Fangless: The Alpha's Vampire Mate
Chapter 74: Hope and Despair

Chapter 74: Hope and Despair

"Riona joining the Royal Guard?" Puck exclaimed.

"That’s what he said," Thorin replied, pressing his palm against Florian’s forehead to check his temperature before sitting on the sofa.

Puck widened his eyes in disbelief. "His Majesty decided that?"

"It certainly seemed that way to me. Otherwise, why would he even mention it?" Thorin shrugged.

He spoke casually about it, but deep down, he was worried. If King Valentin had offered Riona a well-paying position, she might reconsider leaving the palace.

Joining the Royal Guard would provide comfort for her and Florian, allowing them to live outside the palace walls.

And if Riona gave up her wish to leave the palace, what sweet offer could Thorin give her to ensure that she wanted to come with him to Wintertooth?

Thorin’s time in the Kingdom of Eira was limited. News of his visit had reached the Zacharia clan, and before long, Aunt Nina would appear before him to demand an answer.

If she couldn’t find him in Wintertooth, she would come to this kingdom. When it happened, it would spark a war between vampires and werewolves.

"There was so much backlash over Riona’s admission to the Nightwarden, despite the clear evidence of her win. Her joining the Royal Guard will definitely cause an even bigger uproar," Puck observed.

Thorin nodded and replied, "Yeah."

"So, what are you going to do next?"

The Alpha didn’t reply immediately. He was lost in thought, calculating his best course of action—one that wouldn’t hurt Riona or Florian but still allowed him to achieve his goals.

***

Thorin stayed by Florian’s side almost constantly, leaving only for bathroom breaks and brief moments to indulge in a bed of freshly picked flowers. He even took his meals in Florian’s room to keep a close watch.

King Valentin kept his word. Shortly after Thorin’s meeting with him, a physician with magical abilities examined Florian.

The young vampire’s fractured bones were mended, but his broken leg required additional spells, healing potions, and rest. Perhaps that was why Florian had not yet woken up.

During those times, Thorin sent Puck to deliver updates about Florian’s condition to Riona. Though the Alpha wanted to see her himself, he refrained, unable to bear the sight of her tears without being able to help.

"Come on, buddy, you can do it. You can recover from this. You must," Thorin whispered to Florian, who lay with his eyes closed.

At times, Thorin noticed Florian seemed to be having nightmares. The boy would wriggle in his sleep, clenching the bed sheets and drenched in sweat. His eyes were moving rapidly beneath his eyelids.

Thorin would rush to him, patting him gently. If that didn’t work, he’d hold the boy’s hand and whisper soothing words to calm him down.

Sometimes, Florian would scream and cry. Thorin would wipe his tears and hold his hand until he calmed down.

One day, about two weeks after the incident, the unconscious Florian had visitors—Riona and King Valentin. Though calling the king a visitor seemed odd, as he acted more like a guardian or a prison guard.

King Valentin stood near the door with his arms behind his back, looking at the bed as if the boy lying there was a stranger to him.

Riona rushed to the bed, kneeling beside it and burying her face in the sheets. Her trembling hand reached for Florian’s unmoving hand, but she hesitated, afraid that her shaking might wake him.

She pressed her forehead against Florian’s and closed her eyes, seemingly praying for his recovery. Though Thorin didn’t know it, Riona was indeed praying.

She begged the ancestor who spoke to her to help her brother. She pleaded and promised to do whatever the ancestor asked. She would marry Thorin and leave for Wintertooth if the ancestor would help Florian now.

Gritting her teeth, Riona composed herself before asking, "How is he?"

Thorin approached the bed and sat near Florian’s feet. "His arm is as good as new, but his leg needs more time to recover. The important thing is that we wait until he wakes up," he said.

The news didn’t give much comfort to Thorin, who watched over Florian daily and saw little improvement. But for Riona, seeing her brother with her own eyes after only receiving updates from others meant everything.

Her eyes sparkled with a mix of sadness and hope. She was undoubtedly upset, but the hope was undeniable.

"Your Majesty," she said, turning to the king, who still stood idly near the door. He hadn’t moved an inch. "Thank you for allowing me to see my brother."

The king said nothing. His eyes remained emotionless. Thorin couldn’t understand the king’s intentions and why he had come to accompany Riona himself.

Did he know no guard could handle her? But he could have easily cast a spell around Riona to prevent her from going berserk or ordered Sir Orlo, the only person Riona listened to.

After that day, Riona’s visits became more frequent, and each time, King Valentin would be there. It was almost suffocating for Thorin, but seeing Riona’s joyful face at being allowed to see Florian made it worth it.

Thorin also made time to visit Riona’s room. In the king’s absence, he could talk more freely about Florian’s condition. He shared details about Florian’s nightmares and asked if Riona knew anything about them.

"I don’t know. I’m really a bad sister. I didn’t even know he was having nightmares. How long has this been going on, and why didn’t he tell me?" Riona said, intertwining her fingers and keeping her head low.

"Since your visits, his nightmares have become less frequent. Even though he hasn’t woken up, I think he knows you’re there. It seems to help," Thorin said.

Riona smiled bitterly but said nothing.

"Hey, are you alright?" Thorin leaned forward, studying her face. She seemed a bit down, which was understandable given everything she had been through.

"I’m okay. I just want Florian to wake up soon," she said weakly.

Two days later, Riona’s prayers were answered. Florian woke up.