The Lycan Prince (Book 2)

Chapter 5

Cayden POV

It’s been a week since they left, my mom phoned me the day after they arrived and gave me an earful about how irresponsible I am and what not. I just listened in silence while she scolded me. She was only worried and I loved her for it. Now I’m following a rogue into the woods far outside the city. I Left the horses at the stables, they can’t be here its way too obvious. So I’m in my Lycan form stalking the rogue as he moves deeper into the woods, the sun is setting and the stench of the rogues are becoming stronger.

“Keep a safe distance Nima” I said

“I know how to follow someone your highness” he said sarcastically

“Don’t start mongrel, we can’t lose him” I groaned back

“I’m the wolf you know, the superior being” he retorted and I huffed

“Superior my ass, flea bag” I said now getting angry

“I don’t have fleas! At least I have brains” he growled back but before I could reply three rogues came out of nowhere and attacked. One bit down on his back and the others went for his throat, Nima bit down on one and threw him off but the other one bit down on his shoulder he yelped in pain but managed to grab the wolf on his neck swinging him wildly to the side snapping his neck. The one from the back charged again but Nima fell on his side his teeth sinking into the rogue’s throat ripping it out. He got up shaking his fur but when we looked up 10 more rogues attacked.

“We’re outnumbered Nima! Run!” I yelled but he didn’t back down

“Nima, run it’s not going to end well, we’re already injured” I pleaded but he fought them. One by one he killed them, snapping necks and ripping out their throats. Soon we were covered in blood and pieces of flesh ripped out, some broken bones here and there. We must look terrible, just as he turned to leave a new wave hit but this time there were vampires as well. Killing 5 of them Nima was exhausted, our body riddled with injuries, loosing blood at an alarming rate I shifted back. Ramming my fist through the attacking vampire’s chest and ripping out his heart. But I was weak, limited sleep, little food and multiple injuries started taking its toll, but I fought for my life. The next thing I saw was a vampire being taken down with an arrow. Where did that come from? I thought still trying to kill two rogues, the arrows whooshed pass me hitting the targets killing them instantly. I grabbed the last vampire around his throat and squeezed.

“Who are you working for?” I said menacingly and he smiled

“The king of kings” he answered his voice strained as I tightened my grip around his neck

“Give me his name!” I growled loudly and he flinched but managed to laugh

“His name is Adrik. He will take over the world, he does not fear anyone especially a lonely werewolf like you” I was about to ask another question when an arrow lodged in his head and I snapped my gaze toward the direction the arrow came. I quickly scanned the tree tops and the surrounding bushes but there was no one. The vampire hissed and I looked back at him snapping his neck.

“Who was that?” I asked and shifted into my Lycan. Nima walked around sniffing the air and the ground but couldn’t find anything.

“I don’t know, but whoever it was saved us” he stated and turned back to the direction of the lodge. We barely made it back to the lodge when the door closed I shifted back and basically crawled to the bed, I reached the foot of the bed but sank down onto the floor. My vision blurred and I felt so tired, I looked down at my body and saw the wounds still fresh

“Why aren’t I healing? These should’ve been healed by now” I said and Nima just hummed in response

“Nima. Nima are you okay?” I asked and he replied his voice weak

“I’m trying Cay, but I think we’ve been poisoned. Try your ability please” he whispered and I sat up. Closing my eyes I tried to summon my powers but we were too weak. So I did what I could and used my last strength to communicate with my mom.

I envisioned the castle, my mother specifically. She came into focus, her hips swinging from side to side as an upbeat tune flooded in my head. She got a speaker in the kitchen now, she was busy with something but I couldn’t see what. I used all my energy and spoke

“Mom”

Isa POV

I was busy baking some cookies and different kinds of pastries listening to my favorite music while dancing in the kitchen as always. I opened the pack of flour when suddenly Cayden spoke behind me, making me drop the flour and I white cloud of flour settled over me, covering me with white dust as I spun around

“Goddammit Cayden! You’ll give me a f*****g heart attack!” I scowled dusting myself off. He got good at this projection thing in the last few years, since the link won’t work when he’s so far away. When I looked up my face went pale, he looked tired, worn out and he was hurt but mostly worried. God I want to hug him

“Cayden! What happened?” I asked stepping closer and he gave me a weak smile

“I need help.” He said but his eyes always gave him away, he was scared

“Well talk to me honey, where are you?” I asked trying my best not to try and hug him because I can’t. He’s like a ghost of himself here

“Well I found out who is kidnapping all these people. His name is Adrik, he’s dark mom. He’s worse than Barin” that name made me shiver, and who can be worse than him?

“Cayden you’re not going after him alone” I stated and he shook his head no. The image of him started to flicker and I knew he was weak

“Where are you?!” I yelled and he again gave me his weak lopsided grin

“The lodge, ask Dimitri. Hurry mom please” he whispered and disappeared. My heart sank. I opened the mind link and spoke quickly, but Belmont came running through the door as I spoke

“Meet me in the Kitchen now!” and I cut the link. He grabbed my shoulders and spun me around his eyes wide with concern and fear

“Amore, what is it? What happened?” he asked dusting flour off my face and clothes. Before I could answer Mihai, Valerie, Dimitri, Jonah and Miranda came running in

“Majesty what’s wrong?” the asked and I swallowed the lump in my throat wiping my face

“Cayden is in trouble” I said and they all paled. A hissing noise came from Dimitri and I glanced at him. His eyes red with anger

“I knew he should’ve stayed there alone. Stubborn asshole” he said through clenched teeth and Valerie slapped his head

“Have some respect Dimitri, he’s your prince” she said angrily, he glared at her but relented and mouthed sorry.

“He was here, he’s tired and looks bad, I think he was in a fight and he’s hurt” I said the tears threatening to fall and Belmont wrapped his arms around me

“He’ll heal in the meantime amore, where is he?” he asked and I turned around shaking my head

“He’s not healing my love, he’s at the lodge” I said and looked back to Dimitri

“You know where he is?” I asked and he nodded. I steeled myself and looked at the others

“We leave at once, go pack. The elites and the Pauci electi will join us” I said my voice stern but the worry was evident

“I’ll phone Crystal too, Jonah take some of the strongest warriors too. The rest of us will leave in 20 minutes” Belmont said and we all nodded and dispersed. I rubbed my hands nervously as we made our way to the room to pack. We’re coming my love, hold on

3 agonizing hours later we got off the plane and scrambled into the rental cars heading toward the lodge. Please be alive, don’t die my baby. Belmont drove like a bat out of hell but although he was quiet the whole way I knew what he was feeling, we were both worried and very scared out son might die. He stopped with screeching tires in front of the lodge and Dimitri grabbed my hand and we ran toward the room while the rest booked in. It was almost 4 hours since he came to me and it was dark out. When the door flew open my heart stopped, he was on the floor in the fetal position, lying in a pool of his own blood.

“Oh god no! Cayden!” I yelled and ran to him cradling his head in my lap, the tears now running freely down my cheeks. Dimitri scanned his body and ran out the room.

“I’m here honey, I’m here my sweet boy” I whispered, his skin was cold and his lips started turning blue. His breathing is shallow and erratic. I looked at his wounds and saw the blood still flowing out. Why won’t it stop?

“Oh God please don’t take him, please don’t take my boy” I pleaded silently as I placed my hand over the biggest gash to try and stop the bleeding, the blood seeped through my fingers and a sob escaped my lips. He groaned when I applied pressure and I felt a small sense of relief. I heard a gasp as looked up as Belmont rushed over to us. He grabbed whatever he could find and covered the open wounds with it as I removed my hand from the gash on his chest, putting my hand back over the shirt he bundled up

“Pressure amore, keep the pressure. Crystal!” he hollered and the place shook and seconds later Crystal ran into the room her eyes wide with shock

“Oh goddess. Jonah get my bag now!” she said and Jonah disappeared. Valerie knelt down next to me and Mihai assisted Belmont in turning him on his back. He groaned in pain and that’s when I saw it.

“No wait! His ribs are broken, leave him like this” I said through the tears pointing to his protruding ribs. They tried their best to shove a towel under his side to stop the bleeding there.

“Goddess son, who did this?” Belmont asked his voice filled with concern and fear. Dimitri was pacing up and down running his hands through his hair and whispering to himself. The rest of us tried our best to stop the bleeding when Jonah returned with Crystal’s bag.

“Here” he said placing it next to her. She opened it and frantically started to go through the herbs and potions. Miranda sat down next to her and spoke in hushed voices as Crystal told her what to start mixing. Miranda just nodded and mixed the different herbs together

“Majesty please move back” Crystal said and I hesitantly scooted away. She took his head in her hands and placed her hand on his forehead closing her eyes. A few minutes later she opened her eyes and her face paled

“We need to get Agatha now!” she demanded and my breath hitched. Agatha was one of the elders from the magic realm, she’s a very powerful witch with healing powers. Belmont nodded, getting to his feet he fished his phone out from his pocket. I replaced him putting pressure on the wounds he was tending. The towels and shirts were soaked in blood already and my tears wouldn’t stop

“We’re here baby, hold on okay” I pleaded with him over and over begging him to stay with us.

“He’s so cold. Why won’t he stop bleeding?” I asked to no one in particular but Crystal answered me in a soft voice

“He’s been poisoned majesty. The person who made this poison is powerful, but not more powerful than Agatha” she said placing a reassuring hand on my shoulder. I nodded and looked at Valerie. Her face was stained with tears but her expression was stoic, so was Mihai’s. I looked up and saw Dimitri standing near the bathroom door, his face contorted in pain and guilt in his eyes.

“Dimitri” I said softly and he closed his eyes not answering.

“Come here son” I said softly and he moved and kneeled down next to me

“Hey this is not your fault okay?” I said in my motherly voice but he shook his head

“Majesty, I shouldn’t have left him, I’m so sorry” he said his voice cracking. Valerie’s head snapped up and her face softened

“No don’t think like that, he’s still alive. Be strong son, for him” I said and a sob escaped my lips. I was trying to convince myself more than him. Belmont sat down behind me

“She’ll be here shortly” he said and placed his big hands over mine pressing his chest against my back

“I’m sorry” Dimitri’s soft voice said again and I was about to console him when a blinding white light filled the room and suddenly a person stood there. Her greying auburn hair neatly braided. Her soft brown eyes fell on me and she smiled. Agatha

“Evening everyone” she said and kneeled down next to Crystal. We nodded in response. She also placed her hand on his head, sweat running down his face. He’s going into shock, my breath hitched as I watched her close her eyes. When she opened them she looked at us and quietly asked

“Can we have a moment with the prince?” and everyone stood up, except for me

“Can I stay please?” I pleaded and she took my bloodied hand gently

“It will only take a short while majesty. Magic can affect everyone differently, please I know it’s difficult but we’ll call you soon” she said and let go of my hand. I leaned down and kissed his forehead

“Don’t you die on me Cayden Reyes. I love you my baby boy” I whispered and Belmont gently lifted me from the floor and we walked out. My heart breaking with each step. I heard the door close and my legs gave out as my silent crying turned into sobs. Belmont held me up in his strong arms pulling me close to his chest

“He’s strong amore, he held on for so long. Believe in him my love” he whispered and we made our way to the room. Everyone piled into the room and took a seat. Valerie and I flanked a crying Dimitri, rubbing his arm and back soothingly while Belmont, Mihai and Jonah stood in the corner silently. Miranda brought in a tray with coffee and tea and we each took a cup thanking her. And so we waited. After what felt like hours I spoke up.

“What’s taking so long?” I asked nervously pacing up and down. Jonah and Miranda were sitting on the edge of the bed while Valerie was holding Dimitri’s hand on the other side of the bed. Belmont and Mihai were sitting on the floor leaning against the wall.

“Isa come here” Belmont said in his deep baritone voice and I moved over to him, sitting between his outstretched legs.

“I feel so powerless my love, what if they can’t… what if it’s…” I trailed off as a new wave of tears started to fall

“Sshhh, no don’t think like that amore. He’s our son, he’s strong” Belmont whispered and my head fell back resting on his shoulder.

“I know, I’m just so scared. He was so cold and his heartbeat so faint and the blood oh god the blood” I cried looking at my still bloodied hands and shirt. He wrapped me up in a tight hug kissing the back of my neck.

“Let’s not get ahead of ourselves” he said soothingly and I nodded. The next hour was spent like this, except for some sniffling noises the room was silent, it was a deafening silence and then a soft knock came from the door and I jumped up flinging open the door revealing a tired looking Crystal

“We’re done your majesty” she said smiling and I ran past her to his room. I opened the door and he was still on the floor. He didn’t look any better but the bleeding has stopped and his breathing was stronger and more stable.

“We should clean him up. Can we move him to the bed Agatha?” I asked and she nodded. Miranda went to the bathroom taking the ice bucket with her and later returned with some wash cloths and warm water in the ice bucket. His wounds were cleaned and bandaged so we cleaned the rest of him up as best we could. The woman left the room so that the men could dress him in clean clothes and placed him on the bed. Everyone soon retired to their rooms, after I thanked all of them especially Crystal, leaving me, Belmont and Agatha in the room with him. I lay down next to him with my head resting on the headboard stroking his hair while he slept.

“Majesty” Agatha spoke in her soft voice her eyes glued to Cayden’s sleeping figure

“Yes Agatha?” I said not looking up

“The poison they used, it’s ancient. We did the best we could but it depends on him how long the recovery will take. He’s strong, a normal werewolf wouldn’t have lasted an hour with that poison and the wounds he had. I will spend a few days here just to be safe” she said and I looked up at her my eyes brimming with tears

“Thank you so much for saving our son Agatha. I’m forever in your debt. But tell me, do you know why his wounds didn’t heal?” I asked and she sighed

“The poison affected his Lycan more than him. He might wake up or he might not” she said her face sad. This made my heart break. Nima might be gone.

“I don’t feel his Lycan” Belmont whispered and I let out another sob into Cayden’s hair.

“Please be alright, both of you fight you hear me” I said kissing his head between tears stroking his cheek.

“I will see you in the morning, good night” Agatha said, we nodded when she turned and left. I just laid there looking at my boy. He looked so pale, his skin is warmer and hips lips aren’t blue anymore but he is very weak.

“Please fight. Don’t either of you dare leave you hear me” I said half in pain, half in anger. Belmont lay down behind me and wrapped his arm around me. Soon I heard him snoring softly but I couldn’t sleep. What if Cayden woke up? So I stayed up and waited.