturb means do not disturb!” King Alesi shouted.
“King Alesi, we have an exceedingly urgent matter. Can you please join me in the corridor?” Ezra requested.
“I cannot.”
“Luka, go,” Matilda encouraged. “I’ll be fine.”
“But—”
“Did you forget you have a kingdom to run? I will rest.”
“Are you certain?” he asked hesitantly, watching the tiny beads of sweat that appeared at her hairline.
“I’m certain.”
He nodded, dabbed her forehead with a towel, and kissed her lips, ignoring how dry they felt. “I’ll return shortly.”
“I might be here when you return,” she called after him, unintentionally making his steps stutter.
“What do you mean you might be here?” he asked, nearly panicking.
“It was a joke. Where the hell do you think I’m going with a fractured collarbone and a cough? Certainly not into the cold.”
“Very well. I’ll check on you soon.” Luka exited his bedchamber and secured the door behind him. Ezra was pacing the hallways, mumbling to himself. “You requested my audience?”
“Yes. Perhaps you’d like to go somewhere a little more private. I have a delicate matter I wish to discuss with you.”
“My study.” The men maneuvered the castle halls in silence. Their hurried boots echoed against the stone floors as his staff bowed in formality when they passed. They arrived at his study, and Luka was already anxious to return to Matilda. “Speak.”
“You might want to take a seat,” his advisor insisted. Sighing, Luka sat behind his desk. “Thank you. All of the wolves are dead except for Beta David. He’s still alive, but barely. We are doing everything we can to keep him that way.”
“When you say all of the wolves, you mean—”
“Yes. The nine that accompanied him. Matilda eliminated four of them, and the guards captured the remaining five and vanquished them on the spot.”
“That’s favorable news.”
“That depends on who you ask. Prince Lykaon will bring war upon us.”
“And we welcome it. They were the aggressors, ambushed me on my lands, attempted to murder me, and would most likely take Matilda back to Moonshire. Mark my words, Ezra, Moonshire will fall.”
“Very well, my King. The physician discovered something troubling.”
“As it should. The physician discovered something troubling.”
“What is it?” Luka asked, anxious to hear the news that had Ezra perpetually pacing as he wrung his hands.
“As you know, vampire blood is poisonous to werewolves if it enters their bloodstreams.”
“Correct.”
“Beta David was poisoned by vampire blood. The physician performed an autopsy on the four that Matilda killed. They didn’t die from being shot by the arrow. However, they did die from vampire blood.”
“Vampire blood,” Luka repeated.
“Correct. Matilda said that Beta David had sampled her blood, and she also smeared her blood on the arrowheads. You were poisoned and shouldn’t have recovered as fast as you did unless you ingested—”
“Vampire blood,” Luka said, interrupting him.
“Precisely. You would’ve recovered with human blood, but the poisonous effects would’ve lingered for several hours. You certainly wouldn’t have had the capability of flight. I had the physician test a sample of her blood, and—”
“And what?” Luka whispered.
“It is apparent that you have an heir.”