Page 19 of Lycan King's Claim
"So that is why Neve was your surrogate?" and she nods.
"Yeah, for decades we tried to give Xandros a sibling, and he was a grown man by the time we were able to. He'd already taken over the kingdom. Neve offered, after watching me struggle for decades, and she blamed herself for it. It wasn't her fault, and I told her that, but she kept insisting. So I agreed. It was almost like since my ability was taken away, it made me desire having a baby more," she whispers.
She pauses for a second. "Come on, we should head in before Xandros does come searching for you, but we can meet back here in the morning," she tells me.
"You still want to train me?" I ask.
"Well, I didn't mention you challenging Carina for no reason. My son is trapped; the only way out is for Carina to agree or you to challenge. We are getting nowhere with making her agree; this is the only other option he has, so we'll make do," she tells me.
Two days have passed since Adina took it upon herself to start training me, unveiling a side of her that I never anticipated. However, on the third day, Carina's entrance into the training room is met with an air of unexpected calmness. I stare at her nervously as she stops. I've barely seen her since the day Xandros started letting me venture out of the room.
"I was wondering where you two got to," she says, looking us both over. "I take it Xandros doesn't know about this little exercise regime you got going on here?"
I chew my lip nervously, waiting for her to blow up. I'm sure she heard from the other servants about Xandros blowing up about Rehan wanting me to challenge for his son's hand.
A flicker of curiosity dances in her eyes as she watches our movements, her lips curling into a mysterious smile. "Gotta be quicker than that to kick my ass, Anna. You can do better than that," Carina calls out. Adina casts a glance her way. "By all means, let her practice against you," Adina taunts.
Carina brushes her off. "I just got my nails painted," she says, holding them up to show us. "My father is returning soon. Don't let him catch you in here," she adds.
As we gather our training gear, however, a sudden wave of dizziness crashes over me, causing the world to spin. Adina grabs my arm to steady me, and Carina surprisingly catches my other. "Again?" Adina asks. I try to shake the feeling away, but my shoulder throbs to its own beat. My vision blurs, and the ground beneath me feels unsteady. I stagger, feeling sick to my stomach when darkness encroaches on the edges of my vision, and before I know it, I succumb to its relentless pull.
When I finally regain awareness, I find myself lying on a pristine white bed, the sterile scent of a hospital lingering in the air. Confusion clouds my mind as I try to piece together what happened. Adina stands nearby, her face etched with concern, while a doctor hovers nearby, needle in hand.
The doctor's voice is filled with a detached, clinical tone as he explains the situation. "We're just doing a blood test, Adina said Xandros scratched you, and she thinks the mark is infected," he states matter-of-factly, as if it were the most natural thing in the world.
My eyes widen in surprise and realization. The constant sickness that has plagued me, the relentless fatigue I've been battling—it all begins to make sense. Lycan scratches are poisonous, but how come I am not immune to them now I am one?
My voice trembles as I address the doctor, desperately seeking answers. "But why? Why am I feeling this way?" I implore, my voice teetering on the brink of desperation. The doctor's gaze softens slightly, his tone carrying a semblance of understanding.
"The training, the physical exertion—it took a toll on your body. We need to ensure there are no underlying health issues; you wouldn't be the first Lycan to catch rabies," he explains, offering a small smile. I look at Adina, hoping he's joking. Apparently, he's not as he plunges the needle into my arm.
"I could have rabies?" I blurt out.
"Yep, it explains why that scratch isn't healing, but you live with your mate, so it can't be the mate bond, it should have healed once he gave you blood. The only time it wouldn't is if your bond is rejecting his, but healthy mate bonds, it would have cleared up instantly." he states. I look at Adina, but she shakes her head, leaning down.
"Let's just wait for the blood test, it may not be your bond." she whispers. The doctor leaves the room for a second, and I hear his voice before hearing his rushed footsteps.
As I process the doctor's words, my eyes shift to see Xandros walk in, he walks in and stands at the foot of the bed, his face etched with a mix of anger and concern. Fury courses through his veins as he addresses his mother.
"You've been secretly training her? Despite my explicit instructions?" His voice reverberates through the room, filled with a potent mix of disappointment and frustration.
Adina's gaze doesn't waver under his scrutiny, her voice firm as she responds, her words laced with an unwavering resolve. "Well, do you have a better idea? Carina isn't signing those papers, it's the only way she can build up her strength." she asserts, her voice carrying through the room.
Xandros clenches his fists, his eyes locked with Adina's in a battle of wills.
"Strength? She collapsed, and you thought that was acceptable?" His voice trembles with a mix of anger and concern, his emotions swirling within him like a tempest. Adina's expression softens, her gaze shifting towards me with a motherly tenderness, I haven't seen directed at me before.
"My intention was never to harm her, Xandros! But I won't watch my son go mad because he can't have his bond," Adina's voice holds a gentle sincerity. And in that moment, I realize that beneath her seemingly hardened exterior, Adina carries a depth of compassion that extends far beyond what I had initially perceived.
Adina folds her arms across her chest, glancing around for the doctor. "The doctor mentioned a mate bond rejection can cause this kind of infection or rabies,"
"I don’t have rabies," Xandros snaps at her. "Well, you best hope you do, son, because that the doctor can fix, but a broken mate bond, only you can," she tells him.
The tension in the room begins to dissipate as understanding dawns upon Xandros. His anger ebbs away, replaced by a palpable sense of concern. He moves towards me, his hand outstretched, the turmoil within him evident in his eyes.
"Sienna, I didn't mean for this to happen. You should have told me you weren't healing," he murmurs, his voice filled with a mixture of regret and longing. I have hardly seen him, even if I wanted to. Which I didn't.
A whirlwind of emotions envelops me as I look into Xandros' eyes, the love and pain intermingled in their depths.
