Chapter 167: Respect

Freya knew she had to keep her secret hidden. She couldn't tell her husband that her powers had finally begun to awaken. If anyone discovered the truth, questions would follow... questions she wasn't ready to answer.

"No... everything is fine," she lied softly, trying her best to sound convincing.

Alaric continued looking at her, clearly unconvinced, but he said nothing. Instead, he reached for her hand and gave it a gentle squeeze, hoping whatever burden she carried would eventually be light enough for her to share.

Freya returned the gesture with a faint smile, though her heart pounded heavily in her chest. Every passing second made her fear that someone would connect Kael's miraculous recovery to her... and when that happened, the secret she had worked so hard to protect would no longer remain hidden.

"There's nothing wrong with me. I was just listening to what you said and I must admit it is quite strange that he would heal in such a short time. I mean, as Lycans, it's normal for us to heal... but not within a matter of hours. Maybe a few days... a few weeks, even," she responded, hoping the calmness in her voice would be enough to distract her husband from the nervous expression on her face.

Looking at Alaric, whose facial features had softened, it was clear that he believed her.

"Exactly what I was saying. Now, as king, I have to make it one of my top priority to find out how my dear cousin was healed in less than two hours after being attacked by a stallion," Alaric said.

He then walked over to Freya and kissed her gently on the lips before saying his goodbyes. As soon as he exited the room, Freya felt a wave of relief wash over her. Only then did she realize she could finally breathe peacefully now that her husband was gone.

Still shaken by everything that had happened earlier, she slowly walked into the bathroom and stared at herself in the mirror. Almost immediately, she got the shock of her life. Her eyes suddenly began glowing... something that, as a hybrid, she had only done once before. In fact, very few hybrids possessed such an ability.

Startled, Freya immediately shut her eyes before opening them again. Thankfully, the glow was gone. Even so, the fear of what was happening to her remained firmly rooted inside her.

The Next Day

Freya stood in the kitchen, handing out orders to the servants as they prepared for the day ahead. Moments later, Kael walked in. The instant she saw him standing at the entrance watching her, she froze.

Not wanting to appear suspicious, she continued giving instructions to the kitchen maids until Kael slowly made his way toward her. With every step he took, Freya became more uncomfortable. It felt as though he knew something.

Pretending to remain calm despite his approach, Freya looked into his eyes with a confused expression. "I'm sorry, but what are you doing in the kitchen? Since when have you ever been involved in matters of the kitchen?" she asked boldly.

To her surprise, Kael smiled. That smile alone was enough to make Freya feel on edge. Now she was more convinced than ever that he knew something.

"My Queen, I would like to speak to you about something very important," he said. The moment Freya heard those words, she swallowed the lump in her throat. Despite the fear building inside her, she did her best to remain composed.

"I'm afraid I cannot do that. As you can see, I'm very busy and I do not like being disturbed while I am giving instructions to my servants," she answered sharply.

"Unfortunately, My Queen, this cannot wait. It is a matter of urgency," Kael insisted. Just as Freya was about to argue, she noticed the desperation in his eyes. Whatever it was, he clearly believed it could not wait. She let out a quiet sigh before turning to the servants.

"Everyone, leave the kitchen. I would like to speak to Master Kael alone."

Without question, every servant immediately stopped what they were doing and quietly exited the kitchen, leaving only Freya and Kael behind.

Freya's surprise deepened as Kael clapped his hands together and smiled at her. It was the first time she had ever seen him smile so genuinely.

"Why are you this happy? Did something happen?" she asked.

"My Queen... I know that you were the one who healed me," Kael blurted out. At that exact moment, Freya froze. She knew he could not simply make such an accusation, especially when he had no evidence that she was the one who had healed him while he lay unconscious.

"I don't know what you're talking about. You've simply lost your mind. I think it's the injury from the horse that's making you think such things," she replied in a hushed tone. She tried to step past him, but Kael moved in front of her, blocking her path.

"I know you don't want to admit it, My Queen... but while I was in a comatose state, I heard you apologizing to me. Then you touched my hand... and almost immediately, I felt a wave of heat rushing through my body. It sent a sharp pain through every part of me... and then I felt your presence disappear," Kael confessed.

Freya stood there, completely frozen, unsure how she could get herself out of this situation. She had never imagined that Kael could hear anything she had said while he was unconscious. Yet he was proving her wrong, and she knew she had been caught.

"Now that you know I was the one who healed you... what are you going to do?" she asked, her voice filled with defiance. "Are you going to tell the King... or are you going to blackmail me?"

"No... I'm not going to blackmail you and I won't tell a single soul what you've done for me. I'm not like my father," Kael answered. His words caught her completely off guard.

"What?" she asked.

"You heard what I said, my queen. I know I've been nothing but a jerk to you, but all I can say right now is thank you... thank you for saving my life. Because you saved me, I'll keep your secret with me. No one will hear a single word about it... not even my father. For that, you have my utmost respect and my loyalty."

Kael spoke with complete sincerity before lowering his head in a respectful bow to the Queen. Without another word, he slowly walked out of the kitchen, leaving Freya standing in silence, wondering what had come over him.