Betrayed By My Mate, Claimed By His Lycan King Uncle-Chapter 157: Get the physician now!!!

The Empress Dowager shot him a narrow glance. "Skin food or not, just talking about it makes me hungrier. Stop stalling and tell Sorayah to prepare a meal already."

"Yes, of course! I shall tell her at once," Eunuch Frank replied quickly. "Shall I let her know what dish you’d like, or will anything do?"

"I want that chicken of hers.. the spiced one," she said firmly, licking her bottom lip slightly as the hunger pangs grew more intense. "And some rice. Her rice has that perfect balance...soft but not mushy. I can’t hold this hunger any longer, Frank. My eyes are already turning!"

"Understood, Your Highness!" Eunuch Frank exclaimed, already halfway to the door.

"Oh, and tell her to send some snacks first," she added quickly, raising a hand as if summoning her final bit of patience. "I need something to nibble on before the main meal is ready. I swear, if I collapse from hunger, this entire palace will hear of it."

"Right away, Your Highness!" Frank called back as he scurried out of the chamber, his footsteps hurried and uneven, his round figure wobbling with each step as he rushed to carry out her command. ƒrēewebnoѵёl.cσm

***

Meanwhile, back to Anaya and Rhys.....

They had both managed to escape Anaya’s aunt’s guards after a tense and desperate chase. Now, they were living in the wilderness, far away from the prying eyes and deadly schemes of any pack.

Deep in the heart of the woods, they had stumbled upon an abandoned cottage....weather-worn, ivy-covered, and seemingly forgotten by time. Though the roof had caved in partially and the windows were cracked, Rhys had used his strength and resourcefulness to repair most of the damage. With a patchwork of wooden boards and salvaged materials, he fixed the roof and reinforced the windows, making the place livable.

Some days later, Kisha managed to find them. She was lucky....miraculously so. During the massacre at the forest, she had survived by feigning death among the fallen guards and maids. Covered in blood, her body motionless, she had tricked the killers into believing she was gone. When the coast was finally clear, she fled deeper into the forest and soon her feet led her straight to Anaya.

Now, a warm, sweet aroma filled the cozy little cabin. Rhys and Kisha were in the kitchen area, preparing breakfast with what little ingredients they had. The scent of roasted vegetables, seasoned meats, and freshly steamed rice wafted into the air, comforting and inviting.

At the wooden table near the hearth, Anaya sat patiently with a soft smile gracing her lips. Though she couldn’t see them, her senses had become sharper since her blindness and the smell of food, rich and savory, brought joy to her face.

"The food is ready," Kisha soon called out, stepping out of the kitchen with a tray carefully balanced in her hands. It held an assortment of simple yet thoughtfully prepared delicacies. She approached Anaya gently and, as was their custom, communicated with her by writing the words slowly across her back with her fingers.

Rhys followed shortly after, holding another tray filled with utensils and extra dishes. He set them on the table, his quiet presence solid and dependable.

"Are you okay?" Rhys asked as he lightly traced the question across Anaya’s back.

She nodded her head excitedly in response, her smile deepening.

Since that night at the inn, when they had shared a moment of vulnerability and intimacy, something unspoken had changed between them. Their bond had deepened...not necessarily romantic, but undeniably closer. Since they had talked about it, deciding together that there would be no expectations, no forced relationship just because they had slept together.

Rhys had been honest....he felt no love in his heart, at least not the kind Anaya deserved. And Anaya, with her quiet dignity, had made it clear that she didn’t want to be loved out of pity. She wanted something real or nothing at all.

Still, as he looked at her now, Rhys felt a flutter of something unfamiliar. She looks beautiful, he thought to himself, swallowing hard as he gently took her hand. Her skin was warm and soft, her expression radiant. His eyes drifted to her lips, full and faintly parted, and his heart skipped. Were these feelings blooming from genuine emotion? Or were they guilt and longing twisted together?

He didn’t know.

Just then, a loud ahem broke the silence.

"I’ve been calling your name, young master," Kisha said, raising a playful brow as she folded her arms. A smirk tugged at her lips. "Just what exactly are you staring at on my princess’s face?"

Rhys blinked, quickly pulling his hand back as a faint blush rose to his cheeks. "It’s nothing," he muttered, clearing his throat, trying to regain composure.

Kisha chuckled under her breath but said nothing more. She understood the situation better than she let on. She had noticed Rhys’s shifting gaze and the way his voice softened around Anaya. But she wouldn’t assume not until he himself admitted it.

"The food is ready," she repeated, gesturing toward the table. "You’d best eat it while it’s still hot, or it’ll turn cold and tasteless."

"Sure," Rhys replied. "I’ll feed Princess Anaya."

Kisha nodded, stepping aside as Rhys took a seat beside Anaya. He picked up a spoon, scooped up a portion of the rice, and gently brought it to her lips.

Anaya opened her mouth and accepted the bite. But the moment the food touched her tongue, she paused. Her face contorted in discomfort, and then...

She gagged and suddenly vomited.

"Your Highness!" Kisha cried out in alarm, rushing to Anaya’s side as panic spread across her face. She began patting her back gently but firmly. "Breathe, my lady. Breathe. What’s wrong?!"

Rhys’s eyes widened in horror. He quickly reached for her back and traced the question, What’s wrong? Is the food not to your liking?

Before she could respond, Anaya’s body slumped forward, her face growing pale.

She lost consciousness.

"Get the physician... NOW!" Rhys shouted, his voice breaking with urgency as he sprang to his feet.

Kisha didn’t wait. She was already racing for the door, her heart pounding in her chest, screaming for help as she vanished into the woods in search of the nearest healer.

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