Chapter 17


    “Bad air traffic, ministers?” Christian asked sarcastically.


    Alfred spoke nonchntly, “Apologies for our tardiness, your Grace. The order dide on very short


    notice.”


    “Lucy! What happened to you? Are you okay?” Sebastian cried out in concern as he took a step forward


    but stopped abruptly when Xandar growled at him and took Lucianne protectively by her shoulders.


    Lucianne looked at Sebastian indifferently as she spat weakly, “Fine.”


    Xandar’s worried voice then rang through her ears as he cupped her cheeks and stared deep into her


    eyes, practically begging her, “Baby, please don’t speak. Save your strength. Use the mind-link if you


    need to say something, okay?”


    Disregarding whatever Xandar just said, Sebastianmented frantically, “You don’t seem fine. Why do


    you look so pale and sound so weak? Lucy, what’s going on? What hap—”


    Xandar growled at him again, louder and fiercer this time. He then said in a low, menacing voice, “Our


    Queen is recovering from fighting off rogue Lycans, which your father and his deputy havementably


    failed to track down.” Everyone, including the wolves, threw berating res at the ministers.


    Sebastian remained stubborn. He was opening his mouth when Christian stood in front of him to block


    his view of Lucianne and said in an authoritative tone, “Stop trying to get the Queen to speak. She needs


    to rest. But since the three of you are now here, you should make yourselves useful.” He looked at his


    cousin and they mind-linked each other for a moment. When they were done, Xandar nodded and


    Christian bowed slightly in his cousin’s direction


    with a smile.


    Christian looked at Alpha Frederick and his Beta as he said, “Pack leaders, please give these ministers


    the quotation for border restoration and the other form of damages caused by the rogues. After that, take


    them to where the sacrificed warriors are to be buried. These three men will help with the burial. And tell


    them how many family members are now affected by the loss.” He took a deep breath before saying,


    “And the King and I are deeply sorry for the eleven warriors lost in battle this morning. Do let us know if


    we can do anything else to help.” The leaders were shocked at how aid was offered without having to go


    through the tedious application processes so they just stared at Christian in shock.


    Christian then red at the ministers who already had their heads down and Christian barked, “I will


    personally be questioning you two about what you’ve learned. One mistake and you‘re both out. Is that


    understood?”


    “Yes, your Grace.” The two uttered.


    “Okay. I’ll tell them.” Xandar’s soft and gentle voice came from the side. Christian turned to see his


    cousin looking into Lucianne’s eyes as he kissed her fingers tenderly before turning t o face him.


    Christian awaited his instructions. Xandar said, “Lucianne says Gammas Brighton and Sylvia should stay


    with them. It does help with fact-checking.”


    Christian threw a smile in Lucianne’s way and bowed inpliance, “As you wish, my Queen.”


    Lucianne looked towards Brighton who said, “I’m more than happy to stay, Lucianne.” And then at Sylvia


    who smiled and assured her, “No issue at all, Lucy.” Lucianne smiled in return t o signify her thanks. She


    was getting weaker. She needed to sleep. She was exhausted. Whatever little strength she had, she


    used arge portion of it to argue with Xandar.


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    “Cuz, I’m taking this one with me.” Christian pointed at the rogue Lycan he was carrying, still


    unconscious. “Perhaps it’s safer for everyone else to return in your jet, just in case this rogue wakes up.”


    Lucianne’s eyes instantly widened in fear. Christian caught this, but he smiled as he tried to assure her,


    “Don’t worry, my Queen. I will break his limbs and throw his head against a wall again before I board the


    ne. It’ll be fine. We’re just taking some precautions.”


    Lucianne nodded slowly with uncertainty, and Xandar cooed, “Hey, hey. It’ll be alright. He won’t wake up


    until we want him to. It’ll be alright. Don’t worry, okay?” She nodded again with a small smile, feeling


    more assured this time.


    When everyone was leaving, Lucianne realized she couldn’t even walk on her own. Her legs wobbled in


    fatigue. Without hesitation, Xandar lifted her up by her legs and carried her horizontally, bridal-style, and


    held her close to his chest. She leaned into him, taking in his scent.


    When they were seated in Xandar’s jet, Lucianne was still in his arms. He had no intention of letting her


    go. After nting a kiss on her forehead, he looked affectionately into her eyes with an assuring smile


    and said, “Sleep, baby. You’ll be safe now.” 1


    She shook her head stubbornly, and mind-linked Xandar, ‘I’m…okay.’


    ‘She can’t even form a coherent mind-link. How is she okay? Does she not feel safe with me?’, he


    thought to himself.


    Gently, he asked, “Lucianne, what’s wrong? Why don’t you want to sleep?”


    She averted her eyes and yed with her fingers for a moment before she mind-linked him again, ‘What


    are you…going…to do…to them?‘ When she finished, she bit her inner lip and her neck stiffened as she


    anxiously waited for his response.


    Xandar felt a pang in his heart. Did he really seem so heartless and ruthless to her? The thought that she


    would sacrifice her own well-being just to make sure none of the members  of the alliance were harmed


    by him was excruciatingly painful.


    He lifted her chin with his forefinger to lock gaze with his beautiful mate, whose eyes were


    filled with anxiety. But in his eyes, there was only hurt and pain, pain of being misunderstood. He then


    said in a clear, soothing voice, “I am not going to do anything to anyone. None of you did anything wrong.


    I told you that it was my fault, and I mean it. Please, don’t worry.” He kissed her nose before he pressed


    their foreheads together and locked eyes with her as he pleaded, “Please, Lucianne, let yourself rest. I


    won’t hurt you or anyone else here. Just sleep, okay?”


    She nodded twice before leaning into his chest and snuggling into him. Her breathing slowed, and she


    fell into deep sleep as Xandar stroked her forearm throughout the flight back. The trip was quiet despite


    the many people on board. Everyone was still worried about Lucianne. They fought alongside her tonnes


    of times but never did shee out this drained or this injured. Then again, none of their previous


    battles involved rogue Lycans.


    Juan was still ming himself for letting her follow that rogue wolf alone. If he had followed her, or had


    someone else followed her, she wouldn’t have had to face the Lycans all by herself when they appeared.


    But Lucianne mentioned that there were three of them. When he, Tate and Raden got there, there were


    only two, which meant that Lucianne killed one on her own. ncing at his Gamma from time to time


    who was fast asleep in the arms of her mate, he knew he wouldn’t feel at ease until she woke up. And


    judging from the looks on everyone’s faces, it was clear that their minds won’t be at ease until their


    leader of the alliance was okay