The Lycan King's Puppet-Chapter 77: The Bleeding Moon

There was just something different about the day. She could feel it in the air.

The maids babbled excitedly amongst themselves - an excitement she didn’t share.

Even when they arrived to serve them food, their minds were elsewhere. Her drinks were spilled, her bath was too hot, then too cold, then perfect for a baby, her corset was laced too tightly, everything was just... not done right.

Until she heard from Lara that the blood moon was happening that very night.

She had expected it in a few days, not the exact next day.

Part of her was excited because the King would Grace the ceremony - but blood moons were only for wolves. And the possibilities of wolves harming her because she appeared human was very high.

Any and every wolf would be gathered there... except outlaws.

Everyone would go, except herself and Aurora.

"How unfortunate!" She threw her hands up in despair.

The afternoon was painfully long, dragging on as if it fully intended to remind her that she could not attend except she wanted a death wish.

Rory wasn’t bothered in the least bit - she was carefully focused on her craft. She, on the other hand, had no craft. Nothing to busy herself with. No new book to read.

The King was her craft, she realized.

The palace gradually emptied itself as people arrived. She hovered by the window in Aurora’s room because it had a better view of the palace’s entrance and gates.

People were trooping in and out - mostly out.

What did it feel like to have a wolf? What if she went out under the blood moon? Would her wolf somehow awaken?

The hope was too faint because she was often told she had no scent.

All wolves had scents - no matter how incapable they seemed to be.

"You look like you want to jump out that window and join them."

Claire jerked, startled by her sister’s sudden words.

"Join who?"

"The wolves below."

Was she? As far as she was concerned, she only wanted to catch a glimpse of the King.

"I’m not the one who fantasizes between us, Rory. But... are you not even curious in the slightest bit?"

Rory climbed to her feet and joined her by the window.

"I am... but you’d never even let me dream of joining them at my age. I’m trying to contain my curiosity - for your sake."

Claire gave her a playful shove.

"Terrence wouldn’t even let me..."

"Who is Terrence?"

"The guard the King assigned to me."

Aurora’s eyes widened. "Your guard speaks to you? Mine doesn’t acknowledge when I speak to him, except I give him an order."

Claire smiled. "You give him orders? Wonders shall never cease."

"I used to think he had rocks in his heads, but now I know better."

"I’m glad you do. Once you learn little about them, you realize they’re human as well and treat them as such-"

A convoy of guards marched across the yard, shielding a man at the center.

She didn’t need to be told who that man was.

The carriage rider ran across the length of his well polished vehicle to open the door for the King.

Claire darted a glance at Aurora to see if she’d also seen him.

Her sister was leaning over the windows trying to push her little legs up so she could see him better.

"His hair is longer."

Claire edged forward as well.

He was wearing only a black robe as far as she could see?

"Oh." Her mouth formed a perfect circle.

"What is it?"

Her mouth suddenly felt papery and dry. "It’s also the King’s mating ceremony."

Her attempt to sound distant and unbothered failed woefully.

"Where is Andon?"

"I don’t know. Shall we go down to have a better look?"

Rory grunted. "They would be gone before we could descend those endless stairs!"

Claire dashed off without waiting for her.

Rory’s footsteps padded after her not long after.

They went down the stairs and went to the main receiving hall.

The entrance doors were thrown wide open.

Terrence and Rory’s guard were behind them, keeping their usual respectful distance.

Then, she saw him from across the yard - only the top of his head.

The sun glided over his hair, making it appear like falling silk.

He towered above his guards by few inches.

"I expected you to be camping at the doorway, Miss Stenly." Came that annoying drawl she could not abide.

"Lord Andon." She curtsied.

Aurora followed suit.

Then, the King glanced in their direction. His gaze fell on her, unflinching.

Her stomach knotted instantly, threatening to cripple her if she continued looking into his eyes.

They were still yellow, but they felt... familiar.

"What is he looking at?" Aurora asked, folding her arms across her chest.

"You should rather ask ’who’ is he looking at - and the answer is quite glaring for anyone with a pair of eyes on their heads. Only one of us, my dear, is his ’esteemed’ Cupbearer."

Claire bit her lower lip, finally able to break eye contact with those piercing eyes.

Colour crept up her cheeks.

The King was still looking when she looked up again.

"I think I should remind that mad man that he has a bride waiting for him at the festival." With a crooked, wicked grin, Andon patted her back and walked off to join the King.

"Why are his eyes...different? Yellow?"

"I have often wondered the same thing, Aurora." She said, twisting her lips.

A bride. Why did she suddenly feel like picking up a knife and heading to that ceremony to shed blood?

As Andon reached the carriage, he waved.

Both of them waved back at him.

"I want to attend." Claire said out of the blue.

Rory glanced at the guards that stood by the corner. "Attend? Who would let you?"

Claire shrugged. Turning to Terrence, she asked, "May I attend the festival?"

He and Aurora’s guards exchanged glances.

"No." They collectively said.

Both girls looked at each other.