Babysitting The Amnesiac Lycan King

King Novel 48

Chapter 48

Chapter 48

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I swear, if one more person looks at me like I'm a fucking wounded puppy, I'm throwing myself into the damn washtub.

The laundry room smells like damp fabric and cheap detergent, the kind that burns my nose if I inhale too hard. The pile of dirty clothes in front of me is a towering mess of sweat, musk, and poor life choices. I scrub at a shirt so aggressively that my knuckles sting against the washboard, the pain grounding me more than anything else has today.

The pity stares are unbearable. I can feel them drilling into my back, my arms, my still-bandaged hands. Whispered voices scrape at the edges of my patience.

"I heard she's the Omega that was kidnapped."

"She shouldn't even be working yet."

"Did you see her face? Looks like someone dragged her through hell."

They aren't wrong. I did go through hell. And apparently, I came back wearing a

big neon sign that says kick me while I'm down.

Whatever. I don't need their sympathy, and I sure as shit don't need their judgment.

I finish the last of the washing, wringing out a towel so hard I half expect it to snap. As soon as I hang it up, I'm out of there, peeling off the suffocating attention like an itchy sweater. My muscles ache, a dull reminder that I shouldn't be doing this much yet.

Dr. Lisa told me to check in whenever I could, and now seems as good a time as any before the other maids gets another bright idea to send me on some impossible chore.

By the time I reach my room, I'm already mentally preparing myself for the walk to the infirmary. But when I push the door open, I'm met with something unexpected-Enoch is standing near the window. He's not reading as he usually

does.

His book is abandoned on the table, his dark eyes already locked onto mine as if he knew I was coming. He steps forward, closing the distance between us, and without a single word, I know exactly what he's about to do.

"No," I deadpan, already exhausted.

His jaw tightens. Yes.

"No."

He lifts his chin slightly, the stubborn gleam in his gaze making it clear that I have about five seconds to either accept this or be bodily dragged there.

I sigh, pinching the bridge of my nose. "Fine. Whatever. But you're not carrying me or some macho shit like that."

His lips twitch like he wants to smirk. I pretend not to notice.

As I move past him, I reach up and pat his head. "Good boy."

His brows shoot up, but I don't stick around to see his reaction. I'm already walking out the door, and to his credit, he follows without question.

The halls are their usual dreary self-gray stone, flickering torches, the occasional pair of judgmental eyes staring at us. Enoch's presence alone makes people uneasy. He walks with a slow, purposeful stride, a kind of predatory gra people instinctively step out of his way. Must be nice.

We round a corner, and that's when I see her.

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Chapter 48

Seraphina.

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She's leaning against the wall, arms crossed, her expression carefully neutral. But there's something in her eyes, something hesitant, like she actually has to work up the courage to talk to me.

Enoch doesn't hesitate-bis growl is low and immediate, vibrating through the hallway like a warning bell. He knows.

Seraphina stiffens but doesn't back away. "Can I talk to you?" she asks, her voice softer than usual. "Alone."

I glance at Enoch. His shoulders are tense, his body radiating barely restrained aggression. He looks as thugh he wants to rip her throat out, and honestly, I'd probably let him if I weren't so damn tired.

"It's fine," I say, waving him off. "Give us a minute."

He doesn't move.

my

steps away, though not far enough that he couldn't intervene

her weight from

blurts

That was... not what I

taken, and I didn't say anything." Her hands tighten into fists at her sides. "Because I knew if Kallias found you, he'd...

sharp, bitter laugh escapes me. "That's

the first time, I see something genuine there.

admits. "And I-" She hesitates.

anything. I simply...

hell I'm supposed

should hate her. And I

I also don't have the energy to carry

down my face. "Fine. Apology accepted. But don't

that means I

shoulders sag slightly, like she was

and walk

me carefully. I don't say anything, just nod toward the hallway. "Come on." We make it to the infirmary without another interruption, and the

sighs. "Taryn, I swear, if you keep pushing

fine," I say

to sit while she

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Chapter 48

but no longer the shredded

approval. "Looks better than

her eyes slide

He stiffens

93%

by all logic, your memories should be back." She

Silence.

remains blank, his body

eyes

And so do L

The silence stretches.

A presence of its own, pressing against my

of something unseen but

in the air

they?" I ask again to

Enoch just

can hear the slow tick of the infirmary's shitty clock over the sound of

hammering in my ears. His expression is unreadable-stone-cold, carefully crafted. But his fingers

Then, finally-

"No."

single fucking word.

something like relief

trying to push away the doubt creeping in. "But it happens. Maybe I miscalculated the

bullshit under her breath, already dismissing it as nothing. And just like

Not for me, though.

something about this feels...

meet my

He's lying.

deep beneath my skin. The way he' second too long

' himself just a

cost him

Lisa gives us some half-assed instructions

the next thing in her day.

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Chapter 48

too full of

infirmary, the door clicking

empty. It's just us.

say anything. Neither

I grab

wait for an answer. I

He follows. No hesitation.

we don't