Chapter 8 8. What did you do

Elana's breath hitched, her lips trembling as the sound of his voice in her head sent shivers running down her spine.

Clutching her hands together, everything in her went rigid as she struggled to remain calm.

Blinking, she shifted her gaze from the figure, her heartbeat slowing down as she released a sigh.

There was no way she could reply to him. Her wolf was just too weak.

Her gaze moved around the guests at her table, noting the fact that no one's attention was on her.

"H-How?" she whispered.

A gasp escaped her lips as Darius suddenly leaned towards her, his breath brushing her ears.

"When I said to keep mute, I didn't mean to act weird." He gritted out.

"At least, manage a little smile, Elana," he added before returning to speak his conversations.

Ignoring him, she snapped her gaze back to the pillar, her brows rising as she found it empty.

Where- where did he go?

Scanning the hall, her gaze landed on a royal guard close to the entrance– the same one that had blindfolded her.

As she caught his stare on her, he nodded, signaling to the door before stepping out.

"E-excuse me," Elana stammered as she rose to her feet.

Darius' hand shot out, taking hold of her elbow before she could leave.

"Where are you going, darling?" he asked, his lips curved in a forced smile.

Her skin crawled at his words and the feel of his hands on her. "The restroom," she managed to say, a small smile on her face as she pulled her hand away.

Nodding at the others, she quickened her steps as she walked to the exit.

By the time she had reached the entrance, the guard was nowhere in sight.

"Follow me."

Elana jumped at the deep voice, her hand on her chest as she turned around.

It was the guard.

Lowering her head, Elana followed from behind, walking further away from the grand hall. He led her through a dark passage, and soon they arrived at a well-decorated room.

Her breath caught at the sight of the Alpha King standing, tall and brooding in the middle of the room, his arms crossed against his chest, and his blazing stare already on her.

He was still as intimidating as ever.

"Your..."

"Come," he ordered, cutting her off before she could take a bow.

Turning around, he walked towards another side door and opened it, waiting for her to step in.

Walking forward, Elana stepped into a room lined with yellow, pink and red flowery decorations.

"This is..."

"She wanted to see you," Alpha King Cassian muttered from beside her as he nodded to the figure sitting on the bed, her back leaning on the headboard.

"Lyra," Cassian called, stepping forward, "this will be your new healer," he introduced.

Lowering her head, Elana bowed as she bent her knees into a curtsey. "Hello, your highness."

"Your hair is pretty," Princess Lyra said, her voice low as she wore a small smile.

"Th-thank you, your highness,"

"I want you to check her," Cassian cut in. "She's been feeling more tired than usual these past days."

"Of course," Elana walked closer to the bed. With her two hands, she took hold of Princess Lyra's thin hand, placing her finger on the princess' wrist.

"Do you need anything?" Cassian asked.

Shaking her head, Elana closed her eyes as she sent a spark of energy from her fingertips into the princess' vein.

Her brows knitted as she followed the energy's path with her senses as it flowed through the princess' body.

"What's the color of your hair?" Princess Lyra asked.

"Lyra, your healer needs to focus," Cassian cautioned.

"It's okay," Elana cut in, her eyes opening as she looked at the princess.

Princess Lyra raised her hand, her fingers touching the tips of Elana's hair, which had changed color.

Honestly, Elana had no idea why some parts of her hair had some streaks of silver, but saying that would only disappoint the princess.

"You can say I'm a blondish brunette, your highness," Elana answered as she gave a wink.

"I like to call myself a honey-coloured blonde with silver tips. It's pretty different, right?"

Raising the blanket on the bed, she continued, "You don't worry about anything and have a good night's rest, your highness." She cooed as she caught the princess' droopy eyes.

"Oh, I wanted to play some more." Princess Lyra yawned, "but I'm a bit sleepy,"

Elana watched as the princess drifted off into a deep sleep. Turning around, she left the room from the same door they she had come through.

"What's wrong with her?" Cassian asked as soon as he locked the Princess' door.

"I saw you frown while you checked her," he stated, his gaze running over her face, studying her.

"It's nothing..."

"Don't lie to me."

"I'll need to prepare something for her to drink. It will help with her fatigue."

"Is that all? Fatigue?" His brows creased as he looked at her.

"No, but I won't no more until I watch her."

Nodding, he said, "Fine. You should be able to prepare what you need by tomorrow,"

Her brows rose as she stared at him, "So, I'll be staying here then?"

Arching his brow, he tilted his head to the side, "Didn't you hear what I called you in there?"

Gulping, she pressed her lips together.She couldn't just assume it would be so– She needed to hear him say it.

"You staying here was never out of the question."

Her shoulders slumped as relief flooded her body at his words.

Shaking his head, he turned around towards the door, "Jaron will take you back to the hall."

"Your majesty!" She called, stopping him before he left.

Licking her lips, she wrung her hands together as she hesitated to say more.

Focusing on her, he took a step closer to her as his eyes narrowed. "You want something else?" he guessed.

Elana took a step back as he continued to approach. Her silence spoke more than words.

"I warned you, didn't I?" Cassian growled, his voice a deep rumble.

Her back touched the wall, stopping her retreat as he continued. "When you made the claim about being content with your request, I told you nothing else would be added."

Lowering her gaze to the floor, her body trembled as his power echoed in the air. "I- I didn't think of something."

Pausing his step, he closed his eyes, the power in the air reducing. "Speak now."

"My maid, Dorothea," she started, willing her voice to be steady.

"Please, I want her to stay with me in the palace. "

"Is that it?" The surprise in his tone forced her to look up at him.

Was he expecting something else?

"Ye-yes." she answered.

"Consider it done." he turned around.

"I will need an excuse to stay in the palace,"

"Yes, and you'll find out tomorrow," he said as he closed the door behind him.

Soon, she was back outside. The grand hall was a short distance away.

Releasing a sigh, she leaned on the wall as her legs turned to jelly.

Dealing with the king always took a lot from her, but she needed him.

Dorothea would be safe now, so it was worth it.

Glancing at the dining hall, she shook her head.

'To hell with it. She wouldn't be going back there.'

Sighting a guard, she beckoned on him, hoping he would show her the path to her room.

*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-

The next morning came and went, and soon it was nighttime. This was the night where the official contenders would be announced, so they were gathered in the grand hall.

But that wasn't her problem. It was Darius.

Her gaze shifted to him, her brows furrowing as she sighted the huge smile on his lips. He was even whistling, bobbing his head to an invisible song.

He hadn't even questioned her about her absence from last night's dinner.

Something was wrong.

The official announcer, one of the moderators of the bridal hunt, stood to his feet.

"The following names are the candidates that will become official bridal contenders and participate in the bridal hunt for a Luna queen. A total of thirty candidates have been selected."

"Let us begin,"

Elana clamped her hands together, her heart in her throat as he called the names.

"Number twenty-seven is Esme..."

"I guess we will all be going back," Darius stated from beside her, breaking her focus.

Turning to look at him, her eyes narrowed as his smile widened, his focus at the front of the hall.

Why would he say that?

"Number twenty-nine is Bellarus Achald,"

Elana 's eyes widened as she snapped her gaze to the right side of the hall where the king was seated, surrounded with guards.

"And last, but not least..." the announcer continued.

Elana's heart pounded, her throat closing as the feeling of dread filled her.

"Number thirty is Amaris ...."

Cheers exploded, everyone rising to their feet as they clapped their hands while a ringing sound echoed in her ears..

No!

Thirty names and Thalina wasn't called.

Blinking, she looked up at Darius, his lips spread in a wide smile that reached his eyes as he clapped the loudest.

Her mouth dropped, her eyes bulging as realization hit her.

'Darius, what the hell did you do?'