To heal a Rogue

EDELINA

"The throne belongs to the De’Lunes. Only a true De’Lune should sit on it. Alpha Lysander carries that blood. Prince Johann, from what I understand, does not."

I laughed, sharp and genuine enough that it startled him slightly.

"You actually believe that?"

"Why would my Alpha lie to me?"

"I don’t know what game Cornelius was playing at the end," I said. "But my son is his blood, and a De’Lune by every right that matters. If that’s truly the reason this seat skipped him, know now that I will fight the fact that a distant relative is taking what belongs to him by birth."

He smiled, unbothered. "Even if it requires a blood test to settle?"

"Do the test tomorrow," I said. "I want this resolved immediately."

That caught him off guard. "Very well. I’ll arrange it."

"It’s late regardless," he added.

"I’m not particularly interested in sleep tonight," I said. "Where is the soon to be Alpha King? I’d like to greet him."

"The infirmary."

I laughed again. "What happened? Nerves getting the better of him?"

"No," Bradley said. "We had a magical attack. It seems there are people determined to see him fail before he’s even crowned. Vile, honestly, how far some will go to humiliate the power this house is meant to hold, all for their own petty agendas."

I felt the accusation buried just beneath his words, subtle as it was, and smiled through it anyway.

"I agree," I said. "It is vile. Thank you by the way, Bradley. I’ll see you in the morning."

I walked a few steps further before stopping, turning back to find him still standing exactly where I’d left him.

"I do mean the DNA test thing," I said. "I have nothing to hide where my son is concerned."

"Good," he said.

I continued on, letting my breathing settle slowly with each step, and made my way toward the infirmary. I was mildly surprised to find Lysander standing just outside it, alone in the corridor.

I let my heels click a little louder against the stone so he’d hear me coming, and he looked up, clearly caught off guard at the sight of me.

"Bradley told me I would find you here," I said.

He composed himself quickly. "Queen Edelina. This is a surprise."

"I’m certain it is." I studied him, this boy who’d somehow inherited everything my own son had been promised his entire life. "So you’re the one Conny decided to hand the throne to. Do you know why?"

"I don’t particularly want to fight with you tonight is that is why you are here."

"Tough luck," I said. "What sort of mother would I be if I didn’t defend my son’s honor? That seat should be his. Whichever elders approved this mess clearly want to watch this family tear itself apart in some grand, entertaining war. You should have been wise enough to see that coming and refuse the throne when it was offered."

His eyes went strangely distant for a moment. "I accepted because I saw reason in it. And I’m certain you already know exactly why your son isn’t sitting where he expected to be."

I smiled at that, sharp and thin. "I’ve heard baseless rumors floating around that my Johann is a bastard."

"Isn’t he?"

I felt the urge to slap him rise fast and hot, and I swallowed it down just as quickly. He was nearly untouchable now, powerful in ways that would make such a gesture catastrophically foolish.

"No," I said. "He is not. I’ve asked Bradley to arrange a DNA test himself. I hope he follows through. So my name and my son’s name are cleared entirely, and perhaps you’ll finally see fit to vacate a seat that was never yours to begin with."

I stepped closer.

"I heard what happened to you yesterday in the evening," I said. "It’s something of a miracle you’re still standing here at all. You should cherish that."

"Is that a threat?"

"How on earth does that sound like a threat?" I said. "You’re blood, Lysander. I wish you no harm."

"Is that so?"

I nodded once. "I also heard we have a healer among us now. That the very girl blamed for my husband’s murder is the one who saved your life tonight. What a strange, wonderful world we live in."

"Rogues harmed my uncle," he said, something protective sharpening his tone immediately. "Your husband. Not her. She’s innocent. We have one of the culprits in custody now, and I’m confident he’ll talk soon enough. I only hope his allies find no peace before that happens."

"As long as my husband receives justice," I said, though inside, something cold and frightened twisted through my chest at the mention of the rogue in custody.

"Well, welcome back," he said. "And goodnight, Queen Edelina. Have the night you deserve."

I smiled, and just as I opened my mouth to reply, the head healer came rushing out through the infirmary doors.

"Your Majesty—" she began, then froze entirely at the sight of me standing beside him.

She bowed deep and fast. "My Queen."

I waved a hand, unbothered. "What did you come to say?"

She glanced back toward Lysander instead. "The girl... Bonnie healed the witch. She’s back on her feet now. Her magic has returned as well."

"Really," Lysander said, already moving toward the door.

Curiosity pulled me forward without a second thought. This girl, this Bonnie, has to be the very healer who should have taken the fall for a crime she hadn’t committed, at least according to what those dumb rogues has initially planned. I followed them both inside, ignoring the wave of bows rippling out from every servant and healer we passed, my focus was locked entirely on him.

We reached the ward, and I watched him cross toward a girl seated on the edge of a bed with another girl who I recognized as a witch who regularly worked with the royal family.

Platinum white hair spilled loose around her shoulders.

My stomach dropped straight through the floor.

Why did she have white hair? White lashes? And even white brows, pale as frost against her skin?

It reminded me, with a violence that nearly stole the breath from my lungs, of Lycaon.

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