The Lycan King's Puppet-Chapter 49: Bitter Truths

The walk back to her room was long and torturous and full of introspection.

She had fallen! Why had the gods chosen to humiliate her that way.

And he laughed.

The way he looked at her...

Her heart was still way ahead of its usual schedule. She could still feel his hands on her skin.

She slapped her forehead.

What was wrong with her? If he hadn’t stopped himself just then, she would have been a heap of self-loathing and regrets.

A knock on her sister’s door told her that she wasn’t back from the picnic yet.

How long was the blasted picnic supposed to last anyway?

And she was still wet. A shiver ripped through her - not from the cold.

He was doing something to her - she was never this stupid.

Andon was right - her decision to quit was because of this exact inevitability.

All rational thought vanished as soon as he looked at her.

Claire sighed as she opened the door.

There was absolutely no difference between her and the love-sick swoons she usually read about - except she hated the man in question.

Then why was she craving what he subtly promised?

Was it because she was lonely?

Maybe she’d visit Zach one of the coming days.

Part of her knew that Zach would only make the distinction wider.

She leaned on the door after closing it.

"Alone at last." She murmured.

For the sake of her father’s memory, nothing could ever happen between them - she couldn’t let it.

It would be the worst form of betrayal.

More clothes had been brought for her, this time, more than just fancy dresses and undergarments. There were pretty shawls, silk nightgowns and robes, gloves... everything a lady ought to have. Everything was folded neatly.

When was this delivered? After she had left for the picnic?

Groaning, she began shedding her own clothes. No more wine, she told herself.

She smelt like him.

Claire found herself sniffing her arms.

"Gods! I have run mad!" She exclaimed, running her hands through her hair.

Claire couldn’t imagine having to draw a bath for herself after everything she had gone through.

Terrence had followed her back at a distance - close enough to act in case of danger, far enough to give her personal space.

Having changed into a suitable peach-coloured evening gown, she dug the bookshelf in her chamber for a book to read.

All the books were about history - something she hated.

But since it was about the origin of the Lycan rule and the Lycan bloodline, she decided to give it a try.

Funnily enough, she couldn’t put it down. She was reading it on the bed, then on the floor, then at the table, then at the window, everywhere.

The sound of arriving carriages didn’t stir her.

Not until a knock sounded at the door.

Without waiting for a response, Aurora skidded into the room.

The expression on her sister’s face made her put the book away.

"What were you reading?" Rory asked as she jumped on the bed.

When she got the book, she flipped through it with her small hands.

"It’s all about war, isn’t it? My eyes hurt just looking at it. You haven’t read in a very long time... I remember you used to love reading."

Claire pulled her closer.

"Enough about me. Tell me of your adventures with Arlan."

Aurora giggled.

"We had a boat ride... and he gave me a water lily... but it fell and was crushed by passerbys."

Claire smoothed her hair.

"I hope you said a prayer for the poor lily."

Rory made a face.

"I tried to, but there were too many people."

"Arlan is such a sweet boy."

Rory looked up at her.

"He is, isn’t he? I wonder how he ended up very different from his father."

Claire nodded.

"I often wonder the same thing too."

Aurora scooted closer.

"I noticed you left early - and you didn’t care to tell me. Arlan and I searched everywhere for you."

Claire drew in a breath.

"I had to leave with the King - he had an accident."

Rory giggled.

"Oh, I heard." Then after a while, she asked, "Why aren’t you with the King?"

Claire’s face heated up.

"He no longer needed my services."

Services? Why did the word sound strange when she said it?

"Arlan pecked me!"

Claire barely heard her, she was too busy reliving the memory after she had fallen into the tub.

Rory snapped her hands before her eyes.

"Claire? Did you hear what I said?" 𝓯𝓻𝒆𝙚𝒘𝓮𝙗𝓷𝒐𝓿𝙚𝒍.𝙘𝓸𝙢

Claire blinked.

"Yes, yes. How nice."

"I thought you’d give me a full motherly lecture."

Claire turned.

"What did you say again?"

Rory sighed, exasperated.

"I said that Arlan pecked me."

She pushed her sister away slightly so she could stare into her eyes.

"I don’t need to tell you what that means, do I?"

Aurora tilted her head, obviously lost as to her point.

"He likes you... not like a brother, Rory."

"And I like him too, Claire."

Claire rolled her eyes.

Aurora sat up straight.

"It’s like... you and Zach - childhood friends who grew to love each other."

Love? Did she love Zach that way? Was that how it seemed to onlookers?

"You’re too young to develop such fantasies."

"I know, I know."

Claire held her small shoulders.

"No you don’t. When he comes of age, he’ll find a mate... and it might not be you."

Rory wasn’t giving up.

"But he could still choose me if I matter enough... just like you choose Zach even when he’s not your mate."

The word ’mate’ brought back memories.

She served her mate wine. Rejected mate, she quickly corrected herself.

Rory snapped her hands in front of her eyes again.

"What are you even thinking about, Claire?"

"Nothing."

"It’s not nothing. We tell each other everything, remember?"

"There are some things you’re too young to know about."

"If it’s bothering you, you can always tell me the part that I’m old enough to hear."

"Don’t push it, Rory."

Aurora backed away, tears in her eyes.

"You’ve been distant since I came back!"

"Have I? You’re the one who was being distant." She tossed back.

"At least I got over it - you prefer to suffer on your own."

"I’m not suffering, Rory."

"I know that look in your eyes. Something is bothering you."

Claire paused.

"What look?"

"That look."

Claire nodded. "You can’t handle adult problems, Rory. Let it go."

Rory folded her arms and glared.

"Tell me something I can’t handle."

Claire searched her mind.

"You won’t be able to handle the fact that if you’re not Arlan’s mate, he won’t choose you because you’re poor."

"I’m not poor! I’ll be rich someday, I know it!"

Her shoulders sagged.

"We are, Aurora. That’s the simple truth."

Rory slid off the bed.

"You’re the one who’s poor. I still have eight years before I find a mate - a lot can happen in that time." Her chin jutted out in the stubborn way it usually did when she was determined to prove a point.

"And what is that?"

"I don’t know. I’m not wolfless like you-"

Claire stiffened.

"You don’t know that."

Rory blinked back tears.

"I have a scent, you don’t. You’re nineteen, almost twenty and still don’t have a mate-"

"Rory, don’t say things like that!" Tears burned behind her eyes.

She wanted to scream that she’d had a mate. Once. But she rejected him.

"You’re the one who can’t handle the truth, Claire, not me."

"Take that back!"

Aurora left the room quietly, never looking back.

She fell forward on the bed and let the tears fall freely.