84: A Mother's Gift

Quincy St. Martin

I think the eight of us look like the living dead when we arrive at the palace. We are covered in blood from head to toe, and our clothes are all torn and dirty.

Even Queen Sophia looks alarmed when she sees us.

Caspian, Constantine, Lazarus, and Darius disappear into the office with King Alexandros, while we girls get cleaned up and have our injuries looked at. I feel better after I get cleaned and changed. The pain has lessened with the medication they’ve given me.

I run a hot bath for Caspian, for when he gets back. I sit on the edge of the tub, watching the swirls of the water, just thinking of tonight and tomorrow.

This has been a very long and hard night. I doubt tomorrow will be any better. I dip my hand in to make sure that the temperature is right, then walk out of our ensuite bathroom to find Caspian’s tall, lean, but muscled figure draped over the sofa.

One foot is on the floor, while the other dangles over the armrest. A drink sits forgotten on the floor. His golden hair is ruffled, and his head is resting against the back of the sofa. He’s staring moodily at the glass ceiling.

He looks like a petulant child, but I know he has serious matters on his mind.

“You should have your wound looked at,” I tell him.

He remains silent. Only his eyes track my movement through his lashes.

His feelings are closed off to me, and I don’t know what’s running through his head, only that it’s nothing good when he shields them from me.

He’s always trying to protect me, but I truly want to share the burden with him. Since I know for sure he’s miserable, I’m going to try and make him feel better.

I kneel down and take off his bloodstained shoes, and then I remove his socks. Next, I stand between his legs and start to unbutton his torn, blood-covered shirt. He lets me undress him as he watches me with those intense green eyes. Later, I lead him into the ensuite.

He sits silently in the deep cast-iron bathtub as I run a soapy sponge all over him. He closes his eyes when I run my fingers through his hair, washing it.

Then I let the dirty water out and use the handheld shower hose to rinse him with warm water all over.

“So many were killed tonight. They’re supposed to be under our protection, but we failed them. ~I~ failed them,” he says finally when we’re both lying in bed, watching the flames licking wood in the fireplace.

“No, you didn’t, sweetheart. How could you know that they would attack? We managed to save so many other packs tonight.”

“It’s not good enough. We should have been there sooner.”

“How much sooner? You know when a lycan decides to attack a werewolf pack it’s like releasing a fox into a chicken coop. How long did it take twelve lycans to cause such destruction? Minutes? Seconds?” I sit up to face him. “You were there just in time. Even if you had put a guard there, he wouldn’t have been able to see it coming ~or~ prevented what happened. He might have even gotten himself killed.”

My eyes land on his bandaged arm and chest before they travel up to his face. I tried to treat his wound the best I could.

“Baby, stop beating yourself up over it. We need to focus on the future.”

“You are right,” he agrees with a sigh. “But the future isn’t much better. The rebels are getting bolder, and I’m not ready to be a king yet. I don’t know if I’ll ever be ready.”

He groans.

“My father wants the celebration to continue. He doesn’t want the rebels to think they have the power to dictate our actions. While I understand his reasoning, it seems so callous. So cold. A pack so close to the palace is mourning their losses, yet we’re having a ball.”

I can feel his fury and frustration through our bond, with the whole situation and himself. I can also sense the fear that he’s trying to hide.

Fear for my safety and for the pack. He fears for others too, even his mother.

“Why did they do that? Why kill so many?” I ask him as I reach up and run my fingers through his hair.

The silky strands feel soft sliding through my fingers. He closes his eyes and takes a deep breath.

“The rebels kill and plunder a lot more in the southern region. That’s how they get money to support their missions and create chaos to gain supporters. But what happened tonight was different. It happened so close to the palace. I think they want to create doubt and discord among the royal loyal followers.”

He goes silent for a while, and looks so peaceful that I think he’s falling asleep.

But then he continues quietly. “I think it’s a warning as well. Of more chaos to come.”

I stroke his cheek, and I feel the calmness in him even when he’s answering my serious question.

He opens his electric-green eyes to look directly into mine. “Thank you, ~moya printsessa~.”

“For what?”

“For being my calm. My voice of reason. You make me see things more clearly. I think I understand now the reason behind the rule that one has to have a mate before being crowned king. I can’t do it without you.”

He brings my hand to his lips and kisses each one of my fingers.

I smile at him. “What errand did you send my cousins to do this morning?”

“I sent dry food and supplies for the winter to the poorest packs around the valley,” he grins.

“I know Jonah is the type of person who can’t sit still. I don’t want him to get himself into trouble.”

My smile widens. That’s true. Jonah knows how to get himself into trouble. “Does King Alexandros always do that? Send food and supplies to the poor packs around?” I ask.

“King Alexandros doesn’t know about it. I’m just starting this year. Jorden told me how you went without food for days, even though he sometimes snuck out food for you. I wish I’d been there for you. Since I couldn’t help you then, I’m helping those I can now. I can’t do that for the whole world, but I don’t want anybody around here to have to go through that.”

My heart swells with pride.

“We have so much. Maybe we’ll expand next year. Maybe we could give out scholarships to—”

“Sweetheart?” I interrupt him.

“Yeah?”

“I think you’re going to be a great king.”

***

We have breakfast in our own private dining room in the east wing. Jorden and Jonah join us this morning. They are now aware of what happened last night.

Lazarus seems to be doing well, but our conversation isn’t as cheerful or crazy as usual.

“You think something bad is going to happen today, don’t you?” asks Jonah.

“I don’t know what’s going to happen today, but I have a feeling that last night’s event was just a warning. I want us to be ready,” answers Darius.

“I’m bringing my former comrades from the royal army, the ones who I trust, in today.”

“Both of you,” says Caspian to Jonah and Jorden, “stay close to Quincy at all times.”

I have the feeling that it’s more for their safety rather than mine, because I’ll be heavily guarded.

“I think it’s time for us to get ready for the ceremony,” announces Serena.

***

When we get back into our bedchamber, François is there with a dress on a hanger next to a tuxedo.

“Queen Sophia sent these over, Your Highnesses,” he informs us.

Caspian has a strange expression on his face when he sees them.

The dress is an off-the-shoulder, floor-length princess gown. It’s made with pale shimmering blue silk. The corset-style bodice is beaded with pearls. The voluminous silk skirt is stitched with delicate silver lace appliques. It’s a fairy-tale dress. Breathtakingly beautiful.

I’ve never worn anything quite as beautiful in my life.

The gray tuxedo has an identical pale blue silk waistcoat and bow tie.

“She also wants you to have these.” François hands me two black velvet boxes. “I will send the maids in to help with your dress and makeup, Your Highness.”

“Thank you, François,” I manage to say before he walks out.

Queen Sophia sent these? I raise an eyebrow at Caspian, who’s already looking at me.

“I don’t get it,” he says with a frown as I cautiously open one of the boxes.

I gasp when I see a beautiful matching set of diamond earrings, a necklace, and a bracelet nestled inside.

“This is my mother’s way of saying that she’s approved of our union. She was so against it before. Why approve now?”