Lucy wasn’t injured but only shaken by the wolf’s proximity earlier that looked as if it was going to bite her, that was now riding with Calhoun.
“Are we not going to tend to brother Calhoun’s hand?” asked Lucy as they rode.
“He’s stronger than he looks, much more strong. A bite like that won’t harm him,” replied Theodore and Lucy bit her lip. If she hadn’t fallen behind and if her horse had not run away, Calhoun wouldn’t have been bit.
Markus had already overtaken them and went ahead of them as if he was in a hurry to reach the castle, while Samuel tried to keep up with Theodore and her not too far behind them. As the horse galloped, Lucy held on to the saddle while feeling her back move against Theodore’s front. His hands were around her, holding the reins of the horse.
A mixture of worry and excitement filled Lucy’s mind. She had to be mindful of what she was going to say as it seemed like Mr. Greville would be able to eavesdrop on their conversation.
“You didn’t answer my question,” said Lucy.
Theodore could hear Lucy’s heart beating, and to get rid of Samuel, he increased his horse’s speed so that they could get away from the suitor. “I thought my gesture was clear, milady.”
“Don’t call me like that. Don’t call me the way everyone does,” Lucy didn’t want to be any other woman in Theodore’s life. Was it wrong to expect from him that she wanted to be treated special to him? “I know what it means. What you called me last night.”
With Samuel who had fallen behind and Calhoun who overtook them too, one of his hands moved to place on Lucy’s waist, “And what was that?” he asked her.
Lucy felt her toes curl at his touch, and she turned a little shy. She said, “It is love. Amare.” Theodore didn’t agree or deny her words. “I am still not sure though. You continue to let me stay in the company of the suitors.”
“Would you prefer I kill them and have them hidden away so that they never come in contact with you ever again?” asked Theodore with a calm voice as if he didn’t just propose to kill people.
Lucy couldn’t help but turn around to meet Theodore’s eyes, and she felt air knock out of her body. A fluttering feeling of happiness came to spread from her chest to every single part of her body.
She didn’t know what relationship she and Theodore had, except that they shared similar feelings. It put a bright smile on her face, and she basked in that moment. She knew her family would not allow it, and it only made her wonder if she should run away from the castle. The idea was tempting as well as daunting.
When they reached the castle, Markus was the first to reach and find his mother, who was sitting with Queen Morganna.
“That was quite a quick hunt. Did you catch anything delicious? Or did it go as we planned?” questioned Rosamund, who leisurely sat with her mother, talking about people.
Markus’s mouth had turned dry, and if he were a human, he would have been wheezing to catch some air with the speed he just walked in.
“Calhoun has been bit by the wolf!” informed Markus and both the vampiress looked pleased by this information.
“I knew you were my favourite grandchild for a reason, Markus. You bring good news to us,” praised Queen Morganna, but Markus shook his head. “What happened?”
“The wolf’s bite had no effect on him. And instead he brought it to the castle-“
“WHAT?” questioned Rosamund, her eyebrows furrowing.
“What do you mean by he brought the wolf to the castle, boy? Did he bring it to add it to his pet collection?” when Markus nodded his head, Queen Morganna’s eyes narrowed.
“Get Laurence! I cannot let Calhoun do whatever he wants,” Queen Morganna got up and walked out of the room. Rosamund was quick to follow her mother while Markus searched for the King, so that it could be informed on what his son did.
The queen, with the others, went to meet Calhoun and make sure to reprimand him.
“You cannot be serious and in your right mind to bring a wolf that bit you and can bite anyone else!” Morganna raged. “Do you think we are providing a sanctuary in here to the wolves?”
Calhoun had finished cleaning his wound and had tied the wolf in the kennel, “You look very upset, grandmother. You should go take some rest in your room.”
“Get the wolf out of here. It cannot stay in here,” ordered Morganna, but Calhoun didn’t budge from where he stood. “Do you think you rebelling against me is going to do good to you?”
Calhoun offered the older vampiress a polite smile, “I don’t know what you mean by that, grandmother. I took a great interest in this wolf, I often take great interest in the things that hurt me. Don’t worry, it won’t bite you. You are my beloved grandmother, it knows you won’t hurt me, don’t you? Hm, I forgot to name the wolf.”
“You are a madman,” came the low words from Morganna.
“Madman…What do you think about the name Maddox?”
Morganna saw Markus walking to where he was, and he said, “King Laurence isn’t here. He went to attend a meeting that is taking place three towns away from here.”
“I will talk to him later,” said Morganna before her eyes fell on Calhoun’s hand, “You should apply something on that wound. You don’t want to have an infection similar to what happened to your mother. I heard you killed her and hid her body.”
The others who stood near them looked at Calhoun, not expecting this piece of information to be revealed.
“Did you want to ask her for forgiveness for what you did to her?” asked Calhoun.
Morganna smirked, “I don’t think she’s worth it. There are people who are already trying to get more information about what you did to her. To find out about your crimes, so let me give you some advice,” she paused for a moment, stepping closer to him. She said lowly, only for him to hear, “Be on your guard because you never know when you will be standing behind the bars and be executed.”
“Thank you for your precious advice. I will make sure to watch my back, and yours along with the rest,” Calhoun smiled before bowing his head.
As expected, during the time of the evening, when the King returned to the castle, the news reached him, and Calhoun had requested to tame the wolf for his own benefit before getting the approval for his new wolf.
Morganna fumed at the thought of how her son didn’t listen to a word that she said and was instead being manipulated by the whore’s son. With her arms crossed, she stood in front of the fireplace, and her loyal servant stood not too far away behind her.
“Get it done today. It is time to strike and we cannot afford to play anymore,” stated Morganna, whose face had turned serious. “Kill the woman so that they know what they have gotten themselves into.”
