Chapter 62

Chapter 62 Are you injured?

CA SSANDRA

Just as I was about to make sure Adalyn was okay, the laboratory doors flew open, and in walked the Alpha King, Becky, and a pair of guards. Asher’s gray eyes were ablaze and when they caught sight of Adalyn on the ground in pain, he only

grew more angry.

“What have you done?” he demanded, and his face contorted as he roared.

recoiled at the sound, my heart racing, and my b*dy shaking at his incredulous tone. This was it. I had been in plenty of trouble since I’d arrived in Anemond, but this would be my crowning glory. I was going to the dungeons or worse.

Adalyn sobbed even louder.

“I-I-It was all HER fault!” she cried out and pointed in my direction.

Asher’s eyes fell to me and a lump formed in my throat. I wanted to protest, to explain what had actually happened, but the words were stuck in my throat. Even if I could explain, I doubted that Asher would trust me.

I was terrified.

The room fell into silence, save for Adalyn’s cries, and it was then I noticed a foul smell in the air. It took a moment for it to register but I realized it was the burnt smell of flesh. The acid was no joke and Adalyn should not have handled it so carelessly. The mark would likely last forever.

Asher didn’t speak a word. He simply squatted down beside his wife and took her arm in his hand. She winced under his touch and when she began to whimper,

he turned to the guards.

“Take Adalyn to the royal healers at once,” he demanded.

“I won’t go without you!” Adalyn sniffled. I half-expected Asher to deny her request, but to my surprise, he nodded.

“Okay,” he said, and he helped her to her feet. Adalyn trembled and nearly sank back down to her knees, but Asher held her steady. The guards stepped in to help and before they left the room, the Alpha King glanced at me. Though the moment was brief, it felt like an eternity, and my throat only grew tighter.

For a second, I wanted to ask Asher to stay so I could tell him everything that had actually happened. But the other part of me knew I couldn’t.

Ever since I’d arrived in Anemond, I’d done my best to avoid trouble, and yet, here I was, swept up in another bit of drama and turmoil. Why was this my fate?

I watched in fear as they left the room and once the doors closed behind them, Becky rushed over to me.

“Ca ssy,” she breathed. “Oh Goddess, are you alright?”

Her eyes were wide with shock and they only grew wider when she took my

hand.

“Ca ssy?” she prompted me again, and she gestured down at my hand. “Oh Ca ssy, your hand is burnt.”

Her statement was enough to snap me out of my daze.

田

“What?” I asked, and when I looked down, I was shocked to see that my hand was indeed, quite burnt. It was then that the pain started to set in. The feeling was

familiar.

I knew the sensation of burnt skin all too well.

“We need to treat this right away,” Becky urged, and then she guided me over to the nearest table. She helped me sit down in the chair and then gently rested my hand on the desk while she grabbed the necessary supplies.

I sat there, shocked, as she got to work. I wasn’t sure if it was the pain or the

fear that consumed my mind, but I couldn’t move, couldn’t utter a sound. It was as if

I was frozen in place.

I winced as she applied some ointment. The moment between Adalyn and I had happened so fast that I hadn’t even realized I’d been burnt. I had been too swept up

in it to notice.

Luckily, the spot didn’t seem that big or that deep. I supposed I was lucky that there hadn’t been too much acid in the bottle. Had that ended up near my face, things could have been much much worse.

Becky studied me closely, her expression full of sympathy and concern.

“I don’t think the Alpha King can be tricked very easily,” she said softly as she applied an ointment to my burn. I don’t know what happened between you but I know it wasn’t your fault.”

Her tone was soft and kind, and I knew she was trying her best to soothe me. I forced a small smile on my face. Becky was too innocent. Things in Anemond didn’t work like that. It didn’t matter if I was at fault or not. The Beta family, as the second in command to the King, would cause a stir. Adalyn might not be the most intelligent person, but her father was. He would make sure that I would be dealt with

accordingly.

Once I was bandaged up, Becky brought me some water and forced me to drink. As I sipped at it, she rubbed my back, and for a moment, I thought of Marley. The two were so much alike, and I was surprised to see this side of my a*sistant. She was so incredibly kind.

After a while, the lab doors opened, and in walked a few guards.

“Healer Ca ssandra,” one addressed me directly in a cool tone. “We’re here to escort you to the King’s study.”

I nodded calmly and then turned to Becky. She offered me a nervous look, but I just smiled. “I’ll be okay.”

Becky nodded and then helped me to my feet. I walked across the room to the

guards and followed them out into the hall.

As we got closer to the study, my heart began to race again. I had no idea what to expect, but I knew this wasn’t going to end well. I could only hope that Finnick. would be alright, no matter what happened.

When we reached the study, a guard knocked on the door and I heard Asher’s voice from within the chamber.

“Enter.”

I gulped and without another moment’s hesitation, we entered the study. Asher stood at the large window behind his desk and stared out onto the grounds.

“Healer Ca ssandra is here,” the guard announced and after Asher nodded, the guards left the chamber and closed the door behind them. Once we were alone, Asher turned around. He stared at me for what felt like an eternity and then spoke.

“What happened?” he asked calmly.

I took a deep breath and then explained everything as objectively as possible. As the story continued on, the Alpha King’s frown deepened, and I struggled to figure out what he was thinking. Was he angry? Bloodthirsty?

His silence was difficult to interpret.

Once I was done sharing, I went silent and waited for him to reply. His gray eyes were more piercing than usual, and I braced myself for impact. I knew, deep down, that I was about to face some harsh consequences for fighting with the Alpha King’s wife.

But instead, he glanced at my arm and frowned. He gestured toward my bandage.

“Are you injured?”