The Lycan King's Puppet-Chapter 18: Run

Zach was waiting outside for her. And knowing him, he’d wait for her until she came out to meet him - whenever that was.

Pacing the room wasn’t helping her think. If she left as planned, Uncle Jarren would go mad and hurt her sister. If she didn’t, he might pay her the promised midnight visit.

Neither of the options were better than the other.

What was she to do?

Horses neighed in the yard below. Stable boys barked commands at their inferiors as they prepared for departure. She watched them from her windows.

What if Uncle Jarren spotted Zachary? How deep into the woods was he hiding?

She ran a hand through her hair. She’d go to him, but only to tell him to leave.

Claire wasn’t willing to gamble her sister’s life. 𝕗𝗿𝕖𝐞𝐰𝗲𝕓𝐧𝕠𝕧𝗲𝐥.𝚌𝐨𝚖

Except, she took a hostage of her own.

Arlan. If she took Arlan, Uncle Jarren’s only living heir, he would be forced to come down to her terms.

But, it was easier said than done. Abducting a fellow human being would make her as vile as her Uncle no matter what her reason was.

A life for another life, how fair was that?

Speak of the devil. Uncle Jarren came into view. He was scowling. The sun made his long, gracious locks of hair shimmer like falling silk.

He glanced up at her window. Their gazes met and locked.

She refused to look away, no matter how terribly her stomach twisted.

Then, he broke the contact and entered the carriage. Slowly, it rolled down the path and out of her view.

Part of her wondered how successful the meeting with the King would be. Would he hand over her father’s lands and properties to him?

He had no reason to protect her lands, had he?

She rushed to her chest of clothes and selected a light brown gown - so she wouldn’t be easily spotted among the trees. Pulling the dress over her head, she wore her leather boots and rang the bell.

A few minutes passed and there was no sign of Seraphine.

Just as she laid her hand on the knob, the door opened from the other side. A key scraped in the lock before it cracked open.

Her heart was pounding.

What if he returned earlier than they anticipated? What if he changed his mind about going? What if he forgot something?

What if...

Seraphine’s reassuring face calmed her instantly. Something about the woman’s warm eyes made her feel safe.

"Do you have everything you need?"

A nod was her only response.

"Come, he’s waiting."

"If I’m leaving, I’ll take Arlan with me."

The maid shook her head. "It would attract too much attention."

"We’ll make it look like a normal walk."

The woman agreed hesitantly.

Hand in hand, they went down the hallway and down the stairs.

"Where is he?" Claire asked as they reached the bottom of the stairs.

"Let me bring him to you."

Claire stopped her with a hand on her arm.

"You... might terrify him. Let me go instead."

She found him in the grand study. He was folding letters and skillfully tossing them into the bin at the other end of the room.

He coloured as soon as he saw her.

"I have already read them... I swear." When he realized she wasn’t fooled, he said, "Don’t tell my father... please. It’s just so tedious to read letters from all these people."

She smiled at his honesty. She had detested every bit of it while her father had been alive. And as his heir, he expected her to get accustomed to the role, she remembered sadly.

"Come with me. Let’s walk in the woods."

He averted his gaze.

"I’m sorry about your sister. The servants would not stop gossiping about it."

It was her turn to avert her gaze. "Thank you, Arlan. You are not like your father, are you?"

A faint blush stained his cheeks.

"Sometimes he says I’m not his son - I’m a bastard. The day of my shifting would clear all doubt."

Claire tilted her head. "You look very much like him. I can tell that you’ll grow into a handsome man."

Another blush, only deeper this time.

She held out her hand and he took it.

"I’ll treat you well... when you become my wife." He murmured, barely audible.

She stiffened. He noticed the change in her.

"Forgive me if I offended you, my lady. I only meant that you and your sister would be safe from harm."

She bit her lower lip.

"What if the peril we are fleeing from is your father? How would you protect us, then?"

He blinked furiously, gulping as he tried to form a response.

They walked down to the entrance of the house where Seraphine was waiting.

"He would never hurt you. He goes on and on about how everyone in Reden wants to hurt you and your sister. He wants to protect you, even if his methods are a little... rash and harsh."

Her throat tightened. Everyone wanted to protect her - Uncle Jarren, Yeren.

There were no servants in the yard - the sun was too hot for anyone to sit outside for long.

It was so bright after being in the confines of the stone council for a long time.

Birds fluttered overhead.

The forest was cool in comparison to the hot yard.

"I know it sounds strange, but sometimes, I pray to the goddess to... never mind." Arlan was saying.

Claire squeezed his hand lightly. "Go on." She urged.

She needed to keep him talking - so she won’t have to wallow in her guilty thoughts.

"This is terrible... I’ve never told anyone this before - sometimes my dad would drink so much wine and die in a hunt."

Her breath caught. She couldn’t chastise him when she wished the very same thing. But she wanted him to suffer a more bloody death - excruciatingly slow and painful.

A twig snapped in the distance. She stopped walking.

She glanced around them, her grip on his hand tightening.

"Claire." The voice was soft, almost inaudible.

Claire spun around. There he was.

Zachary.

"My father would punish you again. We must go back." Arlan said, attempting to wheel around.

Zach raised an eyebrow at him. "Why is he here?"

She sucked in a deep breath. "He’s our hostage." She covered her face with her hands. "It’s the only way I know to get Aurora back."

Zach pulled her to himself. "I understand. We have to go. The road is dangerous at night."

He smelled like sweat, forest and something sweet. She breathed him in.

"You’ve become thinner than I remember." He remarked, running his hands along her arms.

She turned to look at Arlan. He didn’t try to run, didn’t even look afraid. He must trust her deeply, she realized.

Why?

"Where are we going? I have money." Arlan volunteered.

The enthusiasm in his voice unsettled both of them.

Seraphine stood by the other end, watching if they were being followed.

"It’s best you don’t know until we get far away from here. I won’t take any chances - you might mindlink your people." Zach said.

"I won’t do that. But, you don’t have to believe me."

"Go! Time is against you!" Seraphine chided.

They started walking.

She felt safe again.

"But they’re wolves. They can track us."

Arlan squeezed in between them.

"My father’s wolf is vicious, but it’s also weak. If it wasn’t, he would have recovered from the burn by now." Arlan contributed.

"What burn?"

Claire averted her gaze.

He knew her too well. "What did you do?"

"He was... he was going to strangle Rory. I did the only thing I knew how to do then."

His eyes softened.

Seraphine had started going back to Penbrook.

"When we get to the swamp, we will have to cover ourselves with mud to cover our scents. I know it’s not a pleasant idea, but it is the best I have."

The rest of the journey to the swamp was quiet. Zach whistled while Arlan studied the peculiar plants they passed.

Anytime an animal rushed by, she’d cling to Zach.

The swamp finally loomed ahead. The sky was darkening - it was getting late. Not only that, the clouds were graying in preparation for rain.

"We’ll have to take cover somehow." Zach said as he guided them into the mud.

It was knee-deep. It splattered with every step they took, staining her hem.

A cave loomed at the end of the path. It was obvious - if they were being hunted down, that’s the first place anyone would check.

The rain started, light at first, then it began pouring. Thunder rumbled and lightning struck.

They bathed themselves in the mud. Claire held her breath as she covered her face and hair with the heavy globs. Arlan seemed to be having fun doing it.

Zach didn’t lead them to the cave, instead he led them to a hidden tunnel shielded by crawling plants.

The place smelled damp and moldy, but she was too tired to complain. Water dripped from the top of the cave as the rain began. They washed their hands there before feasting on the bread and meat Zachary had brought.

Claire didn’t know how she could fall asleep in such a place. It was cold and damp and she was covered in foul-smelling mud. All she had on was a brown dress which suited the occasion but was too light a fabric to keep her warm.

"If we stay together, we’ll keep warm." Zach told her as he settled down to sleep.

"Why can’t we light a fire?" She asked.

Instead of a response, he tugged her until she laid down beside him.

The heat of his body gradually mingled with hers.

This was inappropriate, she knew. But it felt too good. She turned her face until it was level with his.

He was watching her, she realized.

It was too dark to see his face, but she felt his gaze nonetheless. A grunt from the other corner reminded them that they weren’t alone.

"Come here. You’d be warm with us." She urged.

Arlan scuttled closer and wrapped his arms around her.

Zach stiffened, she noticed.

As she closed her eyes, there was only one face she saw in the darkness.

His face.