The Lycan King's Puppet-Chapter 111: In Her Head

She couldn’t help it. But at least the tears held in until the door clicked shut.

Counting the rhythm of his frantic heartbeat calmed her - it was good to know he was disoriented.

The loss of his warm body made her shiver. It felt like he took all the warmth in her with him.

Perhaps he did.

The tears flowed freely. She didn’t know why her eyes leaked so much - they just did.

The thought of remaining as his servant broke her even more.

She couldn’t look at him and pretend to just serve him wine - it was simply impossible.

Claire made up her mind - when she returned, her goal was to look after her sister and find the safest way to leave the castle.

To leave him.

To escape the strings that bound her so tightly.

Even if it meant marrying Zach.

The tears flowed until they stopped on their own. And gone was her ability to sleep. She dozed off early into the morning, dragging the covers up to her chin.

By morning, the maids arrived to assist her with her bath.

They brought a beautiful dress with them.

A peace offering? There was no atonement for either of them.

"Return it to wherever it came from, I already have a dress in mind."

The quiet woman in her mellow ash dress folded her arms across her chest.

"I’m afraid you’ll have to tell the King that to his face."

Claire rose to her feet, standing naked before them. "I have no problem with that. Send the dress back."

The woman lowered her eyes to the ground and nodded. But Claire could see the stubborn jut of her jaw as she set about the given task.

The other women worked quietly, moving like they were treading hot coals.

"The King was in a mood as well. Noble folk and their unpredictable moods." One of them muttered, eliciting laughter from the one who was gathering brushes from her vanity table.

Her hair was brushed and she found herself dressed for travel.

As a fellow servant, she realized that she no longer needed maids to attend to her needs.

Having no appetite, she carefully declined the invitation to breakfast and trudged quietly to where the carriage was.

An olive-skinned guard followed quietly behind her, blending into the shadows like he was one with it.

Servants were out and about, loading the wagon with their belongings.

If only she could ride with the wagons...

Her stomach coiled almost painfully at the thought of having to sit across from him for a whole day after everything that had happened between them and not be able to talk to him.

What was wrong with her in the first place? What had she been expecting? That he drop his obligations to the Crown and marry her?

Even now, she still wanted him. She wanted his lips on hers, his sword in...

Claire shook her head, colouring at the direction of her thoughts.

A glance around her surroundings told her that no one was paying unnecessary attention to her.

Andon, Yeren and Arian were yet to come out.

She touched the healed wound on her shoulder. He had kissed it like he wanted to take the pain away. And she had almost believed it.

That was the sad part.

The back of her neck tingled. She reached up instinctively, rubbing at the spot.

Speak of the devil. There he was, wearing a dark leather riding coat beneath his midnight cloak and breeches the colour of autumn.

The way the wind danced with his hair...

Blood drained from her face as she remembered what happened the previous night. How he’d left and how she’d cried.

Then their eyes met across the distance. She felt her hold body stiffen, her hands trembling slightly.

Andon was right behind him, wearing a dark green attire and a grey cloak bearing the sigil of the King’s house.

When her gaze returned back to the King, his jaw was tense as he stared back.

Then he broke the contact, turning to speak to one of his guards.

A hand touched her waist. She spun around quickly. The olive-skinned guard stood there, his visor held open.

"Let me assist you into the carriage, my lady." He said, his voice betraying a foreign accent she was not familiar with.

"Thank you." She murmured.

Claire leaned against his hands, wondering if she would feel the intense warmth she always felt when Yeren touched her.

Nothing.

Once she was seated properly, Andon and Yeren climbed in after her.

"I didn’t see you at breakfast, Miss Stenly. I hope all is well." Andon said, a small grin on his face.

She plastered a smile that she knew wouldn’t convince an infant on her face.

"All is well. I overslept."

Yeren glanced out the window

Andon nodded.

"I expected you to be excited to see your sister once again."

She lowered her eyes. Her sister hadn’t been foremost in her mind for the past day.

"I am." Even her voice wasn’t convincing.

Andon glanced at the tense man beside him and his grin faded.

"I warned both of you."

Claire looked out the window. She wouldn’t let herself cry - she just couldn’t.

The ride was quiet. She fell asleep along the way, waking up late in the afternoon.

It seems that they hadn’t stopped for food, and she wasn’t going to bother them - no matter how hungry she was.

Andon was busy reading a scroll while Yeren folded his arms across his chest and closed his eyes.

But he wasn’t sleeping.

They both knew.

The way his jaw twitched every few seconds...

"I have an admirer in court! Can you believe that?" Andon said aloud, holding the letter far away from him.

Claire gave him a smile. "Who is the admirer?"

Yeren didn’t stir.

"There’s no name here. But I know who it is."

Eliza?

"Eliza." He confirmed her thoughts.

The carriage rolled over the road with sparse vegetation on both sides - which meant they were close. And, she would be free of him in a few more hours.

Nothing made her happier than when the carriage rolled to a stop at the end of the royal driveway.

Claire literally hopped out of the carriage and went to see her sister.

Aurora was seated on the bed, weaving a finger needle through a garment.

"You’re supposed to be resting, young lady." She tried to sound stern, but her voice betrayed her.

Rory glanced up, a bright smile lighting her face. She set the work down immediately, brushing her hair out of her face roughly.

"I wasn’t expecting you to come back so soon."

"Neither did I. Some unfortunate things occurred at Glenwood."

Rory nodded like she understood.

Claire climbed the bed with a soft creak and wrapped her sister in her tightest embrace, plastering kisses all over her face.

"I’m happy to see you, Rory."

Rory arched a brow. "I wasn’t planning on leaving."

"I know." She held her sister even tighter.

Then, the tears slipped out, hot and unyielding.

"Is everything alright?" Rory’s concerned voice sounded next to her.

She nodded, but soon realized she wasn’t fooling anybody.

"I just made a terrible mistake, Rory. There’s no going back now."

Rory turned in her arms and wiped the tears on her face.

"It’s about the King, isn’t it?"

Claire tensed.

How in the world did she know?

"What makes you think it has anything to do with him?"

"He’s the only mistake you ever worry about making."

Since when did Aurora become so... mature?

"Perhaps, you’re right. I have to tell Aldrich... and Zach."

"You don’t have to do anything right now, Claire."

Claire pulled away.

"You don’t understand! I let him touch me. I know I shouldn’t tell you this, but no other man would want me, Rory. I can’t force myself on anyone else when I know I have nothing to offer. Not even my dignity."

Rory stared at her with wide eyes.

"I don’t understand."

"Of course, you won’t." Claire swatted her forehead.

"I should leave you to sleep."

She slid off the bed and headed to the door.

In the hallway, she realized she didn’t want to go to her room. She wanted fresh air - maybe a walk in the gardens.

And that’s what she did.

The solitary and soft-scented garden calmed her each time.

The moon was glowing brightly above, making the red petals appear purple.

Part of her quietly listened for footsteps other than hers.

His footsteps.

She hoped he would come.

But what did she expect to happen if he came? A marriage proposal? A brief trust that meant nothing to him? An argument that would rob her of her sleep?

She shook her head. No good would come out of seeing him, she told herself.

Walking further into the gardens, the air became warmer. She inhaled the rich night air, hugging the bodice of her dress.

"Claire." The voice came again.

She looked around. There was no sign of the black wolf.

It came again.

Her stomach dropped.

Was she hearing it in her head?