Chapter 201

Cassie

We tried to make it work, which was more than we had done when we had first got married and in certain ways it worked. The twins welfare was where we agreed on most things, even though I thought he was too hard on them and he thought I was too soft.

But it was in other areas that we seemed to come unravelled. Like being together. Every date he planned he ended up being called away. Every time we came together in a desperate mass of arms and searching lips his phone rang.

I'd never realised how much time being a king would take. In the dream world, because that's what I was beginning to think it was, we had been at war and fighting for our lives and he had still had time for me.

And I tried to be patient and not needy but it was hard. I was alive and my children were with me. I lived in a god damn palace that was full of people and yet I had never felt so alone.

In the weeks since Noah had got sick, more and more of the staff had. Even Cathy. The only people who didn't seem to get it were me and Julian. Right up until last night when Julian succumbed. He had retreated to another wing, not wanting to get any of us ill again and that's where he had stayed.

Alone.

That didn't sit right with me. As his wife I should look after him plus I was a doctor. I could help like I had helped the others.

Moving through the quiet of the predawn palace , I walked along the empty halls. My hands trailing across the panelling that lined the walls and I couldn't help but wonder if those secret passage ways were behind them. Or was the labyrinth of tunnels and secret rooms were just real in my dreams? One of these days and it had to be one day soon I would go and explore and find out. But I wasn't ready yet. I wasn't emotionally strong enough.

Maybe I never would be.

A door at the end of the wing, the old kings bedroom with its wide double doors swung open and two voices rang out. One was unmistakably my husbands and the other was-

Two even though he had said he needed to be alone.

I sank back into the shadows of the wall. Not exactly hiding but close.

"I'll come back tonight." Megan's voice was husky.

Without thinking I stepped out of the shadows and into her path.

"Good morning queen Cassie." She stopped dead , her head bobbing in a small bow. "It's good to see you looking so healthy. The king is fine, there is no need to get up so early to check on him. He's had a tiring night so is resting now."

I stared at her with my mouth open. Her words were so innocent but at the same time they weren't. They were full of mocking innuendos.

"Don't worry." Sweeping past me, she patted me on the arm. "I took good care of him."

A red haze filled my vision. Moving in a flash , I curled my hand around her throat and slammed her into the wall.

Her unpainted nails scraped against my hands as I lifted her and her eyes widened and bulged.

"Stop it, please." She croaked. "I'm his doctor and -" I squeezed and her words were cut off.

"That is enough Cassie." Julian's strong naked arm caught me around the waist and pulled me away. Megan fell to her knees, spluttering.

"Go Megan. I'll -" Julian began to say and I heard Megan scuttle away at full speed before I turned my eyes on my husband. I knew they weren't human. I wasn't even sure they were even my wolf. They felt different because I felt different. My body seemed to sing with energy that had nothing to do with the anger that was coursing through my veins.

"What the hell is wrong with you?" Turning me in his arms Julian scowled at me. "Attacking her like that." Hands on my shoulders he began to shake me. Or at least try. Only this time I was unmoving. Like a rock.

Pulling back my lips I growled.

Julian's eyes widened. "Stop that right now. You are not an animal. I don't know how you managed to lift her like you just did but you need to relearn your control Cassie. Maybe this lack of control is where the boys get it from." He added quietly and I did a double take.

My lack of control?  Had he really just said that?

"She is my doctor and I am sick."

My teeth still bared, I glanced down at his body. The sculpted bare chest and the blue pj bottoms that hung devilishly low on his hips. Almost like he had only just thrown them on. His hair was mussed up.

Had he been naked in there with her? Had to tugged at his hair in pleasure.

Was I a fool for thinking that he would ever put me over her?

I had killed myself for him. I had love him.

Had.

"Did she spend the night with you?" I asked in a whisper.

His eyes widened, "No Cassie. She did not. I called her to come and give me a shot. The ball is tomorrow and I don't want to be sick for it."

I didn't speak.

"She is my doctor and nothing more."

"Ok." My shoulders slumped. "I don't want her in my home." Walking away I felt all the power that had been zapping through my veins drain away. It left me exhausted.

"Cassie, she is just -"

I turned to him and he was so close that we almost collided with each other.

"You are being unreasonable." Catching me around the waist he pulled me into him and I knew what he was going to try to do. He was going to try and kiss me. Like he thought that was the way to make it all better.

"She is just my doctor. I class her as a friend. Can you smell her on me Cassie? Can you?"

I sniffed before I could help myself. No, I couldn't smell her scent on him.

"She is your friend but I am your wife." I said evenly, pulling out of grasp. "I am the mother of the children she tried to kill. I won't have her in my life." I met his eyes unlinking. "And if you must have her in your life, then I won't have you in my life either."