Lycan King's Regret: Punished The Wrong Daughter novel Chapter 131

Chapter 131: 131- You’re Awake

Arabella:

I was heading back to my room when I spotted Maya and Toby standing in the hallway. The moment Maya saw me, she hurried over.

"Where were you? You left us out there, and we thought you’d come back after meeting the king. When you didn’t, we came inside." Her brows pulled together as she looked at my face carefully. "Are you all right?"

Apparently, my face answered that question for me. Her expression changed immediately. "What happened, Arabella?"

I shook my head and reached for her hands. "I’m sorry, guys. I just... can’t talk about it right now." Her fingers tightened around mine.

My gaze moved from her to Toby. He wasn’t asking questions, but the concern on his face was obvious.

"Can I have a little time alone? Please? I promise I’ll tell you both everything later."

Neither of them answered immediately. Maya kept studying my face, trying to figure out something.

Toby nodded with a sigh. "Fine. If you need us, you know where to find us. Or come join us when you feel better." He glanced around the enormous hallway. "Until then, I guess we can explore the palace."

I struggled to manage a small nod. "Okay."

Toby turned and started walking away, but Maya remained exactly where she was. I knew that look.

She was waiting for me to change my mind. To open my bedroom door, pull her inside, and tell her everything like I normally would.

But this time, I couldn’t. For Goddess’s sake. I was a murderer. I killed an innocent beast. After a few seconds, disappointment flickered across Maya’s face.

Toby had already made it halfway down the hallway before he noticed she wasn’t following. He turned around and came back.

"Come on." He held her wrist and gave it a small tug. Maya looked at him, then back at me.

"She said she needs space, Maya, okay?" Toby tried to explain her, trying to gently pull her along. "We’ll give her that. Let’s go."

This time, Maya finally went with him, though she glanced back at me once before they disappeared down the hallway.

I waited until they were gone before opening the door to my room. I loved them both, but right now, I didn’t want questions or comforting words. I wanted to lock the door, bury my face in my pillow, and cry my heart out for the friend I had lost.

***

Someone was shaking me in my sleep. "Arabella? Arabella, can you hear me?"

I wanted to tell them to stop. My head hurt, and even that small movement made everything inside it throb. A hand was pressed against my forehead.

"Oh my God, she’s burning with fever."

The voice sounded familiar, but I couldn’t hold on to it long enough to figure out who it belonged to. Then I heard another voice.

"Arabella." It was Lucien. I tried to open my eyes, but my eyelids felt too heavy. Even moving my fingers seemed like more effort than I could manage. 𝒇𝒓𝒆𝒆𝙬𝒆𝒃𝓷𝒐𝓿𝙚𝙡.𝒄𝓸𝒎

"Get the physician. NOW!"

His voice became louder as he started barking orders at someone. Footsteps hurried across the room. Another hand touched my face, then moved to my neck as someone checked on me.

"Arabella, can you hear me?" I wanted to answer, but nothing came out of my mouth. Maya’s frightened voice reached me from somewhere nearby.

"Oh, Goddess. I thought she just wanted some time alone. I had no idea she was unwell."

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