Chapter 73- No Turning Back

Arabella Toussaint

The wooden swing creaked softly beneath me as I pushed myself back and forth with the tip of my foot. The palace garden was unusually quiet. Or maybe it was my heart.

I looked up when an Omega approached me with a silver tray, "Ma’am. Would you like some tea?"

I still wasn’t used to this. A royal maid was asking me. I never imagined it in my wildest dreams. I forced a small smile and shook my head, "No, thank you."

She bowed before walking away. She fucking bowed! This had to be because of the king. But what would his family think of all this? How long would it last once they found out?

If I stayed here anymore, I might be making more enemies.

I leaned my head against the rope of the swing and let out a slow breath. Today, I hadn’t stepped into the kitchen. I didn’t want anyone questioning the kitchen staff after I left. I had already told King Lucien that I loved being there.

King Lucien.

He wanted me to take his name, but I couldn’t. He might have allowed it in the heat of the moment.

He wasn’t even in the palace, and there was a good chance he wouldn’t return tonight. I should’ve been relieved. Instead, the palace felt strangely empty.

I frowned at my own thoughts. Seriously Arabella?

He was doing everything for me. Taking a stand for me in front of his family, assigning a bodyguard, pulling out my chair for me.

I felt a warm blush creep onto my cheeks. The way he kissed me and touched me there...

I gulped and looked around. Ever since that moment, I wished he could go further and do things that I never experienced in life.

If I had enjoyed that touch with my panties on, then what would happen if I let him do it when I’m not wearing any?

Goddess!

The thought made me clutch my thighs tightly together. I wished I could stay there a few days more and find out myself.

Should I?

I quickly shook my head, "No!" I whispered to myself. This was just infatuation with a mix of raw desire, and he could have any woman to satiate it. I wasn’t different from the others.

This wasn’t love. It couldn’t be. Love never existed in Werewolf and Lycan worlds. Lucien Volkov was a Lycan King, and kings weren’t supposed to fall in love with their slaves. No matter how much respect he gave me, his family would always remind him who I was.

I didn’t know how many women he charmed before me and how many believed they were special.

I pressed my lips together. The king was going to be the death of me, and if I wanted to keep my head and my heart in the right place. I needed to get out of here before it was too late.

Only a few more days. Just a few more. Then I’d leave this palace. Once I’d be out, he wouldn’t even remember me. Yes, he would look for me for a few weeks or months, but later he would get busy with some other she-wolf or she-lycan.

I kept telling this to myself over and over again. Yet somehow, instead of bringing peace, the mere thought of leaving him made my chest ache.

***

"What is this?" I asked Jasmine as she showed me a small bottle filled with red liquid. She carefully placed it back inside a velvet pouch and pulled the strings tight.

"Apply one drop on your mark daily."

My heart skipped a beat. I raised my hand and touched my neck where his mark still rested, "Won’t he get suspicious if the mark starts disappearing?"

She was too busy rummaging through her leather bag, "It won’t vanish immediately. It will take time to work, and hopefully, it won’t start fading until after you’ve escaped..." She pushed her hand deeper into the bag, and when she pulled it out again, she was holding another bottle filled with blue liquid.

"Here. A scent suppressant," She said, handing it to me, "Apply it only after you cross the gates. If a Lycan guard smells it on you then, we’re in trouble."

I lifted the bottle closer to my eyes and examined it. This liquid was almost translucent. With a nod, I placed it into my pocket with the first one and looked around the forest, "Why did you choose this place? Thank Goddess the King allowed me to come here without asking too many questions."

Jacob was standing at some distance and hadn’t spotted Jasmine yet. Maybe because this part was too dense and I had already warned him not to come closer.

Jasmine zipped her bag and then adjusted the strap over her shoulder, "Meeting again inside the palace was a risk. There are cameras throughout the palace. We might fool them once, but after you disappear, the King will question every single person inside those walls."

With a sigh, I inserted my hand into my pocket and felt the bottles. Jasmine glanced over my shoulder, "We don’t have much time," She must be eyeing Jacob, "You should go back. I’ll come after a few minutes," When I nodded, she leaned a little, "Don’t forget. The scent suppressant lasts only a few hours. Don’t waste it. Apply it only after you’ve crossed the Southern Gate. About the mark potion. Don’t use more than a tiny drop. Every night!"

I exhaled a long breath before stepping back, "Jasmine."

She looked up to meet my gaze.

I licked my lips, "What if he finds me before I reach the gate?"

For the first time since we’d met, she hesitated, "He won’t."

"You never know... he might..."

"I know, Arabella..." she said through clenched teeth, "And I have a plan for that too. Okay? I’ll let you know soon. Wait for me."

A cool breeze rustled the leaves overhead as I tightened my fingers around the pocket holding the bottles.

This was really happening. Just a few more days and I will be free.

Free!

The word sounded almost unreal.

Jasmine must have noticed a change in my expression, "Don’t lose your nerve, Lady Arabella. Because once you step through those gates, there’ll be no turning back."