The secret moments from Chapter 5 and the whispers about the concubines had plunged Evelyn into utter confusion. Falling in love with a king, forgetting the money needed for her family... This was not just foolishness; it was a deadly risk. Under Lysandra's stern gaze, Evelyn forced herself back into her routine.
"Your only goal is the silver," she repeated to herself. But the yellow flower was still tucked secretly among her dried herbs.
The Devastating Silence
Shortly after his return, King Damon was forced to leave the castle again with news that the cursed tribes in the north had resumed their activities. The war continued.
Damon's departure created an eerie silence in the castle. The concubines had put aside their flashy attire and watched the courtyard with anxiety. Evelyn, too, constantly listened to this silence in her small world.
Every day, Evelyn sat in the darkest corners, listening intently. She was a mortal; the whispers of the servants gossiping about the palace were her only source of news.
"The King's army is in trouble, the magic is said to be too strong."
"An Alpha commander lost his life. The King is furious."
Every piece of bad news pierced Evelyn's heart like a dagger. Evelyn, always rational and practical, was now praying for a Lycan King—a King she had only seen from afar and spoken to twice.
At night, without Lysandra's knowledge, she would cup the delicate yellow flower in her palm and whisper, "Please be safe, Your Majesty. My family needs me, and... the kingdom needs you." She could no longer distinguish how much of that lie was for the kingdom and how much was for herself.
The Return and the Fall
After weeks of this devastating uncertainty, the palace suddenly became animated one afternoon. It was not a victory roar, but news that a strong regiment was rapidly approaching the Castle. King Damon had returned.
Evelyn was assisting a group of servants cleaning the stairs at that moment. She was going above her duty, but being active lessened her anxiety. The service stairs leading to the Infirmary were in the oldest and least-used parts of the castle. The upper steps were slick with moss from the castle's dampness.
Evelyn lost her footing when a guard, rushing down the stairs, nudged her as she carried her bucket up.
She slipped.
The filthy water inside the bucket splashed everywhere. Evelyn instinctively threw out her arms to protect her head as she fell, but the descent was too fast.
Just then, King Damon, seeking a shortcut on his return, appeared in the corridor. He still carried the dust of battle and the weight of his metal armor.
In a fraction of a second, Damon lunged toward Evelyn's suspended body. In the final moment of her fall, a strong arm gripped Evelyn's waist, saving her from hitting the ground.
Evelyn's consciousness blurred. The shock of the fall was greater than the pain in her body. Her eyes fluttered shut.
The Unconscious Oath
King Damon held Evelyn in his arms. Her slender, light body was like a feather in the King's strong grasp. Damon's brow was furrowed. The King, who normally wouldn't bother with the slightest injury, tightly embraced this small mortal. The Infirmary was too far, and he didn't want to waste time.
Damon quickly carried Evelyn toward his Tower and placed her in the nearest, most private guest room. As he settled her, he looked at her face. The King was perplexed that someone so fragile possessed a power strong enough to give him life.
In the silence of the room, Damon bent down. He reached out to touch Evelyn's face, as if he still felt the sting of the cursed blade. But he restrained himself.
The King turned to leave, heading for the door.
At that exact moment, Evelyn, still lying on the bed with her eyes closed, unconsciously reached out her hand. Her small, delicate fingers caught King Damon's powerful wrist.
Evelyn's touch was like a command, not a plea.
Damon froze in his spot. The effect of this contact was deeper than the healing shock from Chapter 4. As Evelyn's cold, delicate touch gripped his wrist, King Damon's heart... again spun out of control.
This unconscious hold was the tangible proof of all the dangerous, fated feelings Evelyn had tried to suppress with her mortal logic. King Damon was unable to move. A mortal had anchored him.
He was a King, an Alpha. But that unconscious mortal was touching his deepest, most cursed secret once again.