Chapter 99: Chapter 99

Lucas

When I opened my eyes, I found Ryker and Miatta looking down at me with relieved smiles on their faces. Athena's countenance could not exactly be described as joy but she looked a bit relieved as well. Miatta was a breath of fresh air.

Thank the Goddess, she mentally communicated, tears in her eyes.

Come to me, I beckoned to her, aching for her touch. She drew nearer, kneeling beside me that but for the bitter potion on my tongue, I would have kissed her till she was breathless. I tried to sit up but there was a resident pain in my gut. Athena noticed my discomfort and ordered me to remain horizontal.

“The potion is moving around your body, seeking for the poison you consumed. You must be more careful, Lucas. Not everyone is comfortable with the idea of you being the next Lycan King.”

She was right though; everyone had enemies and the higher one went, the more enemies one accumulated. I had been poisoned just before my fight to hamper my abilities and to possibly help Hanjo finish me off. They had almost succeeded.

“But who could have sent that slave? Who could be behind this treachery?” Miatta fired at us, her fists balled at her sides. She reminded me of a tigress, determined to protect her cubs. Her eyes were fiery and my ache for my mate intensified. Athena sighed and shrugged, refusing to accuse anyone of anything. She wasn't afraid of anyone but perhaps she had her own reasons for keeping quiet.

“Mistress, it is as the healer has said. Not everyone is happy with the Prince. It would be stupid to think otherwise,” Ryker elaborated, his eyes darting around in worry. Miatta snorted in frustration and looked away, pouting furiously.

“Well, I will like to take my leave now and. . .”

Athena’s words were cut short by the unexpected entrance of my father, followed closely by Beta Logan. A scowl grew on his face as he took in the scene before him.

“What is this, Athena? Is something wrong with the prince?”

Ryker and Miatta fell to a knee before him respectfully and though it was expected of them, I hated seeing Miatta submissive towards anyone but me. I bit down on my lower lip to keep myself from saying what I had in mind. Athena however, remained as she was, stubbornly eyeing her king despicably.

“Right under your nose, a slave poisoned the prince!” she accused, disappointed in his incompetence. “But you probably didn't notice how distorted he was during the match because your pride is too big for you to see past!”

“Athena!” Logan yelled, getting everyone's attention. “You will not speak to the King of Kings in such manner! Show some respect for your king and do not dare insult his capability before mere slaves! I will not give a second warning!”

She scoffed, mocking his threat. Strangely, my father, the Lycan King and Alpha was silent. He gave no reply to her blunt accusations, allowing his sidekick to do the talking. I had to save the situation somehow.

“Father, I'm better now. Maybe we can have this conversation again later in your throne room?” I suggested, waiting for his approval. Finally, he grunted his affirmation and the atmosphere was lighter again. I caught Miatta giving Beta Logan dirty looks and the latter frowned at her in return, baring his teeth slightly.

“I'm leaving,” the provoked healer announced again, swinging her bag across her body. “I can't stand being in your presence, Ryon.” The name-dropping caught my attention and Miatta raised a brow at me too. Ryon was my father’s name but since he became both King and Alpha, nobody had ever called him by name until Athena. Logan stepped forward to put her in her place but Father held him off with her arm, extinguishing his fire.

“Let me get one of the guards to see you off,” he offered, ignoring her jab.

“No. I want Ryker to take me home.”

Ryker shifted a bit in response to the sudden mention of his name. My father glared at him and he whitened, hanging his head like a repentant dog. “Me, Healer?”

“Him?” Father repeated, wondering if he had heard correctly.

“Yes, him. Come on, Ryker. The night is dark and the road dangerous so we must make haste.” My bodyguard bowed in acceptance and took his position behind her gallantly. It was almost hilarious to see my father’s jealous scowl deepen. The duo exited the wrestlers’ camp, leaving Miatta to cater for me and the other elephants in the room.

“Miatta, you were rather animated tonight. May I know why?” Father asked, his cunning mind at work. My mate met his eyes bravely and lowered them down swiftly. She looked so beautiful in a sly way and I wanted to disappear to my room with her.

“The Prince needed my assistance, my king and I tried my very best to keep him going.”

“By acting like a hooligan and disrupting the wrestling match?” Logan cut in, disgust evident in his voice. “You almost started a triot with that mantra of yours.”

Miatta inhaled sharply and suddenly, her hands began to shake badly and I couldn't hold her hands in front of my father and his annoying twin. Her hands only shook when she was either tired or angry and boy, was she feeling both. I was torn between two options: if I stood up for her and shunned my father, it would be my last day alive. But if I shunned Miatta, she would make me pay for it somehow. I didn't need to guess how because she was vicious when pissed.

“Miatta was doing what she thought right, Beta Logan. I for one, appreciate her resilence and consistency.”

Thank you for saying that, she whispered in my head softly.

I only said the truth, nothing more.

“I must agree with the prince on this one, Logan. Miatta played a good role in keeping Lucas at his best. It would have been a shameful thing if a stranger had come on our shores and left victorious. In the light of this, we must find out which slave poisoned my son and when I find that lowly bastard, the punishments shall be dire.”

“If I may, my Lord,” Logan began, bowing slightly. “I beg that you leave the matter to me. I shall kick start the investigations and report to you from time to time. You are Alpha and there are other important matters of the pack that require your attention.”

Father fell silent again, chasing ideas in his head. “You are right, Logan. Very well. I leave this to you but I need a name in three days. Disappoint me and you will wish you never spoke up.”

Logan bowed again and withdrew silently. I was tired of being of my back and said so, complaining out loud. Two guards were invited in to carry me back to my room and Miatta followed from behind, picking up the pace to prevent being left behind. When we got there, I was placed reverently on the bed and she turned to leave.

“Miatta, darling,” I called for her, in need of her scent around me. “I'm sorry about the horrible things Beta Logan said about you.”

“I don't care about what he said!” she fired back angrily but she wasn't fooling me. I wasn't going to be able to sleep without her so I had to placate her before the situation became worse.

“My heartbeat, we are saying the same thing. What he said doesn't matter because he cannot change the way that I feel about you. When I look at you, sweet, I remember how lucky I am and I would have died today without you. Stay with me tonight and forever.”