4.
1829 Words
“Arabella..”
Sighing in exasperation, Arabella grimaced annoyed at the closed door, ignoring Theor's persistent knocking.
She wasn't at all surprised when he burst into her room shortly thereafter, unceremoniously, having received no response.
Just gave him a cold look before returning to her reflection in the mirror.
"It's getting late." Warned her Theor, with his usual rough and unfriendly ways.
"I'm capable of going down the stairs Theor so go ahead." Replied Arabella, continuing to brush her hair, without paying particular attention to him.
“We have to go.” informed her Theor, dryly. “You have five minutes.” He then warned her coldly, before walking out, slamming the door behind him.
“As if I care…” snorted she dryly but hurried her hair up in a high ponytail anyway and then stood up to check her appearance.
She knew Theor would have been able to carry her if she wouldn’t come down in time so, after the five minutes he had given her, Arabella decided to join him downstairs.
Instead, Theor was waiting for her outside her rooms and the look he gave her while checking his watch, made her hold back a sigh but Arabella just ignored him.
Thinking that, all of a sudden, the prospect of spending a few days in the hospital didn't seem so unpleasant anymore.
At least she would avoid running into Theor and her siblings for a while.
However, Arabella was still rather irritated, and the idea of undergoing useless medical tests didn't smiled much at her.
She hated hospitals.
And being locked up.
With August drawing to a close, summer was nearing its end and soon the kingdom would be plunged into autumn dullness before and a long, inclement winter then, until the next April.
Arabella hated winter and always looked forward to the long summer days, warm and sunny, scented with flowers and boundless blue skies.
The idea of spending the next few days indoors, instead of outdoors enjoying the end of that summer, didn't appeal to her but as she descended, lost in her own thoughts, Arabella remembered other reasons why in fact maybe that inconvenience wasn't necessarily a bad thing.
She could have withdrawn from her daily workouts for a few days, there would have been no one to nag her into behaving more like a royal princess, and maybe Arabella could even avoid next week's visit to the Black Crow.
She didn't really looked out at the prospect of that trip.
But doubted that her father would let her escape it.
After all, Dragan was to become Alpha of the Black Crow in just over a week and obviously the whole kingdom had been invited to take part in his coronation ceremony.
The idea really didn't appeal to her, howewer.
"Are you ready?"
Waiting for her at the foot of the stairs, Dragan smiled at her as Arabella joined him.
“Do I have any other choice?”
“It will only be for a few days.” Replied her brother, nodding to Theor that preceded them outside. "You will do some tests, will rest for some time and then you will be back home." Added Dragan as he opened the door for her.
"Home." she replied with a grimace but catching her brother's gaze didn't bother to add anything else, Dragan knew exactly what she thought about it. "Shouldn't you already be back at the Black Crow, preparing for your big day?" she asked instead, trying to ignore the annoyance that pervaded her, finding in the courtyard of the castle three large SUVs waiting for her and a group of Black Moon warriors ready to accompany her in great pomp to the hospital.
“I will be leaving in a few days.”
"Look, if it's up to me there's no need to bother you so much." Arabella informed him annoyed when Theor directed her to a car and opened the door for her to get in. "I'm fine and then don't you miss your beautiful princess?"
"Lavena is worried about you too, she wanted to come with me to see you." Dragan informed her with a smile that got on her nerves.
Her brother had turned into a complete i***t since he found his mate.
For Lavena he had given up his family and his inheritance, including the reins of the Black Moon.
Every time he mentioned her, his gaze lit up, almost making Arabella feel nauseous.
She really didn't understood how physical attraction could change two people who didn't even knew each other before.
She refused to think it was love, the Mate Bond, and wished with all her heart that she would never have to succumb to those ridiculous feelings.
"Kind of her even if as I said I don't really understand the need." Replied Arabella, sighing irritably. “I just passed out for a moment, and you heard the doctors yourself, I'm fine.”
"Doing some more thorough examination won't hurt you and then dad is very worried, do it for him if nothing else."
"Worried? Why would he?” huffed Arabella. “What does he think might happen to me..” she added sarcastically but catching Dragan's eye realized she had touched a sensitive spot. “What?” she asked him therefore, dryly.
"Isadore…" replied her brother, making her frown.
“What does Isadore have to do with it now…?” asked Arabella in frustration but then fell silent as the realization hit her. "It's just ridiculous!" asserted annoyed. “Isadore was a princess of the Moon and she died because she used all her powers to protect her pack and her Alpha.” commented dryly Arabella. "I just passed out for a moment, for goodness sake!"
"I know but we’re still worried anyway, the exams you'll take will give us the answers."
“It's just ridiculous, who was the one to put this nonsense in dad’s head? I would really like to thank him…”
"Don't look at me." Denied Dragan, amused by her fervent tone. "And anyway, I thought you'd be happy to skip some training sessions." Added her brother, knowing her well.
“If that's why I was even thinking about skipping your ceremony, would you mind?” replied irritated Arabella.
"Lavena would be disappointed, she wants to have you there."
"Yes, of course." murmured contritely Arabella, looking away from Dragan to focus on the surroundings as the off-road vehicle was cruising the streets of the Black Moon capital, attracting curious glances.
As it was to be expected, considering that useless and showy procession which she discovered in spite of herself, it was nothing compared to the welcome she found waiting for her once they arrived at the hospital.
The Black Moon warriors who had preceded them with Theor, had cordoned off the air in the entrance, and at the door a line of scrubbed doctors waited to welcome her.
It was the hospital director himself who greeted them when Theor had ushered her out of the car.
"Princess Arabella." he greeted her with great pomp before turning to Dragan with whom he exchanged a few words while she looked around, holding back a frustrated sigh.
"Please, this way.."
Once the formalities were over, Arabella, Dragn and Theor were guided inside the structure, followed closely by a group of warriors of the Black Moon and catching the looks that she saw from behind the ajar doors, Arabella felt herself sinking.
She had always hated the pompous treatment that had always been meted out to her by virtue of her status and after nineteen years she still found hard to accept the deference with which people treated her.
Which was why she had lived her life in complete solitude, escaping the company of others, tired of false courtesy and forced smiles.
"Your room." informed Dr. Martrell, the director of the hospital who Arabella discovered was the father of the younger Dr. Mortrell, that had visited her at the castle.
Looking around, Arabella tried hard not to show her displeasure as she noticed the various medical equipment scattered throughout the luxurious suite that had been reserved for her in the private wing of the hospital.
Aside from the IV and hypodermoclysis pole that hung above the bed with a steel clip file holder, a folding screen for changing and a medical trolley holder, the room was large, bright and comfortable.
With a pleasant view of the garden.
"Is everything to your liking?" inquired Dr. Mortrell as Arabella glanced at the hospital gown folded over the bed.
“Yes, thank you.” she nodded, making an effort to sound polite and grateful.
“Can we do anything else to make you comfortable?” asked her the director, exaggerating his attentions.
"I'm hungry." Replied Arabella as she stopped contemplating the outside view to give Dr. Mortrell a suggestive look.
"Sure." nodded the doctor with a smile. "Dr. Bertram will give you a quick blood sample and then one of our kind nurses will bring you dinner." Dr. Martrell promised her, nodding to a colleague of his, in her sixties who promptly stepped forward with a kind smile.
"Thank you." Answered Arabella as a nurse went to get the necessary for the blood sample she'd been told about.
"I guess it's time to say goodbye." Commented Dragan while her room finally began to empty. "I'll come back to see you tomorrow." promised her his brother when they were alone.
Alone with the irritating exception of Theor who stood stiffly in the doorway.
"If you really can't help it." replied absently Arabella, intent on glancing at the bathroom attached to her room.
“Will you be okay?” asked her concerned Dragan when she was back in the room.
"I'm nineteen." answered dryly Arabella.
“You never liked hospitals.” Commented her brother.
"I'll try to survive for a couple of days." Replied she with a shrug. “It's getting late..” added then Arabella, staring at him intently.
"Got it, I'm leaving." Replied Dragan, smiling in amusement.
"And take him away too." Arabella begged him with a nod to Theor, still motionless in the doorway, with an inscrutable gaze on his face. "And Theor…" Arabella added before dismissing him. “There's no need to come back to see me in the next few days, I'd like to take the opportunity to rest, if you know what I mean.” She asked him dryly. “Or should I be more explicit?” inquired Arabella as she was stared back with stolid indifference.
"We'll try not to disturb you." Promised Dragan, amused, before the two took their leave.
Her disagreements and displeasure with Theor worried no one at Black Moon.
Because everyone knew that while she usually got everything she wanted, her father had been peremptory when he had entrusted her safety to Theor Dewood.
Despite herself, Arabella could not get herself rid of Theor annoying presence.
- Writer
