Chapter 2 - The King’s Healer
Rosaline woke to sunlight.
For several seconds, she didn't understand what was happening.
The curtains were open.
Golden morning light spilled across a room far larger than her old quarters.
Clean sheets.
Warm blankets.
A fire burning low in the stone fireplace.
She lifted her hands.
The silver wounds had been wrapped with fresh linen.
Her wolf stirred faintly.
Weak.
But alive.
Rosaline sat up too quickly.
Pain stabbed through her ribs.
A soft knock sounded.
The door opened.
A young woman entered carrying a tray.
“My lady?”
Rosaline stared.
“My what?”
The woman blushed.
“Sorry. The king said—”
“I am not anyone's lady.”
The woman smiled nervously.
“He told us not to argue with you.”
Rosaline almost smiled.
“Smart man.”
A second knock came.
Kalin entered.
He wore a dark tunic instead of armor.
He looked less like a conquering king and more like a man who had slept badly.
His eyes immediately went to Rosaline's wrists.
“How are they?”
“Attached.”
His mouth twitched.
“Good.”
She looked at him.
“Did you sleep?”
“Yes.”
“Liar.”
He raised an eyebrow.
“You noticed?”
“You look exhausted.”
“So do you.”
“I was in a dungeon.”
“And I spent the night making sure nobody burned the castle down.”
She almost laughed.
The sound surprised them both.
Kalin looked at her for a moment too long.
Rosaline looked away.
“I need answers.”
“You'll get them.”
“About Richard.”
“Yes.”
“About Harrington.”
“Yes.”
“About Arthur.”
“Yes.”
“And about why your wolf thinks I'm your mate.”
Kalin's expression changed.
“That answer is simple.”
“I don't like simple answers.”
“Neither do I.”
He sat in the chair near her bed instead of beside her.
“The mate bond isn't something I chose.”
“Neither did I.”
“I know.”
“Then don't make decisions for me.”
“I won't.”
“You already ripped my chains off.”
“I will do that again if anyone puts them back.”
Rosaline stared at him.
“You're not exactly subtle.”
“No.”
At that moment Thomas entered.
“My king. The council is assembled.”
Kalin stood.
“Tell them I'm unavailable.”
“They insist.”
Kalin's expression sharpened.
“Then let them insist.”
Thomas cleared his throat.
“And Harrington claims Arthur has disappeared.”
Rosaline went pale.
“What?”
Kalin's eyes hardened.
“Who was responsible for him?”
“Harrington.”
“Then find him.”
Thomas nodded.
Rosaline pushed the blankets aside.
“I’m coming.”
“No.”
“My king—”
“I said no.”
Rosaline glared.
Kalin sighed.
“You need rest.”
“I need to know if Arthur is alive.”
Kalin looked at her for several seconds.
Then he held out his hand.
“Fine.”
Rosaline stared at it.
“What?”
“If you're coming, you're staying with me.”
She hesitated.
Then she placed her hand in his.
The contact sent warmth through her entire body.
The mate bond pulsed.
She quickly pulled away.
Kalin's eyes darkened.
“You felt that.”
“I felt something.”
“So did I.”
She ignored him.
They entered the great hall together.
Every conversation stopped.
Rosaline could feel dozens of eyes on her.
Some fearful.
Some curious.
Some openly hostile.
An elderly councilman rose.
“My king, why is the prisoner here?”
Kalin answered.
“Because she is not a prisoner.”
The room erupted.
Harrington stood beside the council table.
“She murdered Alpha Richard!”
Rosaline took one step forward.
“You've repeated that lie so often you almost believe it.”
Harrington sneered.
“You admit you were in the kitchen.”
“I was.”
“You handled the herbs.”
“I did.”
“You knew how to make poison.”
“Yes.”
He spread his hands.
“There! You hear that? She admits everything!”
Rosaline turned toward the council.
“I admit to being a healer.”
Then she looked at Harrington.
“I also admit that the bottle you found beneath my floorboards contained a mixture too crude to kill Alpha Richard.”
Silence.
Harrington's confidence faltered.
Kalin noticed.
“How do you know?”
“Because concentrated wolfsbane and belladonna leave specific signs.”
Rosaline's voice became clinical.
“Richard had blue lips and blackened veins. But his pupils were normal.”
A councilman frowned.
“What does that mean?”
“It means whoever poisoned him wanted us to believe it was herbal.”
Harrington barked a laugh.
“Ridiculous.”
Rosaline looked at him.
“Then tell me why the poison bottle contained dried herbs when Richard's death symptoms indicated an injected compound.”
No one spoke.
Kalin turned to Thomas.
“Bring the body.”
Harrington's face drained.
Rosaline saw it.
There.
Fear.
Again.
The king ordered Richard's body brought before the council.
Rosaline examined the remains.
She found a small puncture beneath the collarbone.
Her breath caught.
“Silverthorn extract.”
Kalin's eyes narrowed.
“Explain.”
“It is rare. Expensive. And almost impossible to detect after death.”
Harrington interrupted.
“That's speculation.”
“No.”
Rosaline pointed toward the wound.
“It was injected.”
She stood.
“Someone had direct access to him.”
The room fell silent.
Then Arthur entered.
The boy looked terrified.
“Rosaline.”
She nearly broke.
She crossed the room and knelt.
Arthur threw his arms around her.
“You came back.”
Rosaline held him tightly.
“I told you I'd come back.”
Harrington shouted, “You should not be near him!”
Arthur pulled away.
“You're a liar!”
The hall went silent.
Harrington stared.
Arthur's face was pale.
“But you told my uncle not to trust Rosaline.”
Harrington's mouth opened.
Arthur continued.
“I heard you talking about sending me away.”
Rosaline looked at Kalin.
Kalin looked at Harrington.
“You told the heir to leave Bornkeep?”
“He was in danger.”
“From whom?”
Harrington didn't answer.
Kalin stepped closer.
“From you?”
Harrington backed away.
“You can't accuse me without proof.”
Kalin smiled.
“That is exactly what you did to her.”
He turned.
“Take Harrington into custody.”
Guards moved.
Harrington fought.
“You'll regret this!”
Kalin didn't blink.
“I already regret not arriving sooner.”
Harrington was dragged away.
Rosaline watched him disappear.
For the first time, she felt the chains around her life loosening.
But she also knew something.
Harrington had been too careful.
Too organized.
Too connected.
He couldn't have done all of this alone.
That evening, Rosaline examined every document recovered from Harrington's quarters.
Missing funds.
Weapons orders.
Shipping records.
Then she found something unusual.
A seal.
Black wax.
A wolf's head surrounded by thorns.
Kalin entered as she stared at it.
“What is that?”
“I don't know.”
He studied it.
His face hardened.
“I do.”
“What?”
“It belongs to the Ashen Circle.”
Rosaline looked up.
“Who are they?”
“People who believe every northern pack should kneel to one ruler.”
“You?”
“No.”
His voice became cold.
“They want someone worse.”
Rosaline felt a chill.
“Who?”
Kalin looked toward the window.
“Someone who wants to turn the entire north into a single kingdom.”
“And Harrington works for them?”
“Probably.”
Rosaline's chest tightened.
Then Kalin added:
“And if they knew you're my mate, you're no longer merely a witness.”
She stared.
“What am I?”
“The most valuable piece on the board.”
Rosaline looked at him steadily.
“Then they'd better learn I'm not a piece.”
May you like
A slow smile spread across Kalin's face.
“That,” he said, “is exactly what I was hoping you'd say.”
