Chapter 10 An Unnatural Reaction
CHAPTER 10: An Unnatural Reaction
Seraphine's POV
The moment my hand had closed around her throat, something went very wrong. It wasn’t pain at first.. it was rather a shock.
A violent burning jolt shot up my arm sharply and unforgivingly like lightning tearing straight through my bones. It slammed into my chest and rattled my lungs and for half a second, I couldn’t breathe and couldn’t think.
I gasped and at the same time my fingers released her neck on their own like my body had decided before my mind could. I stumbled back, staring at my hand.
What the fuck was that?
Seraphine slid down the pillar, coughing with her eyes wide but alive. I stared at her slowly.
“What did you do?” I demanded.
She held her throat still trying to catch her breath.
“Nothing.”
A low growl came through my throat with my wolf stirring in annoyance.
“Don’t lie to me, little witch!”
Her eyes flashed.
“I didn’t do anything to you.”
“You hurt me,” I snapped, shaking my hand once like it might explain itself. The strange sting still lingered under my skin. “That was human magic. That was witchcraft!”
“I swear it wasn’t,” she said. “I don’t even know how.”
“Humans always say that.”
She pushed herself up, glaring.
“You attacked me.”
“And you shocked me,” I shot back. “Explain that.”
“I can’t explain what I don’t understand!”
I stared at her with my chest rising and falling hard. Something about her expression bothered me.. she didn’t look smug.. or scared.. she looked confused and that only made it worse.
“Get out,” I said coldly. “Go to your quarters.”
She stiffened.
“You’re not even going to...”
“I said get out,” I growled. “I’ll deal with you later.”
She hesitated and then turned and walked out with her steps quick but proud and the doors shut behind her with a heavy thud.
I stood there alone, still staring at my hand and the throne room felt different now and quieter like it was watching me.
A knock suddenly broke the silence.
“My king?” Beta Caspian’s voice came through the doors.
“Enter.”
He walked in with his usual calm face already tight with concern.
“I came to report on the forest attack, but…” He stopped mid-step. His eyes flicked to my face and to my hand. “You seem troubled.”
I scoffed.
“That’s one way to put it.”
He frowned.
“What happened?”
I didn’t answer right away.. I flexed my fingers once more and then I tolld him.
“I grabbed her,” I said. “By the neck.”
Caspian’s eyes sharpened.
“And?”
“And the moment I touched her, I felt a shock.. painful strong shock like I’d been burned from the inside.”
He blinked.
“A shock?”
“Yes.”
Silence stretched.
“That’s impossible,” Caspian said slowly.
I shot him a look.
“I don’t care what you think is possible. It happened.”
He shook his head.
“My king, that reaction is only known to exist between Lycans who are divinely mated by the Moon Goddess.”
The words landed wrong.
“What?” I snapped.
“It’s a defensive bond,” he said carefully. “A sacred one. If one mate harms the other, the bond reacts violently.”
My lip curled.
“Are you saying that human is my mate?”
Caspian hesitated.
“I’m saying there may be a connection. Somehow.”
I spat to the side.
“Disgusting.”
“She’s human, Aric,” I continued bitterly. “Weak, fragile and sneaky. The human race is built on lies.”
Yet even as I said it, something twisted in my chest because no matter how much I hated it, I felt it. There was more to her. She was hiding something.
Caspian studied me keenly.
“This isn’t coincidence.”
“Enough,” I snarled. “And shut the fuck up.”
He stiffened immediately.
“My apologies, my king.”
“Why are you really here?” I demanded.
He straightened.
“I sent scouts to comb the forest after the attack. The beast appears to be what the elders once called a Grinhowl.”
I frowned.
“Grinhowl?”
“A twisted wolfspawn,” he explained. “Malformed, violent and born from corrupted dens.”
I cursed under my breath.
“And?”
Caspian’s jaw tightened.
“We found bodies.”
My head snapped up.
“How many?”
“Five soldiers,” he said. “Patrol unit from the eastern ridge.”
“That’s impossible,” I growled. “One Grinhowl couldn’t kill five trained Lycans alone.”
“I agree,” Caspian said. “Which suggests there may be more.”
My blood turned cold.
“Double the search,” I ordered. “Scour every inch of the forest. If there are strays, I want them found and destroyed.”
“Yes, my king.”
“And Caspian,” I added.
He paused at the door.
“If you ever suggest that nonsense about mates again,” I said darkly, “you won’t like the outcome.”
He bowed deeply.
“Understood.”
When he left, I didn’t stay still. I strode out of the throne room with my steps sharp and fast. Every servant and soldier I passed bowed instantly, flattening themselves out of my way.
I didn’t slow down and I didn’t speak. I found Darius near the gardens.
He was laughing amd leaning against a stone railing surrounded by three young women who were clearly enjoying his attention far too much but the moment they saw me, they froze.
“My king,” they murmured, bowing quickly before fleeing like startled birds.
Darius turned, grinning.
“Well, that killed the mood.”
I stopped in front of him.
“You were close to the human girl earlier. What were you doing?”
He raised a brow.
“Was I, cousin?”
“Don’t play stupid.”
He chuckled.
“Relax, Aric. I was helping her.”
“Helping,” I repeated coldly. “Or flirting?”
He laughed outright.
“You sound jealous, My King.”
My body went rigid.
“Careful,” I warned. “I may be your cousin, but I’m still the Lycan King.”
His smile softened.
“Apologies.”
Then he tilted his head.
“Unless…”
“Unless what?”
“Unless you’re starting to feel something for your human bride.”
I growled lowly in my chest.
“Don’t.”
He held up his hands.
“Alright. I’ll behave.”
Before I could respond, a soldier approached and bowed.
“My king,” he said. “I have something to report.”
I turned slowly.
“What is it?”
“It concerns Lady Seraphine.” He said and my jaw clenched.
“Speak.” I ordered…