Chapter 723 - RETURN

"Leave it there," Lilac said to the servant to leave a basin filled with water and a washcloth that she was bringing. "All of you can leave now."

It had been two days since Jedrek absent from morning court because his condition was still not stable and Lilac was very adamant for him to stay inside his chamber and recuperate. Strangely enough, Jedrek didn't complain so much about this, probably because he finally realized that his condition did not allow him to appear in public.

During these two days, his other's generals had been bothering Lilac to meet with Jedrek, only when the king was giving them a warning through the mind- link, they ultimately stopped coming and complaining. Lilac was grateful for that. It seems that their relationship showed some progress, although it was very far to say that they were on the same page in every decision, but at least the debate between them had lessened a little.

Lilac watched the servants left the room and closed the door behind them, only then she opened walked toward the bed and opened the curtain that blocked Jedrek from people to see him, even now Lilac didn't allow anyone, including, Eaton and Tordoff to stay inside the room, not even Lyrus, Jedrek's, beta was an exception. The last time he visited and Lilac refused him, his complain could be heard even after his figure had disappeared at the corner.

Whether Jedrek was conscious or not when he warned Lilac, but the guardian angel wanted to be on the safe side.

Jedrek looked better now, but his wounds still made Lilac worry every time she watched it.

"Open your clothes, I will wipe your back," Lilac said and Jedrek had taken off his clothes before Lilac could put the basin.

"Did the eastern region know about Maximus's death?" Jedrek asked when Lilac started to wipe his arm. It felt so good to have skin to skin contact with her. He couldn't deny that he enjoyed her company.

"No words from Killian." Lilac replied, she did her job diligently and never raised her head to meet Jedrek's eyes.

"Send Eaton to the east if tomorrow still there is no news from him." Even though Jedrek was inside his chamber for two days straight and never met anyone else except Lilac, but he could still gain information through mind- link. All his generals took turns reporting what happened in the city and other domains to him.

But, sometime Lilac would report the same thing and Jedrek would listen. Since they had never really had an interesting topic to be discussed, then these tedious problems could help too, so they wouldn't stay silence in the entire day.

"Okay," Lilac agreed. "I will meet Maximus's mate this afternoon."

"Hm," Jedrek hummed and gave Lilac his other hand.

"After that, I will go to the city." Lilac lifted her head to see Jedrek's expression, but he showed no emotion.

"Take Sebastian with you and a few guards." Jedrek said.

Situation in the city was a little tense, people started to ask about the progress of their missing family members and became a little bit violence, especially people from the city center, since the first case happened there.

"I will go with Tordoff," Lilac said. Tordoff was adamant to accompany her to the city once he heard about her plan.

"Sebastian." It was final, Jedrek didn't leave any room for negotiation. And when Jedrek saw Lilac was about to reason with him, he reminded her. "I have told you to stay away from him."

Lilac sighed and then nodded. Of course, she remembered. It was the day when they agreed to work on this relationship. She didn't want to be the first person who broke their agreement. "I will go with Sebastian."

"Bring Lyrus with you too," Jedrek added.

"And? Who else?" Lilac asked sullenly. She couldn't understand, why they always thought she was not able to protect herself and needed protection all the time. "Will you ask Kyle and Warlock to join too?"

"Warlock and Kyle have another matter to take care of," Jedrek said simply. Instinctively, he dodged Lilac's hand when she was about to wipe his neck and took the washcloth from her hand.

Neck was a vulnerable spot and Jedrek would never let anyone to touch him there, not even Lilac. Not yet.

============== 

Lana frowned when she saw all the lights in the house on. Lana opened the gates and walked into the front yard, as she could hear a few people were talking inside the house.

Had Serefina returned?

If she had returned, it meant… Kace was also there!

Lana closed her eyes and she could smell Kace's scent in the air, along with other foreign scents, but there was one particular scent that made her beast whimpered on the edge of her head.

She opened her eyes and watched Kace emerged from the house with a plastic bag in his hand while grumbling.

Second later, Kace's eyes found Lana and he approached her. "What are you doing there?" he asked as if they just met with each other yesterday.

In the past, though Kace was often away, but he would call Lana to ask about Hope. However, this past year, there was no word from Kace and Lana couldn't hold back herself when she hugged him tightly.

"I miss you…" Lana said between her sobs and this caught Kace out off guard. His naïve mind thought that Lana had gotten rid of her feeling for him, after all, it had been a year without communication whatsoever.

"Lana." Kace frowned. The plastic bag in his hand dropped to the ground, he was not sure whether he had to reciprocate her gesture or not. In the end, Kace just gave her pat on her shoulder. "Go inside, Hope misses you."

"I miss you…" Lana insisted. "Where have you been?"

However, their moment was interrupted when they heard a vicious growl from behind Kace's back.

And there, on the foyer was Raphael with red eyes.