Chapter 28


    Chapter 28 Three months


    CA SSANDRA


    A lump formed in my throat in response to Asher’s words. What did the Alpha King want to talk to me


    about?


    I forced down my fear and simply nodded. “Yes, Your Majesty.”


    I nced down at Finnick, and my son nodded as well. He took my hand and then I led him over to the


    meeting area of the study. Finnick sat first, and then I took a seat to the right of him, closer to Asher.


    Even though I knew nothing bad would happen, I wanted to put myself in a ce of protection just in


    case.


    Momentster, a knock was heard at the doors.


    “Come in,” Asher called out in a regal tone. The doors opened to reveal a pair of servants holding trays.


    They quickly hustled over to us, set the trays down on therge ebony coffee table, and then bowed


    respectfully at Asher.


    “Do you require anything else at the moment, Your Majesty?” one of the se rvants, an older red-headed


    woman asked politely.


    Asher shook his head. “Not at the moment. Leave us, please.”


    “Yes, Your Majesty,” the pair replied in unison, and without another word, they crossed to the other side


    of the chamber and left.


    Once the doors were closed, my eyes fell to the trays. They wereden with a beautifully painted


    teapot, a few cups, and two tes of cookies, some of which I recognized as Finnick’s favorites.


    Beside me, I heard my son’s stomach rumble. It was around lunchtime, so it wasn’t a surprise that he


    was hungry.


    “Please, help yourself,” Asher addressed him directly. His tone was gentle, and he gave the boy a small


    smile.


    I was surprised by the exchange. Had the pair spoken before this moment? Or was this their first time?


    Finnick stared at Asher for a moment and then shook his head. “Thank you, Sir,


    but I’m not hungry.”


    His stomach betrayed him yet again and let out an even louder rumble. Asher


    chuckled in amusement and then leaned forward.


    “They’re not poisoned, Finnick,” he said, and then his eyes darted to me. “Are you refusing because


    your mother told you I’m a bad guy?”


    It took all of my effort to keep from gasping. Heat spread to my cheeks, and my hands began to shake


    at my sides. How did he know I’d said that?


    I opened my mouth but no sound could escape. How could I exin myself?


    Finnick’s eyes widened as well, and his cheeks flushed scarlet. He quickly looked away from Asher and


    focused on the marble floor.


    “It’s nothing to do with my mommy,” he whispered. “I’m…, I’m just not hungry right now.”


    The room fell intoplete silence after that. A minute or so passed us by, and Asher spent the


    entirety of it watching Finnick until finally, he softened his gaze.


    “Alright,” he replied. I expected him to push the issue further, but was incredibly relieved when he


    didn’t. “Now, as I was saying, Healer Ca ssandra…”


    His voice trailed off, and then he leaned forward in his seat and rested his elbows on his legs. The


    muscles in his arms flexed a little at the motion, and his wavy hair fell into his face. He brushed it


    behind his ears and then continued to speak.


    “I know you’re wondering what I want,” he began, and his tone grew far more serious than it’d been


    with Finnick. “It’s simple enough. I want to uncover the reason behind the dark mark on my skin.”


    I nodded. “Yes, Your Majesty. I understand.”


    “Let me finish,” Asher interjected, and after I nodded, he continued. “Your research and subsequent


    treatments must remainpletely confidential. You will not be allowed to tell anyone about this, or


    else you will face major consequences.”


    I nodded again and forced back a gulp. I knew what it would mean to betray the king. I would be


    confined to prison for the rest of my life or worse. I couldn’t allow that to happen, not when Finnick was


    depending on me.


    “I will be speaking with the Chief Healer soon,” the Alpha King mused. “He will appoint you to the


    position of Private Healer to the King. This will allow you to stay, in the pce and grant you permission


    to visit me frequently.”


    “Thank you, Your Majesty,” I said graciously.


    Asher sat back in his seat and crossed his legs. “You will have three months to find the reason behind


    my illness. This should be more than enough time toplete your research and conduct treatments.”


    I paused as his words sank in.


    Three months?


    That was a very short amount of time. Yet, it was understandable. The disease had a tendency to


    cause its victims to deteriorate at a rapid pace. Three months of enduring the illness would take its toll


    on the king.


    Asher’s steel eyes stared right into my very soul, and a thought crossed my mind. He didn’t tell me


    what would happen after three months. What if I couldn’t find the cause of the disease? Would I be


    executed? Imprisoned?


    And what would happen if I did find the cure? Would I be allowed to leave Anemond and return to the


    Wild Crawlers, where Finnick and I belonged?


    Three months.


    I wanted to ask him all of these questions, but I couldn’t. So, I asked the one


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    question I knew that would be allowed.


    “Your Majesty,” I began, and I cleared my throat. “Why me?”


    The Alpha King frowned. “What do you mean?”


    “Why am I being entrusted to this secret?” I asked. “Shouldn’t this be a matter for the Chief Healer?”


    Asher raised his chin slightly. “You don’t know much about Anemond,


    Ca ssandra. And you’re wrong. I don’t trust you. I chose you because you’re a healer from Wild


    Crawler, where the disease has spread wildly. You know more about it than anyone else in the


    kingdom. Besides, the ident with Marco has proven that you’re incredibly intelligent and best suited


    for the job. It’s as simple as that.”


    His head tilted to the side slightly as he awaited my reply, and I searched my brain for the right words to


    say. I didn’t know what I’d expected him to say, but I felt a pang of emotion at his response.


    I hadn’t expected him to trust mepletely, but there was a hidden part of me, the one that had once


    known him better than anyone, that wished he did. That part hoped that maybe, deep down, he might


    feel something for me. Not exactly love, as he’d once felt for Cora, but something that made him want


    to trust me.


    But the rational part of my brain knew that this was for the best. I needed to shove all of my stu pid


    ideas and notions aside and keep my mind sharp. This wasn’t about my emotions or my desire to


    connect with the man I once loved. This was about my son and his safety.


    I had three months to treat the Alpha King, and if I could manage to do that, maybe I could return home


    with Finnick and leave the nightmare of Anemond behind forever.