His Shadow Luna

Chapter 9. Sweet Poison.

Slowly, Elene's throat began to burn, her airways narrowing by the minute. She wanted to claw at her own neck to get rid of the feeling but knew better than to do that in front of the witnesses.

As a royal lycan, wolfsbane usually did not affect her much. Her bloodline was too strong for the regular plant. However, whatever they slipped into her coffee was concentrated.

"I told you it was bullshit about the poison training!" Issa snorted and cut a piece of the juicy meat on her plate as if nothing much was going on.

This would never have been over if she had made a scene.

"More coffee!" Elene forced the words out, and the dining hall went quiet. The assassins who stared at her with mocking sneers just a few seconds ago looked puzzled now.

"We are out," a tall, broad-shouldered man in a cook's uniform announced, and Elene peered in his direction, noticing the guy who served her the first cup standing right next to him.

"That one has more." She pointed at the young man bluntly, and his boss fired a warning glare at him.

"No," the guy grumbled. "He is right. We are out."

"Pity." She turned away from them, hoping her eyes wouldn't tear up in front of this unforgiving crowd.

Elene took the knife and fork into her hands and began her meal, holding her back as straight as possible. She couldn't feel the taste of the food and tried to be done with everything as fast as she could, leaving half of the plate full when she moved it away.

Still, it looked like she was done, not like she was desperate.

Slowly, Elene rose from her seat. The hall held its breath, eyes following her every step while no soul dared to say a word. She carried herself with an air of unwavering confidence, her gait steady as she left the Dining Hall behind.

These people were not joking. The stakes here were incredibly high, and if she wasn't a royal lycan, she would be dead by now.

The corridor stretched before her, a gauntlet of stone and little dim lights that seemed to pulse with an ominous rhythm. Each step was a battle, her body screaming for reprieve against the relentless grip of the poison in her system. Elene pressed on. She couldn't give up now. If she stopped, it would all have been for nothing.

Keep going! Bia insisted. Just like that!

I don't think we are going to make it to the room, Elene admitted, leaning over a cold stone passage while she had a chance.

Just trust me and follow my lead. Left now. Bia was the only one who was always there for her.

Each step was an agony, and she felt that her body would shut down pretty soon, but Elene kept forcing herself to move into safety, following her wolf's directions. She couldn't pass out in the corridor, or Amir and Issa would find her and finish her. Aconite or Elene, she simply wasn't safe.

We are here! Bia assured her, but Elene couldn't concentrate on anything anymore. Knock on the door!

What? The Princess's mind was foggy, but she still remembered there wasn't a door in the Cathedral that would be safe to knock on.

The realisation hit her with another wave of pain from the poison.

You cunning— deceptive— little‚ Elene snarled.

Oh, honey, there is nothing little about me, Bia chuckled. You will thank me later.

Elene wanted to push herself to the limit she did not have and run away from this place, but before she could take any action, the door swung open to reveal a startled Forrest.

"Elene?" The General's eyes widened as he barely managed to catch the northern Princess into his arms when her knees gave out and she almost hit the floor.

"Elene!" Fear surged through him, and his voice became more demanding. A million gruesome scenarios ran through his head.

What could have happened to her? Forrest dragged her inside, quickly scanning the corridor and locking the door behind them. She was still conscious but could barely stand on her feet.

"Sorry," she muttered, eyes losing focus. "I did not know where else to go."

"Who did this to you?" The General growled, gradually realising what had happened.

"Life." Her response sent a shudder all over his body as their eyes locked. Elene curled her lips in a weak smile as if she wanted to apologise before him again, and he hated this for some reason.

Forrest swore under his breath and lifted her into his arms, tingles surging through them both.

A fair warning, Hades interjected, if she dies, I am burning this place to the ground.

You won't have that chance, Forrest muttered, pushing the door to the adjacent room with his boot, bringing his mate inside.

Oh yeah, and why is that? His wolf demanded.

Because I will do it myself!

Finally, they could agree on something.

The adjacent room was small, but luckily, there was a bed to put her on. Most nights, Forrest worked so much that there was no point in returning to his lavish bedroom in the main tower, let alone his apartment back in the Convocation building, so this place with a fireplace and walls filled with bookshelves was his refuge.

Forrest gently laid Elene onto the bed, watching her whole body shaking, and then ran back to his desk to get medicine and potions to help her. Luckily, he was prepared for anything.

"You'll be fine,” he promised, his voice almost breaking. "Do you at least know what is happening?"

"Aconite," she squeezed the words out of her lungs, upset at how weak she sounded.

"What about her?" Forrest furrowed his brows but soon realised she meant the poison, not the person. "I see—"

Great, now our mate thinks you are an i***t, Hades grumbled.

Forrest ignored him, returning to his office to grab a large flower vase. Ximena refreshed it twice weekly. He threw the flowers into the garbage and returned to his mate.

He lifted Elene up so gently as if she was about to break, got the cork out of the potion vial with his teeth and placed the neck of the bottle to her lips.

"You will have to trust me," he said.

"It's not like I have a choice," Elene muttered, knowing that it couldn't get worse than it already was. She could barely move her fingers now.

"You really don't," he chuckled as he slowly poured the liquid into her mouth, gently wiping her lips with his fingers when at least a drop spilled out. "You are stuck with me."

Whatever he gave her tasted sweet, and she hoped that it would bring her relief very soon, just like the last time he had healed her.

Their eyes locked, and only then did Elene realise that he was still holding her face in his large palm, his thumb caressing her lower lip.

She did not know what to say because a simple thank you did not feel like enough.

"No wonder no one recognises you," Forrest told her, piquing her interest. "You are not photogenic."

She blinked her eyes, still too exhausted to talk and wondering if this was really happening or if this was simply a hallucination.

Idiot! Hades tried to scratch Forrest from the inside. What is wrong with you?

"I mean," the General realised his mistake, "that you are way more beautiful in real life."

Elene blinked again.

"You are beautiful in the photos too!" Forrest started panicking, which was so out of character for him. "And on videos too. Gorgeous. Simply stunning in your tight blue dresses. I mean, in any dress or without a dress. Whatever you wear, you are—"

I am switching you to another human after this, Hades announced.

"You are one of the most beautiful women ever, but—" Forrest knew he was digging himself deeper into the ground, but couldn’t stop now.

"But—" Elene snorted darkly. "Not Ximena level, right? No curves or—"

"In life, you are THE most beautiful woman I've ever seen," he interrupted, and they both paused for a moment, staring at each other.

"You don't have to say it," she finally breathed heavily. She hated to be complimented out of pity. Gideon used to do it, and it felt horrible. She couldn’t have it with her mate as well. Even if he was temporary.

"You—" Forrest leaned lower, his lips so dangerously close to hers.

Elene wanted to say something, yet, at that precise instant, her stomach churned and bile rose to her throat. Forrest knew what she needed and brought the vase to her face.

The Princess grabbed the ceramic edges, and the sounds of her emptying her stomach followed. Forrest held her hair, letting her lean into him so she wouldn't fall and balancing the vase with his free hand because he knew she wouldn't have the strength to do it. His mate threw up over and over again until there was absolutely nothing left in her.

"There," he helped her back to the bed. "Now you need to drink another potion, and it will work the remnants of the poison out of your system."

"I am— royal," she muttered under her breath. "Will— not die."

"Still, let's not take any chances," Forrest suggested and poured another liquid down her throat.

She was soon asleep, and he sat in his big wine-red armchair beside the bed, not taking his eyes off his mate's small frame. What was he to do? Taking care of her wasn't on his list of duties. Every minute he spent next to this woman would complicate what he soon had to do.

If you leave her, Hades was about to growl again, and Forrest gave up.

I won't.

Finally, they agreed on something.

This, at minimum, would represent the nearest he came to having a mate and experiencing this type of closeness.

Slowly, he took her boots off and undid the button on the waistband of her pants to ensure nothing was uncomfortable for her.

Forrest watched over her for some time. First, he opened the window to let in fresh air but soon found himself starting a fire because he was worried she would get cold.

He still had a pile of papers to go through and important reports from his best spies all over the country, but soon, he had to give up on that because his head simply wasn't working the way it usually did.

The room was quiet save for the soft crackle of the fire.

Asleep, Elene seemed almost ethereal, her honey-gold hair splayed across the pillow like rays of sunlight captured in silk. Her chest rose and fell with a steady rhythm, which brought him a strange comfort as he watched her.

Forrest adjusted a blanket over her form with care that contradicted his usual brusqueness and thought of how uncomfortable it would be to spend the night in the armchair.

You know what I am thinking? Hades spoke in the tone Forrest always identified as the mischievous one.

Do I even want to know? The General threw his head back on the headrest and closed his eyes. Elene's scent was everywhere, and its sweetness was slowly driving him crazy. Who knew that finding a mate could be a torture?

She is our mate, right? Forrest could feel Hades waving his tail like a cute little pup, something he never did.

Temporary mate, he corrected.

Potato, tomato, his beast brushed him off. We still have to protect her for— world peace and all that cr*p.

Forrest rolled his eyes, already knowing where he was going with this.

No, he cut his wolf off before he planted any crazy ideas in his head.

But why? Hades' demeanour changed instantly. If we held her, she would heal quicker! The mate bond will help her. It's a win-win!

You just want me to hold her and not be able to reject her! The General grunted.

Yes, but before everything, I want our mate to heal! Hades insisted. Besides, I know you! You will still do what is best for the country. So, what's the big deal? Think of this that way. She is a Princess of the NLK. She returns safely to her country after you two reject each other, and she has this fond memory of you holding a vase while she pukes. Orrr, she remembers how you held her to speed up her healing and stayed a gentleman throughout.

Forrest had a million good reasons why it was a bad idea.

However, he chose to not voice them. Elene murmured something in her sleep and he wanted to hear it again.

Fine! he finally agreed. But you will behave! And also owe me one after this!

Whatever you want except for rejecting her! Hades became cheerful again. I will fight you on that one until you lose or you die.

Or you die, Forrest pointed out.

Probably you first, Hades teased him. Hurry up, I think she speaks in her sleep! Now that I think about it, it could be helpful intel.

Forrest rolled his eyes. That mutt was ready to say anything to get their hands on their mate.

The Southerner carefully sat on the edge of the bed, trying to position himself so he wouldn't disturb Elene's sleep. She needed all the rest she could get. But when his hand brushed over hers, she leaned into the touch as if it was all she was waiting for.

Tingles coursed through Forrest's whole body when he finally managed to wrap his arms around her. He felt Elene relaxing in his embrace as if this was where she belonged all along, her scent of pear blossoms and elderflower enveloping him.

He could stay this way forever. Nevertheless, he was afraid to sleep and not miss a moment.

The dawn's tentative fingers crept through the lace of the curtains, painting the chamber in hues of gold and amber. Elene stirred, her senses emerging from the fog of enforced slumber. Her body felt leaden, and her thoughts were tangled in the remnants of feverish dreams. It took her a few minutes to look around and realise she did not recognise the room.

She jumped up in bed, shocked to find herself in yet another unfamiliar surroundings.

"Easy there," Forrest told her, and her gaze snapped to the big armchair next to the fireplace he sat. "You may still feel dizzy for a while today."

Elene did not know how to respond. She did not feel dizzy or disoriented. In fact, she felt like she could move mountains today.

Of course, she was not going to tell him that.

"You— saved me." Her voice was so raspy she couldn't believe it belonged to her.

"We can put it that way," Forrest agreed and closed the book he was reading.

"You stayed there all night?" Elene ran her fingers through her hair, trying to remember at least something. The first thing that came to her mind was how she vomited into a vase after drinking the potion.

Great, just great. Now, this would be how her mate remembered her when she left.

She couldn't believe how unlucky she was.

There was more, Bia teased her, and Elene tensed.

What happened? She dreaded hearing the answer to that.

Her wolf did not reply, so she moved her gaze back to Forrest, who watched her intently.

"Did I—" she swallowed the lump in her throat, "say something?"

The Southerner contemplated whether to respond, and she immediately knew that something happened.

"You said," Forrest pinched the bridge of his nose, "that I am the most handsome man you have ever seen. Everyone else pales in comparison, and my eyes are like two green lakes in the middle of—"

She threw a pillow at him, knowing she wouldn’t say that even on her deathbed. His laughter erupted as he intercepted her “weapon” before it could strike him.

"Green lakes!" The Princess rolled her eyes, scoffing. "I'd never!"

"Okay, you got me," Forrest tried to look serious while she narrowed her eyes at him. "You said they are like emeralds."

She sent another pillow his way, but the same destiny awaited.

"Oh, you'd better be careful with those!" he said, rising from his seat. "They can come back to you."

He threw the first pillow at her, but she dodged it easily, hitting it with her momentarily elongated claws. White fluffy feathers filled the room, dancing in the air.

Forrest was enjoying this more than he would ever admit. He was next to her with the second pillow, and she grabbed it before he threw it at her.

"If anyone will be hitting anyone in this relationship, it would be me!" The Princess insisted, wishing to make him eat his jokes and choke on them.

"Relationship?" the General chuckled. "I am afraid you are rushing things. It was just one night of—"

"Gosh, I hate you!" Elene gritted her teeth and pulled the pillow harder, trying to get it from him.

The General was not in the habit of losing battles, but she tried so hard that something in him snapped, and he— allowed her to overpower him, falling on top of her on the bed.

A loud gasp escaped Elene when their eyes met once again, his weight settling comfortably over her body. She blew away a stubborn strand of hair from her face, pinned it to the bed, and felt like the whole world had stopped.

The feathers were falling so slowly that Elene could hear each one landing. For a second, she thought he was going to kiss her, and although her brain knew what she had to do, she remained as she was.

Maybe it wasn’t such a bad idea to at least find out what her mate tasted like? What a kiss with him would feel like?

Elene ran her tongue over her teeth, a habit she developed through the years before kissing anyone. The hard reality crashed on her as she remembered she had vomited her insides out the previous night and still didn't have an opportunity to brush her teeth.

The moment was completely and utterly gone.

Forrest felt it too.

"You complained about your brother," he confessed, and Elene's brows went up.

"I complained about Kai?" She couldn't believe his words.

"Yeah," he tried to smile, but the attempt did not work. " Something about him stealing a North Star from you?"

The Princess' cheeks tinted red.

"Elene," the General's voice was laced with concern, "does your brother treat you well?"

"Of course he does!" The Northerner felt embarrassed again. "I am not sure why I—"

"If you need help, I can arrange protection even from the Northern King."

He completely misunderstood.

"It's embarrassing!" Elene finally let go of the pillow, but Forrest was in no hurry to claim victory, staying on top of her.

"What?" He hated to admit it, but he wanted to know everything there was to learn about her.

"North Star—"Elene finally decided to share this with him. "It's a necklace."

She expected Forrest to laugh again, but this time he did no such thing, watching her intently instead. His gaze encouraged her to go on.

"It has a long history in our country and our family," she licked her dry lips, and his eyes lingered on them for a moment. "But it meant everything for me because it belonged to my mother."

"What did Kai do?" Forrest asked.

"He gave it to his wife, Savannah. Before they got married," she admitted and looked away.

"Did you tell him how you feel about it?"

"Of course not," Elene shook her head. "He was so happy; the necklace should belong to his Queen. I would have been a jerk if I—"

"That's your mothers and the memory of her," Forrest objected. "You are in the right to feel what you feel."

"She had my mother's wedding dress too," the Princess found herself saying. "I gave it to her because she needed it more back then, and she gave me a piece of it, a North Star brooch, so it's not like I didn't get anything. Anyway, Savvy is nice. She deserves all the best."

He said nothing about that, and she felt like a fool. Why was she even telling him all that?

"I am a horrible person. Don't listen to me," she muttered, which made Forrest growl in response.

"No, you are not," he glared at her for even thinking that. Fighting himself was getting harder and harder. Especially when she was this close. All he needed was just to lean a little lower and…

A loud knock on the main office door broke his train of thought, and they both froze with the pillow between them and him on top of her.

"Go away if you want to live!" Forrest growled, the sound menacing as hell itself.

"General," one of his soldiers remained calm despite the threat, "I am afraid it's urgent."

"I said go away—"

"The delegation from the North arrived, and your presence is required at the Alpha Convocation."