Page 65 of Lycan King's Claim
“Just try, Xandros,” Adina urges, and I hear him growl.
“Sienna, sit up!” Xandros commands. Please don't sit up, please don't sit up, I pray. I hear Xandros gasp and Adina whimpers before I hear Xandros' voice crack.
“Sienna, open your eyes,” he orders, and I nearly scream when the veil of my eyelids open, and I find myself staring at him. The doctor shines a light in my eyes and I can see the disappointment on his face. “Her pupils aren't reactive, my King, I'm sorry, but she is as I feared.”
“Get out” Xandros booms suddenly, and they rush out of the room. I watch through my unreactive eyes, like watching from a distance, or peering through a window. Xandros pulls at his hair before turning to stare at me. He tilts his head, sitting on the bed and clamping my face between his hands. His nostrils flare and he looks furious, when his lip quivers.
“You're different, you'll be different. You'll come back to me, no life is worth living without you in it. You believed I didn't love you, but I'm still here! I'm still here, Sienna, with no bond tying me to you. You were wrong, the bond helped me find you, it didn't make me love you because now it's gone, I still fucking do. So you come back to me, if I don't get out of loving you, you won't be getting out of loving me too,” he chokes.
33
Weeks have passed. The weight of the kingdom presses down upon me, each breath thick with the stifled whispers of the court. Their gazes slide away as I pass, their words halt—they fear me, or perhaps the truth of Sienna's condition. Every day, I sit at Sienna’s side and Javier and my father are running the kingdom. The only thing I care about is Sienna and our unborn baby.
Dr. Rami suggested last week to start giving her my blood daily, it's working, sort of. She hasn't woken. I can command her easily, she does as she is told, but she is not my Sienna. She is just an empty vessel of whom she once was. The once-vibrant curve of my mark on her porcelain neck has faded, but it's still visible. Dr. Rami proposes that in a couple of weeks I try to remark her to see if my blood in her system will reinforce the bond, and awaken her.
The hospital room is a ghostly pallor, amplifying every tick of the clock, every drop of water. Each sound is a torturous reminder of the time she's spent lost to me. Though the rhythmic thud of her heartbeat brings some solace, her vacant stare tells another story. The countless remedies, from my own blood infusions to potions, to ancient forgotten rituals, have only served to intensify my sense of helplessness. Nothing works, but I can't live without her.
“Your Highness,” a familiar voice ventures, hesitating at the doorway. Doctor Rami, a man of immense patience and a lot of guts, steps into the room, he is probably the only one game enough to enter these days. “We're still researching… unconventional methods. I haven't given up on her.” he tells me.
My fingers feel alien as they caress Sienna’s delicate hand. “And neither will I,” I whisper, my voice rough with the myriad of unshed tears.
“The Council is here, they want to speak with you, but if I may, my King,” I peer over at him, and he checks outside the door as if checking the coast is clear.
“There have been rumors, the Council was making inquiries today about Sienna's condition, about your bond to her. I lied and said it was still intact for now,” I tilt my head, trying to figure out what he's getting at.
“They asked if the bond was severed, suggesting you take another as a mate, so you can retake your seat as king,” I growl at his words, but he raises a hand to stop me from getting worked up.
“I suggested she was getting better, that she is showing improvement, but I fear she isn't safe here, not with the way they've been lurking. Council member Ridion has also expressed his concern too, you need to take her home, I can visit the castle, but I don't think it's safe for her here,”
A shadow falls upon the door, proving the arrival of the Council. Their expressions are as much of mourning for the kingdom's uncertain future as for Sienna. The sterility of the room does little to drown out their mutterings.
“King Xandros,” starts Lord Eldrin, his graying hair contrasting his fiery blue eyes, “we feel your anguish. Yet, the realm requires your attention.”
My head snaps up, my eyes piercing through him. “Your concerns for the kingdom fall on deaf ears when my heart bleeds before you, you dare have the audacity to come to me and tell me what exactly? What is it you propose I do? Kill her? Would you kill your mate, Eldrin?” I growl, the bitterness evident in my tone. I can't fathom their audacity, their misplaced priorities. “I'm not the one in this situation, King Xandros,”
“Exactly, therefore your input is not needed or warranted, my kingdom is in safe hands, and I am sick of everyone telling me what to do with my pregnant mate. So leave while you can.” I warn him, getting to my feet. However, Dr. Rami is quick to intervene.
“Actually, Sienna is going home today, I have the discharge papers right here, she is doing much better, I think being in her own bed and at home will truly speed things along.”
Lord Eldrin looks at Dr. Rami. “Home? She is being discharged?” he asks, his shock is clear on his face. Dr. Rami holds up a piece of paper which I hadn't noticed, but my attention and anger was elsewhere. Lady Serin takes it when Eldrin doesn't, she smiles, her eyes scanning the page. “See Eldrin, I told you everything is fine, I'm sure we can award more time, she's made a clear improvement.” Lady Serin states and Eldrin wanders closer to Sienna, but I step in his path.
“I would tread carefully Eldrin, anyone would think you don't want my mate to make it, so I suggest you choose your next words wisely, this is my kingdom, and to threaten my Queen.” I step closer and Eldrin eyes go to mine. “Is worthy of death, be careful who you challenge, I'm not called the mad king for nothing; push me. You'll see how mad I can get,” I warn him.
Lady Serin laughs loudly, yet I hear the nervousness in it. She knows Eldrin has gone too far, and his not so subtle hints at getting rid of my mate for kingdom alliances and treaties agreements is getting on my nerves.
Hours turn to days, each moment an agonizing stretch of time. Still, I persist in giving Sienna my blood. The room's walls, painted in a cold hue, seem to press down on me, reminding me of the life we once led, vibrant and free.
Eldrin smiles, yet I see through it, he is the third-largest territory and I know he is hoping to take Carina's kingdom now Vin is out of the way, but to achieve that he needs votes from the founding kingdoms. But he won't find one here, and Carina only fears my kingdom, the others she can handle. He's fat out of luck if he thinks I will stand against her after all the help she's given. We have a past and respect that, and our treaties, I won't be fighting my ex-wife over his territory dispute.
“Your Highness,” he begins, every word heavy, “those who have suffered such severed bonds, like Sienna’s… they rarely return.”
“Like her.” He motions toward Sienna, her once vivacious spirit now trapped. “Existing, but not truly living. Few regain even the slightest semblance of consciousness, and it's unpredictable.”
“But she can survive this way?” I tell him.
“She can,” he responds, his gaze going to her. “But it's a shadow of existence. Are you keeping her here because you truly believe she'll return, Xandros, or is it because you just don't want to lose her?” I swallow because that has played on my mind, but it's too soon to tell. Coma patients have woken up after decades before in humans, she isn't human, surely her odds have to be better. I grit my teeth at his words because I don't know the answer, I don't know if I am being selfish holding her here, or if I am giving her a fighting chance.
“Take your mate home, my King, I know you think I want Vin's kingdom, which yes would be nice, but not my intention of coming here. I watched your grandfather turn mad without his mate, he wiped out half his kingdom, I merely worry the same for you,” he tells me before turning on his heel and leaving.
