Lycan King's Royal Mate

A Lycan Or A Myth

Aeris's Pov

It was the break of dawn; I stood outside the balcony and tried to push those thoughts out of my mind. I felt the icy breezes blowing, and they touched me through the thin fabric of my dress. Admiration of nature's beauty was one of my favorite time killers, and watching dawn had been the best. It gave me the strength and hope that my future would be bright like the sun which was about to rise.

My breath hitched when I felt a presence behind me. His toned torso being pressed on my back and the immediate contact of our bodies made me blush because adrenaline rushed into my blood.

"Isn't it beautiful, just like my pretty wife.!" Caspian whispered in my ears and the touch of his lips over the earlobe sent shivers down my spine. My eyeballs rolled while it shut them, but I felt the fire ignite in my core. I inhaled a deep breath and turned to look at him.

"You haven't answered my question, Caspian. It goes both ways. I will not answer yours either." I jabbed at him with a bitter smile on my face.

His gaze squinted at me. Caspian was trying to read my expressions. "Have you seen a man turning into an animal or an animal turning into a man?" He crossed his arms and looked sternly at me.

Before I could open my mouth to respond to him, Caspian interrupted me, "Apart from the books about mythological creatures. Those creatures don't exist!" He gritted his teeth like a defeated fox.

I raised my eyebrows and rolled my eyes. "Who said creatures don't exist? A troll like you exists in front of my eyes. Look at your reflection in the mirror. Towering built, muscular and deep voice. You have all these features. I must say that you are a troll. Actually, a troll king…" A smiled at him and it was fun to see him getting irritated.

"That pun of yours wasn't worthwhile. I could be more than a troll, something dangerous that can devour its prey like a python." He winked at me and pulled me close by the waist. Caspian looked into my eyes and, with a toothy smile on his lips, he asked me, "Tell me, are you afraid of me?"

"That was the most stupid remark and question a king asked me. For clarification, I am not afraid of you, but I am doubtful of your mysterious behavior. What are you?" I asked him with a serious voice, no change in expressions.

"What will you do if I say I am a shadow that will haunt you and your kingdom forever?" He looked at me with his curious eyes.

"I will kill you with my hands. Being born in blood and I won't hesitate to die in blood, either." I responded to him and pushed him away from me.

Without uttering another word, I rushed to the bathroom and had a bath before heading out of the palace. I wasn't the princess who wore beautiful gowns and danced in the ballroom, but I was the one who wore pants and a tunic with a sword hanging on my hips. I was my father's son. He made me train to fight battles and I won't let his hopes down. I walked down the staircase to notice Otis was standing with his team of warriors.

"Princess, I have news for you." Otis gestured to me for a private conversation.

"Yes, commander!" I greeted him with a smile.

"We have found something unrealistic on the site where we last saw that animal." He appeared to be sweaty and there was a worry in his tone.

"What is it?" I asked him.

"Look at this?" He took out a small piece of clothing and opened the knot. There were some hair clustered together. On a sharp examination, I noticed it was the fur of an animal and it was deep black.

"Animal's hair. Do you think this fur belongs to the animal? What is unrealistic about it?" I looked at him in confusion.

"I am not sure, but I have some proof that I can say it was that animal's fur. This fur is coated with blood and dirt. They collected it from the site where the animal was seen last. He might have gotten hurt somehow, and it left this fur behind." Otis explained to me.

"This is not evidence, Otis! This fur could be from other animals too. How many animals rely on hunting? You see that difference. I won't say that you have failed to collect solid proof, but we are not sure that it will help us." I comforted him with a smile.

"I have to see the ministers now." I excused myself and went to the conference hall.

All the ministers got up from their places and bowed to me. I noticed my father wasn't at the meeting yet and I sent a messenger to fetch a piece of information about his arrival. Soon, my father joined the meeting, and I breathed into real life that Caspian wasn't with him. That man was hideous, and I didn't want him near the kingdom's affairs.

"Queen Aeris! You have gathered us today for an urgent discussion. My lady, we have heard about the sighting of a strange animal in the palace. Is that true?" One minister got up from the place and put his query at my feet.

"Yes, there is an animal roaming free outside. I have seen it with my own eyes and I will say that the animal needs to be put down." I announced in a high-pitched voice.

"What does that animal look like?" A female minister of our parliament asked me.

I looked at her before responding, "Kind of wolf, but huge. He was black and had sharp eyes. His build was different from any animal we have seen in our kingdom. One of the strangest traits I noticed, the animal was walking on his hind legs."

The female minister had her jaw wide open when I described the animal. Of course, the others were speechless, but the awkward silence in the conference hall was haunting. My chest palpated with a sudden impact and a bone-chilling sensation crawled to my toes.

"Pardon me, your highness! No such animal exists. According to the description you gave us, only one animal that could resemble but doesn't exist in reality." A junior minister rose from his seat and looked into my eyes. Something was intimidating about him.

"What animal is that, Lord James?" Another minister, Lord Arthur, asked him.

"A Lycan! A wolf-like animal but walks on his feet. They are mythological creatures who once ruled on the surface, but they no longer exist," James started with his factual knowledge.

There were gasps and murmurs in the hall. When father slammed the wooden table beneath, the hall dropped silent. "They existed! But they vanished, and no one had seen them. It doesn't mean they are extinct." My father said and leaned back on his throne.

It shocked me to hear that mythological creatures like lycans did exist once, but there was a fair chance they still had. My chest shrunk, and I was feeling suffocated in this hall. Knowing that scene of danger lurking in the Kingdom gave chills to my bones. Unknowingly, I went to chase a dangerous animal which could have killed me in a snap. What was I thinking? I returned to my seat and rubbed my temples because of a throbbing pain.

"Pardon me, your highness, but those creatures existed hundreds of years ago. How could it be possible for one to survive this long?" Lord James asked my father, and I waited for his response.

"I remember my grandmother used to tell me a story of a brave Lycan. But there were many other folktales that differed from each other. If you are asking how they survived, I have nothing to say about it. But books would be helpful." My father stated and explained briefly.

My eyes remained wide when it popped out to me that the Library exists too. Why did it not stick to me earlier?

"Your highness, we need your orders to increase the security around the palace."

I nodded my head and replied, "Not the palace, but the entire Kingdom. These are all assumptions unless it is proved the animal is a legendary Lycan. Train more resources to build our army." I stood up from the throne and left the conference hall. My father looked at me with a smile and I returned the favor.

I saw King Capsian walking in the corridor with our commander. They were both deep in a conversation and did not realize I just passed by them.

"Queen Aeris!" Caspian called my name, and I halted.

I turned my gaze back to him and looked uninterested in his eyes. "Is there something bothering you, Dear Husband?" Almost gritted my teeth when I said the word 'husband'.

"Mind walking in the garden with me?" Was that an invitation or an order? These prude kings and their attitude.

"I wish I could, but I have a business to deal with. Maybe some other time. I hope your sentiments won't get hurt." I said with a crooked smile.

"I will be waiting for you patiently." There was no such emotion swirling in his eyes, but he appeared sincere. I took a deep breath and left them in the corridor.

Soon, I stood in front of the gates of our library and entered to look for something of my interest. It was a Lycan story. I spent a good time looking for anything that could answer my questions. However, luck wasn't in my favor. I sighed and returned, but found Caspian leaning on the wall of the doorway. I wanted to punch him in the gut for stopping my way, but I restricted myself from doing so.

"Caspian!"

"My name glitters when you take it, my star!" He said while looking at me with his golden eyes.

I was sure I skipped a beat because, the next moment, he stood so close to me I could even feel his hot breath over my face. His eyes were the sharpest feature on his face and next were his fuller lips. The deep cuts on the zygomatic bone of his face made my heartbeat faster.

This mysterious man could be a Lycan or a myth!

"You are right! I am an animal!" Said Caspian, and I looked at him with a frown on my face. What was he into?