<i>Zephyrine </i>
?(96),
s
I stared nkly into the space, my head resting on the pillow, as the door opened and closed. They moved about quietly, gathering the untouched breakfast and setting down lunch.
Six days had passed since the revtion, and yet I had not recovered from the shock. Instead, Iy in bed sick, stunned, numb.
Of all things in this world, in this empire, in this lifetime, Lycannar was the one I loved the most. The one I held in my heart the most. We slept together. We bathed together. We ate together, fought side by side together, yet what did he do?
With the most loyal heart I gave him, with the purest love I rendered, the most honest, the most joyful one… he had…
The thought paused. New tears stung my eyes, and I blinked them back only for them to spill, as all the others before.
No, I would not believe those words. Not until I heard him say it himself. Because I knew Lycannar would never do it.
He killed, yes. I knew. Sometimes his killings were unnecessary, but he would not have killed my father in war. I refused to believe anyone until… until he said it himself.
That was the thought I clung to every day, my onlyfort. Yet truth and reality pressed closer and closer with each passing moment.
What made it worse was that Varyn isted me. Dessyn, more or less imprisoned in his chamber.
Moon, forced <i>to </i>leave for training at the Moonveil Fortress, denied even the chance to say goodbye <i>to </i>me.
And my maids. ordered <i>not </i>to speak to me unless absolutely necessary. They obeyed. Too strictly.
I blinked when Blue came into view, setting the lunch table. She was just finishing when the sound of footsteps came from the hall.
A momentter, the door opened. Even with my back to it, I knew who it was. My brother. I could tell by the fear that red in Blue’s eyes as she jolted at his presence, spilling the water she poured.
<b>9:22 </b><b>Sun</b><b>, </b><b>Sep </b><b>28 </b><ul><li>1 Free Cone </li></ul>
“I… I’m sorry, I…” she stammered, trembling as she tried to clean up the mess, but my brother’s
voice cut in.
“Leave.”
Cold. Firm. Devoid of warmth. Blue bowed her head and left at once, leaving the room empty.
So very empty.
And then I felt it. The weight of his eyes fixed on me in bed. Varyn’s. He hade each day. never questioning me. Always gentle. Always loving.
Softly, he walked up and lowered himself to sit beside me. He smiled warmly.
“Good afternoon.”
I lowered my gaze, unable to speak.
He reached to wipe the tears from my cheeks and said carefully,
“Little sister, there is someone I want you to meet.” I looked up, puzzled. “A physician. I’m worried for you. I want her to check on you.”
His concern looked genuine. After a moment, I nodded. The door opened, and <i>a </i>woman entered, bowing her head as she came to stand a few steps away.
Varyn looked at me tenderly.
“Can you
sit up?”
I tried, but he helped me, careful with my weak frame. He propped me against the headboard and gestured <i>to </i>the physician.
“Mydy, I will only ask a few questions,” she said gently. “I need you to be honest, so I know which potion <i>to </i>prepare.”
I nodded slowly, waiting. She nced at Varyn first, then turned back to me.
“Whenst did you have <i>sex</i>?”
I froze. Why… that question?
Blinking, I sighed softly, thinking.
“Uhm… seven days ago, I think. Yes.”
<b>9:22 </b><b>Sun</b>, Sep <b>28 </b>
She jotted notes, then looked back up.
:.
“Have you ever taken a pregnancy–dying potion before?”
This time I stared at her directly. Wait. What was going on?
“No,” I answered.
“How sexually active is he, when you make love?”
<b>96 </b>
s
That question left the air still. I stared at the physician in silence, then slowly turned to my brother. The truth dawned. They were trying to see if I carried Lycannar’s child.
“I don’t want to do this, Varyn,” I muttered, looking into his eyes. He searched mine tenderly, reaching for my hand, but I pulled away, biting my lip. “I don’t want any of this.”
Our gazes locked. The fa?ade of care slipped. He had tried to coax me gently, but now I knew he would force it if he must.
“Answer the question, Zephyr.”
“I won’t…”
“Zephyr.”
“I won’t!” I snapped, losing myself. I turned to the physician, fury in my eyes. “Why don’t you <i>go </i>to the Lycan Kingdom and ask the king yourself? Ask him how hard he gets, how long hests, how deep he thrusts into me. Go there and ask him!”
Silence fell. Heavy. Then, after a moment, Varyn signaled the physician to leave. She bowed shakily and slipped out, closing the door behind her.
I realized then I was trembling. My heart pounded painfully.
Varyn reached for my hand again. This time I didn’t pull away. I looked at him, and he looked back at me<i>, </i>tender, protective.
“I miss <i>you</i>, Zephyr,” <i>he </i>said softly. “This isn’t you. He made you like this. He lied to you. He the truth. And yet he still bedded you, even knowing he killed your father. Tell you me. will you give birth <i>to </i>his pup?”
never told
That question weighed on me, pulling sobs from my chest. My brother saw the crack and he used it. He climbed onto the bed and drew me into his embrace.
“Tell me, Zephyr. How far did he go to force you? Rape you? I need to know, so we can find <i>a </i>
9:22 Sun, Sep 28
solution at once.”
I sniffed, steadying myself. He pulled back, holding my hands, waiting patiently.
“First, Varyn… it wasn’t rape.”
“Zephyr…”
??)
s
“What Lycannar and I shared… it was beautiful. It wasn’t rape. We made love. It was love, Varyn. He never forced me to the bed. Yes, he was aggressive at times, but never…” My voice broke. Emotion rose, but I pushed through. “Never like that.”
I breathed shakily, then whispered,
“I am not pregnant with his pup. After I became Alpha, these days… we only did <i>anal</i>.”
Varyn stilled at that. I looked into his eyes and I saw it. The promise that he would pay Lycannar back. Tenfold. A hundredfold. A thousandfold.
He gathered me close again,ying me down <i>to </i>rest in his arms.
“I’m here now, Zephyr. No one will reach you. No one.’
<b>99 </b><f4d> Readplete version only at FιndＮovel</f4d>