Lycan King's Regret: Punished The Wrong Daughter

Arabella Toussaint:

The door opened, and one of the Omegas stepped out. ”You can come inside now,” she said respectfully. ”The Queen is ready to see you.”

I nodded and followed her in. Queen Theodora had returned from the hospital earlier today. I hadn’t managed to speak to Lucien, so I had sent him a message asking if it was alright for me to visit her.

Of course. Why not? You can see her this evening if you want.

So here I was. As a guest in the palace, it would have looked strange if I didn’t at least come and ask about her health. In all honesty, I would have preferred not to look at her face at all, but I obviously couldn’t say that to anyone.

Aliya was already in the room, sitting near her mother’s bed. The moment I walked in, her face twisted with disgust. She quickly looked away, but not before I caught the hatred in her eyes.

Well, the feeling was mutual. I ignored her and walked toward the bed.

The Queen was lying against several pillows with a quilt covering the lower half of her body. Underneath her nightgown, thick bandages were wrapped around her ribs, reaching almost to the bottom of her breasts.

The same ribs I had apparently broken that night. I still didn’t understand how the hell I had managed that. The feeling was oddly satisfying.

Her head turned when she heard me approaching. Our gazes met for barely a second before she looked away and closed her eyes.

”Your Highness.” I gave her a small curtsy. ”How are you feeling now?”

Nothing. No response from her.

”I know you’ve been through a lot. I just wanted to come and pay my...” I trailed off when she didn’t even bother to open her eyes. I glanced at the Omega, wondering if the Queen had fallen asleep within the five seconds since I entered the room.

The Omega looked just as uncomfortable. I turned back to the bed. The Queen’s eyes were still closed, but she was definitely awake.

”Are you really that stupid?” Aliya’s voice came from the chair. ”She doesn’t want to talk to you. She doesn’t even want to look at you, yet you’re standing here forcing your presence on her... on us.”

I raised my head to look at her. She got to her feet as her nostrils flared. ”My mother just came back from the hospital, you gold-digger! The last thing she needs is the face of a slave who brought nothing but trouble into this family.”

I stared at her for a moment, genuinely trying to understand what I had done to deserve so much hostility.

”Why do you people hate me so much?” I asked. ”I always treated you all with respect, Prin... Aliya.” I didn’t add the title to her name, ”Even when I had every reason not to. So why this much hate? Because I used to be your slave and now I’ve made a life for myself? That doesn’t mean I have to keep...”

The bedroom door opened behind me. ”So, you made a name for yourself, and now you think you’re equal to us, you slut?” I stopped and closed my eyes. Oh, Goddess. Amy!

I turned as Amy walked into the room. Was she serious? I had already dealt with her once today. I wasn’t here for another argument, and I definitely wasn’t interested in playing verbal games with Lucien’s sisters every time we happened to breathe the same air.

My gaze moved from Amy to Aliya and finally to the Queen lying silently in bed, who was doing a terrible job of pretending to sleep.

A small laugh escaped me before I could stop it.

”What’s so funny?” Aliya demanded.

”I was just wondering...” I looked between the sisters. ”Is Lucien really related to you people?” I deliberately used his name too, without the title. Their eyes turned colder, but I didn’t stop.

I tilted my head. ”Because he’s nothing like any of you. Maybe he took after his father,” I said, raising one shoulder.

Their faces turned red in insult. On the bed, the Queen’s hand suddenly tightened around the quilt, bunching the fabric inside her fist.

Stupid bunch of women!

I pressed my lips together to keep myself from smiling. Apparently, that one had landed somewhere sensitive.

For a few seconds, they didn’t say anything.

I hadn’t even come here looking for a fight. I hated these women, and there was no point pretending otherwise, but I never walked around the palace, searching for chances to insult them. I had come to ask about the Queen’s health, say a few polite words, and leave.

They were the ones who kept dragging the worst out of me.

”Have you forgotten your place, whore?” Amy snapped and stormed toward me. ”You disappear for three years, make a little money in the human world, and suddenly you think you can stand in a royal bedroom and run your mouth at us?”

I didn’t move.

She stopped right in front of me, her eyes burning into mine. ”Take away Lucien’s protection and what are you? The same wolfless nobody we dragged into this palace three years ago. So, stop acting like you belong among us. You don’t. Climbing Lucien’s bed doesn’t mean you are the queen!”

For a few seconds, I just stood there. Then slowly, I smiled.

”You’re right.” Amy frowned when she saw me smiling. ”I shouldn’t have forgotten my place.” I stepped closer and rested my hand on her shoulder. ”But sweetheart, do you know where I really forgot it?”

Her eyes dropped to my hand before returning to my face.

”When I saved Zara.” Every trace of anger disappeared from her face.

”I should have remembered I was only a slave then, too, shouldn’t I?” My smile faded. ”Your daughter was missing in a forest full of rogues, and stupid me forgot that saving royal children was above my position.”

”Don’t you dare bring Zara into this.” She snarled but it was too late.

”Why not? You keep reminding me what I am. I’m just reminding you what this slave did for you.” Her face had already begun to lose color. I removed my hand from her shoulder.

”So next time there’s a rogue attack, I promise I’ll remember my place.” I held her gaze. ”Don’t expect me to risk my life saving any of your pups again.” Amy went completely still.

My gaze darted to the queen. She loved drama? Fine! Here you go, ladies.

I glanced at Aliya, then at the drama queen lying peacefully in bed. And then suddenly I gasped loudly. My eyes widened as I slapped a hand over my chest and took a quick step back.

Aliya immediately stiffened. ”What happened?”

”L...lizard!” I pointed to the Queen’s bed.

”What?”

”There was a lizard!” I said, letting fear take over my face. ”A huge one. Almost a foot long! I just saw it crawling under her quilt.” I sucked in another horrified breath. ”Shit! Call someone! Please!” I shrieked in panic.

”What? Where?” Aliya demanded.

”I told you! It’s under the quilt!” I shouted.

A piercing scream suddenly came from the bed. ”GET IT OUT! GET IT OUT!” The Queen’s eyes flew open as she threw the quilt off her body and scrambled backward.

”Mother!” Amy rushed toward her.

But the Queen was already trying to get off the bed, screaming at the top of her lungs. With all those bandages, she couldn’t move fast enough and slipped over the edge.

The next second, she was sprawled on the floor.