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.

tilt my

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

weight from foot to foot. She's

blurts out.

at her. That

avoiding my gaze. "I knew where you were. Or at least-I knew you hadn't just run away. I saw you being taken, and I didn't say anything."

escapes me. "That's what this was about? Your

mine, and for the first time, I see

"And I-" She hesitates. "I'm

anything. I simply... stare at

hell I'm supposed to do

should hate her.

I also don't have the energy to

down my face. "Fine. Apology

means I want anything to do with

shoulders sag slightly, like she was expecting that. "Fair

and walk away

just nod toward the hallway. "Come on." We make it to the infirmary without another

sighs. "Taryn, I swear, if

I

it. Instead, she gestures for me to sit while she carefully removes the bandages.

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Chapter 48

still raw in places, but no longer the shredded mess

hums in approval. "Looks better than I

eyes slide to Enoch. "Your

He stiffens

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you're completely healed now. Which means, by all logic, your memories should

Silence.

remains blank, his

eyes narrow slightly. She knows something's

And so do L

The silence stretches.

its own, pressing against my chest with

unseen but deeply.

Lisa's question lingers in the air like a

they?" I ask

just sits there,

swear, I can hear the slow tick of the infirmary's

hammering in my ears. His expression is unreadable-stone-cold, carefully crafted. But his fingers twitch slightly on his knee, the only sign of life in his otherwise still

Then, finally-

"No."

word. Quiet,

something like relief loosening her

she's trying to push away

already dismissing it as nothing. And just

Not for me, though.

something about this

meet my

He's lying.

know-I just do. Like an itch I can't scratch, buried deep beneath my skin. The way he' second too long before answering. The

' himself just a

cost him

Lisa gives us some half-assed instructions and waves us off, already

the next thing in her day.

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Chapter 48

head's too full of

the door clicking shot

empty. It's just us.

anything.

I grab his

don't wait for an answer.

He follows. No hesitation.

border is long, but we don't talk.