Zephyrine


    195


    s


    I woke with a start, and for a while Iy still, my eyes fixed on the man beside me. Lycannar.


    He was asleep, so deeply asleep that, without the rising and falling of his chest, one might mistake him for the dead. Yet he looked so peaceful. Watching him like this made me feel peaceful too.


    I leaned down and pressed a soft kiss against his forehead. When I pulled back, he didn’t stir, and I sat up quietly.


    “Sleepyhead,” I murmured before slipping from the bed to freshen up.


    It was dawn already, and I needed to leave soon. I bathed quickly, and when I returned, he was still in the same position I had left him. Something about it bothered me.


    I was about to go to him when I heard faint voices outside the window, low conversation carried on the dawn breeze. Curious, I moved closer and peered down.


    Threemoners stood there in the dim light, two women and a man.


    “Are you sure about this?” one woman whispered, shaking her head.


    “What choice do we have?” the other woman replied grimly. “We all know our King won’t approve of this kind of suggestion. He is everything, but he won’t let us starve.”


    The man added<i>, </i>“We should go now if we don’t want to die hungry. I heard one of the nobles is offering work in exchange for a te of food. If we get that, we should be grateful.”


    The two women frowned, muttering.


    “They’ve been making us suffer for a mere pittance. Don’t you think we should tell the King?”


    “So you can burden him more?” the man snapped. “Have you seen him anywhere since the wolves destroyed his tower?”


    The second woman leaned closer, whispering words that made my heart stop.


    “Rumors say he’s dying. What will be of us if His Majesty dies?”


    “Keep your mouth shut. Let’s get going,” the man hissed.


    <b>9:50 </b><b>Sun</b><b>, </b><b>Oct </b><b>5 </b>


    :


    <b>94 </b>


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    I watched as they walked away, heading toward some noble who was clearly exploiting their desperation for food. My throat tightened painfully, and I turned slowly back to Lycannar.


    He was still motionless on the bed, still too still. Deep down, I knew he wasn’t truly asleep. Something wasn’t right.


    “Lycan?” I called softly. No answer. My heart clenched tighter. “Lycannar?”


    Louder this time, but still no response. Biting my lip, I dressed quickly and went to him once more. Gently, I pulled the nket higher over his chest, kissed his temple, and slipped out of the room, closing the door behind me.


    In the hall, Chantel was standing alone. Silent. He didn’t even meet my eyes. I swallowed and walked past him.


    On my way toward the Princesses‘ quarters, I met Blue.


    “Mydy?”


    “Good morning, Blue.”


    “Why are you…” she began, then stopped when her gaze fell on my damp hair. Her expression sharpened into something between suspicion and betrayal.


    “You’ve already bathed.”


    It wasn’t a question. It was an usation.


    I forced a small smile and nodded. “I have to return to my pack before


    I came to bid the Princesses farewell.”


    “Really? Then I’ll walk you.”


    my


    brother gets


    home.


    Together we made our way to the bright hall just as Princess Mearez was entering Serena’s bedchamber.


    I stopped at the doorway, letting myself be seen. Princess Serena was sitting up in bed, healed and stronger than thest time I saw her. When her eyesnded on me, her face lit up in delight.


    “Am I dreaming, Mearez?” she whispered.


    Her sister turned toward me, grinning.


    “No dream. She arrivedst night. Come in, Zephyrine.”


    <b>9:50 </b><b>Sun</b><b>, </b>Oct <b>5 </b>


    s


    I obeyed, stepping into the chamber as the maids slipped out, leaving us privacy. I turned and saw Blue leaving too.


    “I’ll wait by your carriage to see you off, mydy,” she said.


    I nodded and she disappeared, closing the door behind her. <fn3220> Latest content published on Find★Novel</fn3220>


    Silence filled the chamber. Slowly, I turned back. Princess Serena’s eyes were on me, still wide with disbelief.


    “My baby brother, how is he?” she asked atst. Mearez’s gaze joined hers, both of them hungry for answers.


    “Lycannar is…” I sighed. “You’re right, Princess Mearez. He’s different. Unusual. And I’m worried too.”


    I sat on the bed beside Serena and took her hand in mine, gazing into her eyes with affection.


    “If Lycannar could hurt his sister in a fit of blind madness… then I have no right to hold a grudge for him killing my father, who was a stranger to him, and an enemy on the battlefield.”


    “Don’t say it like that,” Princess Mearez murmured gently. “The fact that you love each other doesn’t mean his sins should be excused.”


    “Yeah…” I breathed, lowering my gaze. “But he won’t speak of that full moon night, or of what happened when his tower fell. And now I hear food is scarce here.”


    Princess Serena sighed. As the one in charge of the traders‘ welfare, she knew the truth.


    “The tower fell over the storage room. All our supplies were destroyed.”


    “The crash killed hundreds, injured more,” Mearez added grimly. “The herb house copsed too. We have nothing left. No food. No herbs. We don’t know what to do.”


    I froze. My chest tightened. Did Varyn… did my own brother truly know the destruction he had caused? What his actions had brought upon the Lycans?


    “Lycannar told me you have to hold on until the next full moon. I don’t know what that means… but I need to know how much the people can endure until then.”


    The Princesses exchanged a startled nce, their eyes full of confusion as they turned back to <ol><li>me. </li></ol>


    “What are you talking about?” Mearez asked softly.


    <b>9:50 </b>Sun<b>, </b>Oct 5


    I swallowed, gathering my breath.


    “Let me fix what my brother has done.”


    “Zephyrine…” Serena began.


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    “You have gold bars, but you can’t trade with the other packs. Let me help. Please. And I must hurry before my mate wakes.”


    I stood abruptly, ready to dart for the door, when Serena’s hand caught my wrist, halting me.


    I turned, meeting the stunned gazes of both sisters.


    “What did you just say?” Serena whispered.


    “About…?<b>” </b>


    “You addressed the King in a way I’ve never heard before. What did


    you


    mean?”


    Her voice trailed off as silence stretched between us. Slowly, I raised my sleeve, baring the runes etched into my skin.


    “My wolf cries mate,” I said softly. “It’s Lycannar. You can’t refuse my help now, can you? I will soon be a Blood by marriage.”