The Lycan King's Puppet-Chapter 107: Bowshot

When she woke up, she was in her own room. The steady sound of water rushing over the still shore created an overwhelming sense of calm that befuddled her senses.

The events of the previous night came rushing in all at once.

She was no longer a virgin. Her body still ached in certain places. And she had made the biggest mistake of her petty existence.

But did she actually regret it? She didn’t. The thought of experiencing what she experienced with another man never crossed her mind once.

It was him or nothing.

And everything would return back to normal - he’d be the detached King and she’d be the pathetic servant. 𝒻𝘳𝘦𝘦𝘸ℯ𝒷𝘯𝘰𝑣ℯ𝑙.𝘤𝑜𝘮

She kicked her legs.

What had she done?

Remaining in bed for the rest of the day was the only thing she had in mind. Confronting him was a job for another day.

She fell asleep again. When she awoke, the sun was high up in the sky. It was close to noon, it seemed.

Claire slid down from the high feather bed and walked to the window.

There was no one at the beach. Everywhere was quiet... and peaceful.

That’s when she noticed that she was properly dressed in her own night dress. Her gown and undergarments were folded atop her clothes chest.

"I should find time to thank him." She thought with a smirk.

A knock came from her door.

Her eyes darted around for a weapon, landing on the fire poker.

Then she opened the door, forgetting that she was only wearing her night dress.

Andon stood there, hands behind his back.

"Miss... Stenly." He began, trailing off when he saw her state of dress. "It’s past noon and you are not properly dressed?"

She had the grace to flush.

"Pardon me. Let me change into something more suitable-"

"Don’t bother, I do not want to rush you. I only came to invite you to the rose gardens and inform you that we’re returning tomorrow morning."

He nodded at her once more, smiled brightly and disappeared down the hallway, dressed as elegantly as always.

Would Yeren be there? She couldn’t help but wonder.

She rang the bell and a bath was brought up for her. The maids were quiet, minding their businesses and paying no extra heed to her.

After the bath, she was dressed in a yellow and white sun dress with a light shawl and a matching parasol.

Her stomach rumbled shamelessly as she made her way down to the rose gardens.

The butler was at the main hall, guiding servants with an incontestable composure.

"Miss Stenly." His eyes warmed the moment he saw her.

"A good day to you." She said awkwardly since she didn’t know how to address him.

"Call me Arian, dear girl." He offered her an arm.

She took it easily and let him guide her to the rose gardens.

There was a table there.

Only Andon was seated. There was food as expected.

Yeren stood far off, holding a bow and arrow. There was a target with arrows on it much further away. The wind was dancing with his hair as he readied for a shot. He was wearing only a shirt and breeches.

"Quite the sight, isn’t he?" Andon chuckled.

Claire realized she was staring and immediately looked away.

"Leave the poor girl alone, Andon. Every girl should be allowed to swoon."

Swoon? She’d just shared a bed with the blasted man!

But she just took her seat and poured herself a generous serving of ale.

"I heard about your attempted abduction. Please accept my apologies for not assigning a guard to your chambers the previous day."

The genuine guilt in his voice touched her.

"Apology accepted, all is forgiven. The King and his guards found me on time."

"I’m glad they did." He said with a mischievous flint in his eyes.

What was he thinking?

"I also heard about your burnt hand."

Of course, he did.

"You’re very kind." She wiped her mouth with a napkin.

"Did you see my shot!" Yeren called out, his voice muffled by the distance.

Andon turned around.

"It’s hard to focus on you when there’s a beautiful woman in my midst, Yeren!" Andon returned.

She glanced at the King.

The first few fastenings of his shirt had been loosened to expose the top of his chest.

Claire had mapped that same chest with her gaze just the previous night.

Their gazes met and locked.

Colour creeped up her cheeks.

Yeren started walking towards where they were, the quiver hung across his back.

"That was my best shot yet." Yeren said, ruffling Andon’s hair.

Claire pretended to be busy with the pound of bread she’d been eating.

"Miss Stenly."

She looked up slowly. "Your Grace." She said as soon as she swallowed the morsel in her mouth.

Andon tapped the table playfully.

"Miss Stenly here was just telling me how nice her night was."

The bread suddenly clogged in her throat. She started coughing violently in an attempt to stop the choking.

Andon passed her a goblet of ale to wash it down, which she gobbled down greedily.

When she looked up, Yeren was looking at her.

"Did I startle you?" Andon asked, giving her an innocent look.

"Yes. I wasn’t even saying anything, Lord Andon."

"I was just teasing you. Although it’s hard to miss the fact that you spent most of the night, if not all of it, in the King’s bed chamber."

Claire nearly buried her head in the bread she was stuffing down her throat.

Everything hoped that Yeren would deny it or defend her.

"She was burnt and afraid. I thought it wise to keep her with me in case of another attempted abduction."

Andon nodded.

"I see. Once again, I apologize for the unfortunate incident."

She was barely breathing.

"Hand me the bow and quiver." Was all she could say.

Yeren narrowed his eyes at her but gave it to her nonetheless. It was heavier than it looked as she slung it over her shoulder.

"Do you know how to shoot?" Andon asked.

She shook her head.

Both men exchanged glances.

"Then why do you want to-"

"You should teach her. You’re the best I know." Andon cut him off.

Claire looked around. The guards were standing at every corner.

Yeren looked at her, almost as if asking her permission.

Any more bodily contact between them would send her to her father.

And to make things much worse, Andon was watching them with his hawk-like gaze that never seemed to miss a single detail.

Did she allow him to teach her?