Chapter 20

Xander POV

As soon as I opened my eyes, I realized that something was wrong. Ida was sleeping next to me, but she was shivering and sweating profusely. The sheets around her were sticking to her damp skin, and I could feel the heat radiating off her body. The smell emanating from her was strange, and it made me worry.

I gently touched her cheeks and found that they were red and hot to the touch. She was running a fever. I knew I had to act fast to help her.

Yesterday, the butcher had promised to send someone over in the morning. I just hoped that the help would arrive in time before anything else went wrong.

Ida’s bandaged hand was resting near the edge of the bed. Her three fingers stuck out, held by splinters and dressings. Saul had said she’d have to keep it for at least three to four weeks, with regular bandage changes, until which time someone would re-examine and adapt the splint to how her healing was advancing.

Last night’s events had left me anxious about Ida’s safety. My father was a ruthless man who was fiercely loyal to King Osprey. He had single-handedly orchestrated the killing of most of the shifter population and magic wielders in half of the country. His raids were known to be brutal massacres. Given his history, I knew he was capable of anything to obtain information and maintain his loyalty to the king. Should he come to know what Ida was, he would have her killed immediately without blinking.

I wanted to protect Ida. I decided to take her to my country house, which was located far off in the countryside near the ocean shore. It was a safe haven, and I knew she could recover there. However, I needed to make preparations before we left.

I hastily buttoned my shirt and made my way to Leo’s room. I needed him to summon someone who owed me a favour to my country house within the week. This would give me enough time to prepare and depart. My house was about three day’s ride from Seagull’s Bay. If I could get everything ready within two days, we should arrive around the same time.

I approached Leo’s door and knocked softly. After a few moments, the door opened, and the boy appeared before me. His eyes widened as he recognized me, and he quickly pulled up his pants and tucked in his shirt while patting his dishevelled hair.

“Yes, Milord?”

“Sorry for the earliness, Leo, but you must send this letter immediately. Please be discrete. The content of that letter and its destined recipient could put him and us at risk. I trust you know what to do.”

Leo nodded and took the folded message from my hand. It displayed no mark or seal and only contained one person’s name neatly written in the center of the envelope’s exterior.

“Once the letter is sent, please go to my mother’s chambers, and ask her here.”

Leo nodded and quickly disappeared toward the stairs. I hoped it wouldn’t take him too long. I needed my mother here to care for Ida while I made the necessary arrangements for our departure.

I had a plan and needed to ensure I did everything perfectly for it to work. As much as it pained me, I’d also have to inform my father of our parting, but I had to make it look as normal as possible to evade suspicions.

With a heavy heart, I trudged back to my room to finish dressing and checked on Ida. I could feel my Lycan stirring within me, threatening to take control. Seeing Ida so vulnerable made both of us exceptionally angry. I struggled to keep my composure.

The day before, my Lycan had almost revealed our secret to the one man who wouldn’t hesitate to kill his own son. The beast inside me was stronger than I had ever realized, and it worried me. I couldn’t let it take over again.

“We need to stay and keep her safe,” my Lycan repeatedly urged me. But I knew I needed time to figure out how to protect her without drawing attention to us.

A slight rasp at the door brought me out of my internal struggles. I had frustrations I would need to let out in the coming hours lest my beast gets the better of me again. I already had difficulties keeping my eyes in their usual pale grey. They kept glazing over with the blackness of my Lycan’s.

To my surprise, it was Diana, the head maid, at my door. She was holding a wicker basket filled with herbs and flowers, as well as clean bandages. “Dee?” I asked quizzically.

“To some, I am. How is Ida?”

Without waiting for an invitation, she came in and made her way straight to Ida’s side. I didn’t know Diana was a healer, but I was grateful that my mate was in good hands. Diana was the only other person who knew about my and Leo’s affliction, and I trusted her implicitly.

“She’s burning up, I’m afraid,” I said in defeat.

Diana carefully began removing the bandages that covered Ida’s wounds, taking extra care not to hurt her. As she did so, she glanced over at Saul’s work and clicked her tongue against her teeth. She then walked over to the nearby fireplace and began to boil some water.

I had noticed that Ida got cold quickly, so I had kept a fire burning in my quarters ever since I took her to my bed.

Diana returned to Ida’s side with a pot of steaming water and a handful of herbs. “I’ll make a tea of yarrow, elderflower, and ginger root. It should help her sweat the fever out. I’ll also make something else to help fight infection and inflammation. Judging from her hand, she may need it. Saul did a good job stitching her back up, but there’s only so much he can do,” she said, her voice calm and reassuring.

She then placed a cold press on Ida’s forehead, which seemed to provide some relief. “She must be fighting something, or it’s an aftershock. I’ll do what needs to be done now, and then come back throughout the day to check on her. Will you be taking care of her?” Diana asked.

I shook my head. “No, I need to organize our things. But I have asked my mother to come and watch over her while I’m gone. I’m taking Ida to one of my country houses. I thought she would be safe here, but look at what’s happened! I need her to be as far away from my father as possible. Who knows what more he’s capable of,” I said, my voice filled with anger and frustration.

My rage inside kept making me lose my temper.

Diana continued to grind the herbs in her mortar, her face set in determination. “Don’t worry, we’ll take good care of her. And we’ll make sure she’s safe,” she said.

“Will you be able to accompany us to Saltsburry?” I questioned Diana. I believed that Ida would benefit from Diana’s healing knowledge during our trip.

Diana remained silent for some time but eventually agreed. I was relieved because bringing staff with us would lessen my father’s doubts about my sudden departure.

My mother arrived around half an hour later and was concerned when she saw Ida’s condition. I briefed her on what had happened, and she was appalled that my father would resort to such a thing. Although it pained me to leave Ida, I knew she was in good hands with my mother.

My first task was to talk to the butler. I asked him to prepare my carriage for the following morning and to send some footmen and maids to the house to prepare for our arrival. Once that was done, I went to my father’s study and requested a meeting with him. The footman outside his door quickly went inside and announced my presence. It didn’t take long before he ushered me into the small room where my father was waiting.

We never saw eye to eye, not even when I was a child. Our differences became progressively more noticeable when he joined forces with then Duke Osprey and helped him overthrow the kingdom’s reigning ruler. As a reward for his allegiance and participation in the assault on Cardinal City ten years ago, he was elevated to the rank of Duke, the highest rank attainable.

His actions were brutal and merciless, involving the ruthless killing of innocent lives to further his own ambitions and thirst for power. His methods were extreme, and the consequences of his actions were unimaginable.

I strongly disagreed with his beliefs and actions, and things got even worse when I discovered that I was a Lycan. Being a Lycan represented everything he abhorred in the world, which made me despise him even more. Our relationship became deeply strained as a result.

Father looked up from his papers and addressed me, “I expect you are here to ask for my forgiveness for how you acted yesterday?”

The fact that he thought I had come here to apologize for the fury and the protectiveness I had shown to safeguard what was mine hit my nerves. If anything, he should be the one asking for my forgiveness.

I stuffed all my emotions in a drawer in my head. I needed to think clearly if my plan was to work.

“That’s not why I’m here. I’m here to inform you that I’m leaving for Saltsburry tomorrow. I plan to take a few staff members with me while I address the issues at the salt mines. I had made a report on this a few weeks ago. The production has been inadequate for a while, and I am concerned about the reasons behind the shortage. As a result, I want to see for myself what’s happening. The mines are located at the edge of your district, and I thought it would be in your best interest to resolve this issue as soon as possible. Otherwise, we’ll continue to lose money.”

I spoke calmly, but my words carried weight. I wasn’t lying about the situation at the salt mines, but I also had my personal reasons for leaving. I needed to get away from Seagull’s Bay for a while, and this was the perfect opportunity.

“Yes, I do remember your observation on this matter. It seemed problematic but not urgent. Have things changed?”

“It’s only a feeling I have. The salt mines are small, but they used to produce large quantities of raw material. I find it hard to believe they are no longer producing as much compared to the years prior. Also, reports from scouts have mentioned potential rebel activity in the sector. I think some of the production is being diverted.”

“Very well. I will expect your report in two weeks.” He lowered his pen and lifted his head to stare at me. “I imagine you will bring the girl as well?”

I gritted my teeth. “Yes, I will bring my future wife with me,” I drawled the words since he didn’t seem to understand the concept of being engaged.

“How convenient. Very well,” Father said in a dry and displeased tone. “You may take your leave.”

I lowered my head and made my way out of the room, my heart beating fast with anticipation. All I wanted was to be reunited with my beloved mate, but there was one last task to attend to. I hurried outside and down the path that led deep into the forest. Once I was concealed by the thick foliage, I took off my clothes and hid them under a fallen trunk of an old tree. I knew my inner Lycan was itching to be unleashed, and we both craved release. Rolling my shoulders, I heard the bones in my body crack like thunder, signalling the transformation that was about to take place. My skin began to ripple, and my muscles contorted as I shifted into my Lycan form. The excruciating pain was almost unbearable, but I gritted my teeth and pushed through it.

I fell on my knees and hands, arching my back while the popping sounds of my spine and ribcage resonated in my ears. I had to hold my tongue, or else I would scream from the pain. Midnight-black fur sprouted from my skin, and I felt my gums itch from where my teeth morphed into wolf fangs. My fingers were bloodied and stretched with sharp, dark claws at their tips.

With newfound strength, I sprinted toward the darkness of the forest. As I ran, my inner beast guided me, and my human consciousness took a back seat. My feet pounded against the earth, and I could feel nature’s pulse within me. I was in tune with the forest around me, and I felt its energy surging within me.

I hoped that once we emerged from the woods, our fury would be tempered. But for now, I revelled in the power and freedom it brought.