Howin arrived safe at the palace tired yet he forced himself to walk, his leg throbs but he ignored the pain even though one of the guards offered help.
He went to the king's room and he stopped once he heard him talk with difficulty with Pryor.
"-did you…call her?
-yes your majesty she will come soon. You need rest now.
-Pryor…my dear friend, my time has come…soon than I thought…you know what to do? Can I leave in peace…knowing that Kieran's future is safe." The old man smiled bitterly at the king's vow and reassured:
"-don't worry everything will be ok? I am here, my best hunters are doing everything they can and Mal is with him. You can rest and sleep peacefully.
-I don't deserve it.
-you don't have to blame yourself, Kieran will be the king and everything is going as you planned. Please rest before she came. You know it won't be easy." The king used the rest of his energy and closed his eyes drifting in a deep sleep again. Pryor sight and look down before Howin pushed the door and called for him.
"-what's wrong?
-we got trapped…I don't think it was a normal human deed. We almost got killed.
-what? You mean…
-I said almost we are not dead yet…I broke my leg and twisted my wrist, Ayana got her back injured ad Kieran some superficial scratches. But the man died.
-and the guards." Howin looked down and Pryor understood his silence and added:
"-they are all dead.
-what are we going to do now?
-the marriage in one week.
-but…
-no buts…it's the king's command.
-I wasn't talking about the wedding…I was talking about how are you unbothered even after telling you what happened to me, Ellie and Ray.
-I had a lot of shocking events through my life kid…and panicking won't solve anything. Don't tell Kieran about what happened.
-as if he is going to get concerned." Howin mumbled under his breath, the commander raised an eyebrow at him and asked:
"-what did you say?
-I said I will do as the king ordered. But someone should inform King Drystan.
-I will send a messenger for him tomorrow, you should rest now and the doctor will come to check on you.
-don't bother yourself old man I can take care of myself. I will be in my room if you need me." Howin waved at the old commander who was eyeing him suspiciously.
The black-haired boy picked a glass of water and opened the jar Andrew gave him; it was some kind of weird colored pills, he took one and was about to throw up because of the disgusting taste.
He cursed before wearing a clock and sneaked out of the castle, I his way out he saw a woman walking between shadows to the king's room, she stopped to talk with Pryor and he thought it was one of the maids, with that he finished his way out.
In the other castle, Mal couldn't sleep so she went to the king to check on what he have prepared so far to get disappointed at the end and she told him she will take care of everything herself.
She spent the whole afternoon in the library planning for the ceremony, gifts, projects and everything until her eyes landed on the book she was reading that day before Kieran came to annoy her. The clock ringed announcing it was ten, time for her dinner, late dinner. She cleaned the table and organized the sheets and her plans to take them tomorrow to the king and thought she maybe go check on Kieran.
Kieran was lying in bed staring at the ceiling, thinking about his future until someone decided to cut his running thoughts, plopping at the couch catching his breath and whimpering from pain.
"-I was going to call you but why are you in that miserable state as if you have been chased?" Howin rolled his eyes in disbelief.
"-is that your why on saying hello? How rude of you!" Mal said making her way in the room with Kieran's eyes not leaving her.
"-don't you think it's rude to not knock the door?
-I learnt that from you…Howin are you ok? Kieran I swear if it's you…
-no it's not him…I broke my leg and I feel tired." Howin said between breaths and Mal smiled at him while pouring a glass of water before she commented:
"-fast transportation is tiring isn't it?" Howin chocked with water and he blinked at her while Kieran praised:
"-you are good student…I am proud of you.
-it wasn't hard to notice…stop staring and tell us what happened to your leg.
-how? ...Mal I am sorry I didn't mean to lie to you I just wanted to keep myself alive. I swear I have no bad intentions towards you…I really respect you and…
-calm down I am not planning to kill you and I need you to tell me why are you here and what happened to your leg?" Howin sit up properly and drifted his gaze between them before he told them what happened, Mal was shocked and Kieran's blood started to boil.
"-couldn't you make a better plan…take more solders.
-we were busy with calming down riots in five different regions, taking down essential repairs, giving back people their money and stopping rumors around and almost everything was about to exacerbate between guards and citizens if Ellie didn't interfere… and yeah, we were busy fighting for our lives an hour ago prince; against our solders." Mal didn't say anything, she just kept thinking while Kieran's rage was eating him inside not because his father almost died; but how everything is getting more messed up than before.
"-Mal are you alright?
-I am good you should feel concerned about yourself.
-he can heal himself don't worry about him." Kier spit out and Howin explained:
"-I can heal myself but not as fast as you, I need three days to recover completely…I was talking about your friends, are you not worried about them" She smiled at him sweetly before she answered:
"-they are with Andrew so I have nothing to worry about…by the way, why didn't he check your leg.
-you are expecting that bratty witch to take care of him?" Kieran snickered at the huntress question but Howin ignored him before he added:
"-he hate company for sure but he gave some pills that eased the pain a little bit…before telling me to leave.
-I admit my friend is a little bit rude with new company but he would never ask someone injured out, add to that you saved Ellie.
-well, I should thank him for kicking me out politely otherwise Ray would have killed me.
-wait he knew you are an incubus?
-I don't think so…he was acting strange…he kept threating Andrew and me and picking fights…his tone was scary as if he wasn't acting lie himself. I got shills from the way he was talking to me." Mal's was dumbfounded while the prince chuckled.
"-forget about it maybe he was stressed because he almost lost Ellie but now…we will call the doctor and you…
-thanks for the offer but I should leave now; if Pryor won't find me he will get suspicious.
-let me guess, he told you to not tell us." Kieran asked and Howin nodded.
"-and please do me a favor and act surprised when they tell you that the wedding is next week." With that he disappeared leaving them shocked at the sudden info.