The Lycan King's Puppet-Chapter 92: Wait for Her

"You’re in a foul mood this morning." Andon noted with a hum.

Yeren spared him a glance before returning his attention to the yard in front of him.

The servants were taking forever to get the carriage loaded and ready.

He needed them to leave immediately...

And if they delayed any longer, she would be able to join them.

He tried not to think of what had happened the night before. But, it constantly kept forcing its way into his thoughts.

He’d lost control. The terror in her eyes when she’d opened them was still vivid in his memory.

She thought he was a monster, he knew without a doubt.

He ran a hand through his hair. Wasn’t he a monster? His Lycan couldn’t be controlled - they’d never bonded well even when he was much younger. And now, it was much worse when he suppressed it. It made him nearly run mad to think of the fact that he would’ve marked her... and possibly hurt her.

Why could he control everything but his insufferable Lycan?

The back of his neck tingled, prompting him to rub it. Something made him look up at her tower.

There she was, staring down at him. He wasn’t sure of the expression on her face. But he was certain of one thing - she saw them.

"Have the servants hasten up." He said to Andon who was watching him intently.

"Why the sudden need for haste, Your Grace?" Andon asked, looking between him and the woman that had just left the window. "Is there a reason you need to leave so soon?" The stupid grin was back on his face.

Yeren awarded him with a glare that he felt was well-deserved. "We need to arrive there before night falls. Glenwood is a day’s ride from here-"

"As if I need to be reminded, Your Grace. I believe I have visited that place more times than you have. And because of my familiarity, I know that your haste has nothing to do with our time of arrival."

"What are you driving at, Andon?"

"Where is your Cupbearer? If I remember correctly, she was supposed to join us on our little trip."

His face paled immediately.

"She has not shown up - we have no choice but to leave her behind."

"No choice? Is Glenwood in a siege?"

Yeren rubbed his eyes, sighing in exasperation. "Are you suggesting that we wait for her?"

Andon shrugged, grinning again.

"By all means, why shouldn’t we? Except... you have a reason you’d like to share with me, Your Grace." The bloody man had the grace to wink at him.

Yeren pulled him aside. "I just don’t want her to come. Something unfortunate transpired between us the previous night."

Andon’s eyes started gleaming.

"Tell me what happened. This happens to be my area of expertise, Your Grace."

Yeren rolled his eyes.

"Nothing that concerns you."

"Everything that concerns you, concerns me."

"Is that so?"

Andon patted his back playfully. "Do you need to be told? I swore to serve you - and only you. If a woman is your problem, it’s my problem as well. What exactly happened the night before?"

Yeren’s shoulders sagged.

"It almost happened."

Andon didn’t seem surprised in the least bit, he just kept waiting patiently for him to say what was bothering him.

"I nearly marked her. I was this close..." Yeren gestured with his hands.

Andon’s gasp was sharp.

"You don’t mean it."

Yeren nodded quietly.

"Does that mean that she’s still your fated mate?"

"That does not make any sense. Or does it?"

Andon tilted his head. "I thought she rejected you."

"I’d rather not talk about that right now."

Andon averted his gaze. "What other explanation can there be? Your wolf wouldn’t want to mark her if she wasn’t your-"

"Don’t call her that. She’s not my mate, she can’t be."

Andon blinked. Then he raised both his palms up in mock retreat.

"Why have you been chasing her then? To get a taste of the forbidden fruit before you decide it wasn’t meant for you?"

Yeren turned on him with a deadly glare.

"I didn’t mean she... you of all people know what that would mean - she’d be a target. And," He looked at the ground, "I can’t protect her from everything."

"Speak of the devil..."

Four maids were carrying her chest towards the carriage.

"Is she riding with us? I can arrange for her to be conveyed in another-"

"Have her ride with us." Yeren said, his eyes still fixed on the approaching woman.

Andon swatted his forehead.

"I no longer understand you. This is the same woman you were trying to avoid a minute ago. I could have duties assigned to her if you still don’t want her to come."

Yeren spared him a brief glance.

"You’re the one who stopped that plan from working. We could have been well on our way."

It was Andon’s turn to roll his eyes.

The male servants took her large chest from the women that brought it and placed it in the wagon.

He glanced in her direction. The maids were surrounding her, seemingly escorting her to her destination.

How fancy, he mused.

They stopped before he and Andon and curtsied - all except the woman he was trying to stop staring at.

Giggling and tossing obsessed looks at him and Andon, the women rushed away, leaving her alone.

"Your Grace." She skirted a curtsey. "Lord Andon."

Andon nodded at her, darting a glance at him as they both awaited his response.

"Miss Stenly. I trust you slept well." He said.

Her eyes rose up to meet his. There were so many questions in them, so many things she wanted to know but couldn’t ask...

"I slept like a baby."

A bald lie.

He, on the other hand, didn’t sleep a wink.

Yeren nodded at her and entered the carriage.

Andon waited for her to be seated comfortably before entering after her.

The little room felt too small and uncomfortable.

From the faint blush on her cheeks as she pretended to stare out the window, it was clear that she was still thinking about the events of the previous night.

He had to avoid her - that was the only way to ensure that it didn’t happen again.

And, he needed to listen to Andon more.

When he looked at the insufferable man, he was grinning at both of them, a knowing look in his eyes.

"Is something bothering you, Miss Stenly?" Andon asked her, his voice patient.

She jerked as if startled, her eyes darting to Yeren first before landing on Andon.

That stray gaze gave her away.

"I still worry about my sister, Lord Andon. Spending a day away from her has its toll on me, you see."

He nodded as if he believed her.

Another bald and shameless lie - although it could’ve been partially true.

"I’ve never seen a woman think of her sister with a glint in her eyes and colour in her cheeks, Miss Stenly."

Her hand rose to caress her cheeks, paling instantly.

Again, she looked at him.

And he was sheepishly looking at her.

Thinning his lips, he looked away.

Why won’t Andon just let the matter alone? This was better forgotten.

And when he returned from Glenwood, he planned to remove her from the position of his Cupbearer.

The carriage skidded over a bump and she jerked forward. Andon caught her, wrapping an arm around her small waist to steady her.

Yeren couldn’t help but watch them. The grateful smile she gave his First man was blinding.

He stared out the window. The four walls of the carriage was a cage, if he’d ever been in one. The red silk drapes kept out most of the rising sun’s rays.

Was he supposed to bear this until dusk? Why didn’t he just allow her to stay in another carriage?

It was because he wanted to protect her, he told himself.

The landscape beyond was breath-taking, but for some reason, he found no joy in looking at it.

Andon had easily engaged her in a conversation about farmlands - and he was surprised at how much she knew.

Women never concerned themselves with such knowledge as far as he was concerned.

"I think Miss Stenly here can assist Lord Malric instead of wasting her knowledge serving vainly as your Cupbearer."

His fingers twitched at his sides.

"Lord Malric had no need of assistance." Came his curt reply.

He spared her a glance. She was wearing a peach-coloured dress that dipped low to show an impressive cleavage with frilled sleeves and black embroidery.

"I’ve milked a cow before." She was telling Andon.

"I don’t believe you. Your hands are too smooth for such hard work to have been done by them."

She pulled off her gloves and stared down at her hands.

"Perhaps, you’re right."

Andon’s face lit up with a smug smile.

"I’ve never had to do much, my Lord." She said, touching a hand to her neck without realising it.

Her chain - it was no longer on her neck. It gave him a surge of pride. He’d get her something more befitting, he noted.

"Your necklace..." Andon said, noticing her bare neck as well.

A dark blush crept up her cheeks.

Why did she have to give herself away every time?