Alpha King's Healer

17

He faces me, his stoic expression back. His arms cross over his chest, legs widening in stance. His go to stance, telling me that whatever we just experienced together was not supposed to have happened. I felt foolish. Embarrassed. Childish. How could I let that happen? I knew better. I know better. At least, I once did. I didn't know what was happening to me here in Daelum, but I knew part of it to blame was his damned blood.

"See how easy it is to make someone trust you?" He then speaks.

"W-what?" I ask, completely out of breath, a new sense of anger washing over me.

"Will you ever learn anything?" He sighs, head shaking at me. "It was so easy for me to get you to tell me about your blood, simply by giving you an ounce of kindness. You are too trusting of others," He explains. He steps towards me. I back away from him, before finally turning to face away. From behind me, I can hear Thaddeus groan.

"If I would have known that that is what it would take for you to tell me, you would have told me in the carriage on the way here," Thaddeus proclaims distastefully.

I turn to him, "You asshole!" I beat at his chest with my fists. He works his jaw. He grabs my hands to make me stop.

"This is why you shouldn't trust anyone. Always act like you do, but never truly do. I got the information I wanted from you without fuss. You cannot trust Covey simply because she saved you, I sense she has her own profitable reasons as she obviously despises the crown," Thaddeus whispers down to me. I continue scowling at him, but it didn't faze him. "You must not trust prince Demios either, despite what he is to you. His father is playing a game that I want to be sure he doesn't win."

"Well, I obviously can't trust you." I bite my cheek to keep from yelling at him.

His head lowers to me, his whispers quieter than before.

"I did trick you into telling me, Miss Kingsley, but I promise that wouldn't have happened if it wasn't for the aphrodisiac. Yes, I released claim to get you to open up to me, but I never intended for you to.. open up," he licks his teeth.

"So now that you know, what now? Huh? Are you going to kill me? Take my blood forcefully?" I spit at him.

"No. We will deal with that when we get back to Lodestar. For now, we need to focus on what is happening here in Daelum," Thaddeus quietly explains.

That eased my nerves just the tiniest bit. Not enough to keep me from being angry, with him, and with myself.

"I had a chat with King Martell," Thaddeus reveals. "Martell confronted me about my curse before we caught news of the riot."

"What are you going to do then?"

Thaddeus paces about the room.

"He wants you to become his personal healer."

"No different than you," I scoff.

Thaddeus pauses. His jaw clenches before he starts pacing again.

"He's got something up his sleeve. He's going to tell the other kingdoms about my curse if you don't help him. What he doesn't know, is that I have a plan of my own." Thaddeus turns to me. "You must stay here another night," he demands.

"What? No! Celste needs to get back to castle where she is safe," I point out.

"You will stay here another night. I will be back tomorrow for you both," he heads to the door. Before he opens it, he glances at me. "For now, you must trust me."

I chuckle, "Our entire evening was just about learning to trust no one! Which is it?"

"I'm not no one to you, not after tonight." With that, he leaves me.