Chapter 41

Dylan POV

It had now been three weeks since the king had left for Australia, I hadn't heard any word of him, or from him at all in that time and I was becoming much more at ease because of it.

I know for a fact Lewis kept recieving mind links from him, as we'd be just starting to get closer again before his eyes would cloud over and once he'd regained his focus, he would immediately make space between us. Not that I bothered too much, Lewis was keeping the kings information and orders to himself and for that I was silently grateful.

Dancing was really becoming easier, every single time I'd practice with Lewis I'd get just a little bit better. I'd become a lot more fluent with my moves, and I'd even received a very small amount of praise from the queen herself, I was shocked to say the least.

I was currently in the library, Lewis had just stepped out leaving me with a palace guard whose name I did not know. I was sat, on the comfortable sofa with an extremely thick, leather bound book written by the very first king of the lycanthrope. His words were dreary and the book was long, I was only 11 pages into it and already I wanted to tear my hair out.

Essentially the thing was a diary, explicitly talking about his change as a wolf, and his rule, there were at least a dozen of the exact same book, written over different years of his reign. As much as this book was sucking the life out of me, I had to read it, I had to know if there was a way to return the wolf gift, if a human was capable of being turned into a wolf then it only stands to reason that the possibility of a wolf transforming back into a plain human is applicable. It's simply a case of reverse engineering. I just had to figure out exactly how the first wolf came to be, and not base my theories on some stupid, non existent goddess the queen told me about. It was too improbable.

"Still at it?" My head raised slightly to regard the beta, who had now just entered through the library's door holding two glasses of water. He quickly dismissed the guard he'd asked to watch over me and waited until he'd left the room, before closing the door on us both.

"I have no idea how anybody could get through even one of these books without gouging their eyes out." I sighed while rubbing my hands over my eyes then continuing to read the same line I had now read four times already. "The first king was the most boring person I've ever heard about. How he even had the time to write all this is completely beyond me."

The beta chuckled and quickly sat down on the sofa opposite me, placing both glasses on the table in front of us, our positions were ones of familiarity between us at this stage, the beta was very aware that I was the most at ease when in the library than any other part of the castle, and so made it a daily occurrence that I got at least an hour in the confinement's of it.

"I tried to read it once, out of pure curiosity, and didn't get past page 3." At least I made it further than he did. Perhaps I would skip the first book, and see where the second one began, that would save me wasting time if there was nothing of interest in it. "Why does the queen want you to read these?"

Damn, I was hoping my willingness to read them wouldn't come into conversation. I bit my lip slightly and shrugged my shoulders, meeting the betas gaze.

"She doesn't, I'm just genuinely trying to learn as much as I can so I can avoid being hurt more." I was a smooth liar by now. I think most humans were, we pretty much mastered the art when the new world came into effect.

Lewis clearly bought my lie as he nodded his head. He smiled slightly at me which made me frown before he took something out of his pocket and placed it on the large coffee table in between us. I frowned as I looked at it, whatever it was, was wrapped in a shiny silver foil, and practically forced my curiosity to rise.

"Enjoy." He whispered as he looked at the door then back at me with a chuckle. My face was that of nothing but confusion as I hesitantly grabbed the firm substance. I peeled the foil back and gasped at the sight of the brown snack in my hand.

"Oh my god! Is that chocolate?!" I whispered in both bewilderment and excitement. I hadn't had any form of chocolate since I was 12, I'd seen the wolves eat it all the time, but having it physically in my hand, and being able to smell it's sweet enticing scent made me salivate more than the glass of cola did.

"I don't really like chocolate much, which everyone here knows, so I don't get it all that often. Whenever I do, from now on I will pass it onto you." He chuckled as I stared at it, I couldn't possibly eat it, I'd get absolutely lynched.

"I couldn't, it's yours, and if I'm caught taking it then..." he rolled his eyes and walked over to sit down next to me, he gently took a piece of chocolate out of my hand and held it up to his own lips.

"We can share it, if it'll make you feel better, ok?" He quickly placed the piece between his lips and instantly drew my attention to them. I've said it before and I'll say it again, Lewis is a very attractive man. "Please, I requested some so I could give it to you, Here..." He broke a piece off and held it up for me to take.

I gently took the plain chocolate and sniffed it relishing in it's sweet scent, before placing it between my own lips. My mouth was instantly flooded with more flavor than I'd had in months and a small moan escaped at the sensation. It was absolutely amazing how much something so simple can mean so much.

I closed my eyes and enjoyed the moment, I found it so sad that one tiny piece of chocolate could make my entire day, hell, I think it might've made my entire year. I chuckled before opening my eyes only to see Lewis staring at me holding the final two pieces.

"One each." I nodded and quickly popped the second one in my mouth, sucking it and feeling it melt onto my taste buds, the second one tasted even better than the first. "I don't think I have ever seen you smile like that..." my eyes met his and I smiled kindly.

"I haven't had anything like that since the new world. Thank you, it really was lovely." He placed one of his large hands on my dress cladded knee and smiled gazing at my lips subconsciously I let my own gaze fall to his own set, and I felt my heartbeat jump slightly in my chest.

"You're really beautiful." He caught me off guard with his words, but I found myself blush at them. How I was beautiful was beyond me, I just saw someone who was damaged. After a minute of looking at each other he very slowly leant his head down, and continued to do so until I could feel his hot breath on my face. What on earth was he doing? Was he going to...

We were interrupted by the library door opening and Lewis was extremely quick to withdraw from my form. The rattling sound of chain met my ears and my head moved slowly to regard the two figures now standing in the open doorway.

"Lewis, I'm sure you don't mind keeping an eye on my mate also, so you? I was informed to bring him here." The kings aunty spoke in her screechy voice, the question of course was completely rhetorical as she proceeded to peck the man next to her on the cheek before speaking to Lewis once again. "Once you are finished in here, have a guard escort him back to our room. I'm now residing in the palace." Huh... she ran her hand through the man's hair and messed it up slightly more than it already was. "You be good now baby, you can't run away anymore. We need you now." She rubbed her hand over her gown covered stomach before exiting the room. The doors quickly closed and the man looked towards me.

He looked pale, however was much cleaner than when I last saw him. His beard was completely clean shaven making him look younger than when I met him, his weight was still questionable however mine was also, so I suppose that was just the treatment we were given. He was dressed in a fine high necked regal navy blue suit, however on his ankles a pair of restraints were placed, they were held together by a long chain and his wrists were in cuffs connected by the same type of chain as his feet both of them giving him easy movement while still being confined.

"Carlos?!" I stood up quickly wondering why he was suddenly let out of the dungeon after being down there for so long, when upon seeing me, the man I knew to be strong willed crumpled to his knees in front of me. His tear ridden eyes met mine and his face screamed nothing but desperation.

"She's pregnant!" Was the only thing he spoke before burying his face in his thin hands in defeat.