Chapter 76

Chapter 76
Emily's POV.

My world stood at a standstill. For a fleeting moment, it was as though all air had dissipated from the atmosphere, leaving me breathless and suspended in time.

I grabbed my gown. But just as I was about to sprint across the courtyard, someone held my arm, and it was Randolph.

"Please, be calm, Your Highness," he pleaded. The pain in his eyes mirrored mine, but he was holding himself together-for me, for the court...for Calix.

Tears blurred my vision, falling in torrents down my face. "I need to see him," I whispered, my voice trembling. "I need to hold him."

You can, you will-but that'll be once we're inside," he added.

He was right though. Dispersed across the courtyard were people; servants and guards, looking up to me. I needed to show them I could hold it together in such a difficult time.

Taking a steadying breath, I stepped away from him as Leia stepped forward and draped a cloak over my shoulder.

"You've got this," she whispered.

"Thank you," I muttered, staring at the couple. Straightening my stance, I watched Han and the soldiers carry Calix to the terrace. He was bleeding from a wound on his shoulder and belly. Fresh tears threatened my eyes, but I forced them back. "Take him inside and clean him up," I instructed.

At my instruction, Han and the soldiers carried him inside. I followed closely, my heart pounding against my ribs with every drop of blood that stained the marble floor. The staircase suddenly felt endless, the hallways colder and darker.

Finally, we reached the top floor. Han and the soldiers steered for Calix's chamber and laid him down on the bed. As luck may have it, Mr. Petecin, the royal physician, was still around.

He went to work immediately, peeling off Calix's soaked tunic and cleaning him up. Randolph and Han stood by, lending him a hand when needed.

Leia saw off the other two soldiers and closed the door, shutting out the rest of the world, granting me the privacy I so much desired. She joined me before the dressing table and gave me a reassuring smile.

I returned the smile. But my anxiety came tumbling back when, half an hour later, the men were not able to revive Calix, except for the bleeding which had stopped.

"Why is he not waking up?" I asked, panic settling in my chest.

Mr. Petecin wiped the sweat on his forehead with his trembling hand. "This is beyond me, Your Majesty. I-I have done all I could but nothing seems to work," he said, his voice low and shaky. "If only we knew exactly what happened to him, it might help."

Han stepped forward. "He was attacked by the witch. We believe she struck him before he killed her," he explained.

"Then this confirms my fear," Mr. Petecin said, going for his bag. "There's nothing I can do to help, this is beyond science and physical medication. King Calix needs spiritual help."

Fresh tears gathered in my eyes. I could only nod as Randolph led him out of the room. "What should we do?" Leia asked, her voice laced with worry.

"I don't know," I admitted, shaking my head as I fought back the tears. My hands dampened with tension.

Elara!" Han suddenly blurted, and all eyes darted towards him. "She's the only one who can help," he added.

My brows furrowed. "Elara?"

"She's the one who warned Calix about the prophecy," Leia reminded me.

And just like that, the memory snapped into place-Calix had mentioned her the night we marked each other.

"Do you think she can save him?" I asked, grasping onto hope.

"We won't know unless we try," Han said.

"Then go," I commanded, snapping my fingers. "Find her. Bring her here before it's too late."

Han bowed and hurried out of the room, just as Randolph reentered the room.

"What did I miss?" he asked.

"We believe Elara can heal Calix. Han has gone to fetch her," Leia updated her mate while I walked to mine.

He was bare-torsoed, naked except for the leather breeches he was wearing. Two bandages were wrapped tight around his shoulder and belly. His eyes were still closed, and his breathing shallow

I reached for his hand, my fingers trembling as they brushed against his. His skin was cold-too cold, the color yet to return to his face.

For a moment, my mind drifted to the last memory I had before waking-Calix urging me to leave the abyss. The affection and pain in his eyes as he watched me disappear through the portal.

Now, it all made sense. It was no dream, but a fragment of reality, a confirmation of the adage that says, the spiritual controls the physical. Except for the fact, it hurts that he'd laid down his life in order to save me.

I couldn't help it...torrents of tears rolled down my face. I took his hand into both of mine, kissing and pressing it in a desperate attempt to warm him.

Leia and Randolph stood behind me, their presence a silent support.

Time stretched unbearably as we awaited Han's return, each passing second an eternity. Then the door swung open, and he walked into the room in the company of a maiden about my age.

"Your Highness," Han announced, nodding respectfully. "I have brought Elara."

Elara stepped forward, her presence both calming and resolute. "Hello, My Lady," she said softly and dipped in a curtsey.

"Thank you for coming, Elara," I said, gently placing Calix's hand back on the bed and striding to her. "He was attacked by the witch... Can you help him?"

Elara glanced at Calix and took a shuddering breath. She brought back her gaze at me and shook her head. "I wish I could help him-but, I can't."

My heart sank, the world tilting on its axis and leaving me adrift. She couldn't have said that she was our last hope, the only one who could save Calix. Perhaps I heard wrong.

"Please, come again," I breathed.

Elara sighed. "It's not that I don't want to help," she clarified, her voice softer. "It's that I can't, because the only one who can awaken him is the one with the special wolf."

Leia stiffened beside me. "The special wolf?" she echoed.

Elara nodded. "His Majesty is trapped in a spell-a cruel enchantment woven by the witch before her last breath. He is caught between life and death, his soul lingering in the abyss. If he is not awakened before midnight, the magic will consume him completely, and he will be lost forever."

A cold dread seeped into my bones. Midnight? That was only a few hours away. I turned to Leia, my heart thumping in my ears.

Do you know what she means? This special wolf-who is it? Do you know where we can find them?" I asked.

Leia's expression darkened with confusion, her gaze darting to Randolph. He looked just as unsettled as she was, as the rest of us was, his lips pressing into a thin line.

"Élara," Han stepped forward. "Tell us everything you know about this special wolf. We don't have time to waste.

The maiden, Elara, took a deep breath.

"The special wolf is no ordinary werewolf. They possess an ancient power-a gift passed through the bloodline of the first moon-blessed wolves. Only their touch can break a witch's spell and bring the King back."

She paused, and her gaze swept over us. "However, you must understand this-special wolves are incredibly rare.

The Moon Goddess grants their existence only once in a century, allowing just one to walk among us at a time. Finding them is no simple task, but if we do...they're our salvation. In this case, hey're our only hope."

My heart broke, fresh panic settling in my chest. A special wolf-one in a century. How are we supposed to find someone like that in just a few hours?

Swallowing hard, I turned to Elara, forcing myself to remain composed. "Thank you for your time, Elara," I said quietly.

She curtsied again. "May I leave?" she asked.

"Of course," I stuttered.

While Han saw her out, I paced the room.

"A special wolf... It sounds like something out of a legend," Leia muttered and folded her arms.

Randolph let out a tired sigh. "Whether it is or not, we need to figure out who they are. If we don't..." His voice trailed off, but the unspoken words hung heavy in the air. If we don't, Calix dies.

My knees suddenly buckled beneath me. barely managed to stumble back to the pouch before crashing on it.

"Princess Emily!" Leia darted to my side.

I'm fine." I waved her off. She stepped back and rejoined Randolph before the dressing table as he draped his arms around her.

A slithering silence settled over us— Elera's words reechoing in my head.The door swung open and Han walked into the room.

"I have asked everyone, no one seems to know about this special wolf," he announced.

An ache pushed my heart, fresh tears pooling in my eyes.

Taking a deep breath, I rose to my feet and staggered towards the door. "Where are you going?" Randolph asked, stepping forward.

"I'll like to go for a stroll outside," I announced, staring at him and the rest of them.

"Do you want me to come with you?" Leia asked.

"No." I shook my head. A reticent smile played on my lips as I glanced at the trio. "I appreciate your efforts, but I require a moment of solitude," I muttered.



The stars shimmered in the vast sky, the air crisp as I stumbled across the courtyard, my vision blurry from the tears I was holding back.

I made my way to the pond and lowered myself onto a stone by the water's edge. Closing my eyes, I pressed my trembling hands to my forehead, the cool night breeze brushing against my skin as though desperate to comfort me in this trying time.

Good grief!

Where do I find this special wolf?

How do I bring them down here before the chime of midnight?

You already know the answer, Emily."

I gasped, my entire body going rigid. My eyes fluttered open and darted around, searching for the source of the voice, but I found no one. Only the night, the stars, the pond... and me.

"Emily," the voice came again, softer yet filled with unwavering certainty.

My breath hitched. "Who's that?"

"Emily." And I realized it was coming within me. "It is I, your wolf."