The Princess's Revenge Chapter 57

Valencia’s POV

A servant organizing herbs near the medicine cabinet hurried forward, his face filled with concern. "Dr. Vance isn't here," he said quickly. "He took Lucian and Macsen to the western crypt. They're laying Gamma Xander to rest."

Leif's face darkened with confusion as he looked at me. "Gamma Xander? What happened to him?"

"He's dead. Dorian killed him." I responded curtly.

"Dorian?" Leif's eyes widened with shock. "Beta Dorian?"

"There's no time to explain," I said urgently. "I'll go get Dr. Vance. You need to get Alpha Logan onto a bed."

A wounded warrior with bandages around his foot struggled to stand from a nearby bed. "Here," he said weakly, gesturing to his mattress. "The Alpha can have my place."

Leif nodded, gently placing Alpha Logan on the bed.

I turned and ran back toward my horse, my heart racing with desperation. Alpha Logan's breathing was getting worse.

I spurred horse toward the western side of the castle, riding as fast as I dared. The wind whipped through my hair as we galloped across the rough ground.

The crypt entrance came into view ahead. Ancient weathered stones formed an arched entrance. Even from a distance, I could smell the musty scent of herbs and ceremonial oils.

As I rode closer, I saw three figures emerging from the shadowy entrance. Dr. Vance climbed the stone steps first. Behind him came his helpers, probably Lucian and Macsen, both carrying empty cloth bundles that had probably held burial wrappings.

"Dr. Vance!" I shouted, spurring my horse faster across the rough ground.

He looked up in complete shock, his eyes widening as he recognized me. "Valencia?" he called back, confusion clear in his voice. "What are you doing here? I thought you went to find Alpha Logan."

"Alpha Logan is at the stone house!" I cried out as I reached them, my voice cracking with urgency. "He's hurt! He needs help right now!"

Dr. Vance's face went white. "What? How is that possible?"

"Please!" I gasped, leaning down from my saddle. "Get on the horse! I'll take you back! There's no time to explain!"

Without hesitation, Dr. Vance grabbed my extended hand and swung up behind me. Lucian and Macsen stepped back, their faces confusing.

"Macsen, return to the castle and tell everyone Alpha Logan has returned!" Dr. Vance commanded the left one.

Lucian mounted his horse and followed behind us. I kicked the horse hard, sending us racing back toward the stone house. Dr. Vance's arms wrapped around my waist to keep from falling as we galloped across the uneven terrain.

"What happened?" Dr. Vance shouted over the thunder of hooves.

"Alpha Logan rode back alone!" I called back, my voice nearly lost in the wind. "He was covered in blood, barely conscious! There was a body tied to his horse - Clarence is dead!"

"Clarence?" Dr. Vance's voice was thick with shock. "Dear Moon Goddess."

"That's not all!" I continued, tears streaming down my face from the wind and emotion. "There was a severed head in his saddlebag! Someone ambushed them! And Leif destroyed the antidote bottle I tried to give Alpha Logan!"

"He what?" Dr. Vance roared with fury.

"He knocked it from my hands! He thought I was trying to poison Alpha Logan! The wolfsbane is still in his system!"

Dr. Vance cursed under his breath, his grip tightening around my waist. "How long ago did he return?"

"Maybe twenty minutes!" I replied. "Dr. Vance, he looked so weak. His breathing was shallow, and his eyes weren't focusing properly!"

"We'll get there in time," Dr. Vance said firmly, though I could hear the worry in his voice.

The stone house came into view ahead. I pulled the horse to a stop outside the building and both Dr. Vance and I dismounted quickly. "This way!" I said, rushing toward the entrance.

Inside, the wounded patients and servants all turned to stare as we entered. Their expressions showed a mixture of relief at seeing Dr. Vance and fear about Alpha Logan's condition.

"Where is he?" Dr. Vance demanded.

"Here," Leif called from the corner, where Alpha Logan lay motionless on a bed that had been cleared for him.

Dr. Vance rushed to Alpha Logan's side, and I followed closely behind. My heart clenched as I saw Alpha Logan's face up close. His skin was pale and clammy with sweat, and his brow was furrowed in what looked like distress.

"Alpha," I whispered, reaching out instinctively.

"Don't touch him yet," Dr. Vance said gently, beginning his examination.

He lifted Alpha Logan's eyelids, checking his pupils. Then he pressed his fingers against Alpha Logan's neck, feeling for his pulse. He examined Alpha Logan's tongue, pulling back his lips to check the color of his gums.

"His pulse is weak but steady," Dr. Vance murmured, more to himself than to us. "Pupils are responsive. Skin is cool and pale - classic wolfsbane symptoms."

I caught a glimpse of Leif's face - his expression was troubled. Stupid asshole. I cursed him in mind.

Alpha Logan's face contorted suddenly, his head turning from side to side on the pillow. A low moan escaped his lips, and his hands clenched into fists.

"Is he having nightmares? " I asked, my heart breaking at the sight of his obvious distress. "What is he dreaming about?"

"The wolfsbane can cause vivid, disturbing dreams," Dr. Vance explained, reaching for his medicine bag. "His mind is trying to process whatever trauma he experienced while his body fights the poison."

I watched Alpha Logan's face twist with what looked like anguish. "He's in pain," I whispered.

"Not physical pain," Dr. Vance said gently. "But emotional pain can be just as real."

Dr. Vance pulled out a bottle of Moon's Grace and carefully measured half of it into a small cup. "Help me lift his head," he instructed.

I gently cradled Alpha Logan's head while Dr. Vance poured the antidote between his lips. Most of it went down, though some trickled from the corner of his mouth.

"Good," Dr. Vance said. "Now we wait for it to take effect."

He reached into his bag again and pulled out several small vials filled with different colored liquids. "Willow bark extract for any pain," he explained as he worked. "Valerian to restore his strength. And honey wine with herbs to help him sleep peacefully."

I watched in tense silence as Dr. Vance administered each remedy, my eyes never leaving Alpha Logan's face. His breathing seemed to be getting stronger, but the furrow in his brow remained.

"Dr. Vance," Finch's respectful voice interrupted from behind us. "I need to tell you something important."

"What is it?"

"Clarence is dead," Finch said gravely. "His body was tied to Alpha Logan's horse. But there's something else. We found a severed head in Alpha Logan's saddlebag."

Around us, the wounded patients and servants who had overheard gasped and began whispering among themselves.

"Valencia had told me." Dr. Vance’s voice barely above a whisper.

Finch glanced at me. "We don't recognize the face, but it's clearly been cut clean off. Someone Alpha Logan killed."

"Where is it now?" Dr. Vance asked, his face pale.

"Still in the saddlebag outside," Finch said.

"Leif, you keep an eye on Alpha." Dr. Vance looked down at Alpha Logan's unconscious form, then back at Finch. "Show us," he said grimly.

I followed Dr. Vance and Finch outside, my stomach churning with dread. The saddlebag was stained with dark blood, and I could smell the metallic scent even from several feet away.

"It's in here," Finch said, his voice tight with disgust as he opened the leather flap.

He reached inside carefully and pulled out the head that made my stomach lurch. The neck ending in a ragged, bloody stump. The dead eyes stared sightlessly ahead, and blood had congealed in the dark hair.

Dr. Vance stumbled backward, his face going white as chalk. "Ze... Zephyr," he stammered, his usual calm composure completely shattered.