TYPHONE

  I sighed, closing the door of the tea room. I walked ahead of Leonis, rolling back my shoulders.

  "What happened?" I asked, having a feeling that it was not my health he was after, but something else.

  "We caught someone trying to carry a crate of wild wolf pups. The pups were released back into the forest for their mother to find. The man is underground." Leonis said, matching my pace.

  I was rushing towards the underground, wanting to squeeze the man for information. I knew, though, that he would not speak up immediately. I had to think of a plan to make him talk.

  "Was there a panic when you caught him? Like... were there others who saw him being caught?" I glanced back at Leonis who was looking up at me with a serious look.

  "No one. This guy was on his way to deliver the crate towards the border, but one of our men caught him." Leonis explained and I nodded.

  "Good. I don't want anyone of them to be alerted. One man can't hurt, right?" I smirked to myself.

  "Yes, Your Majesty." Was Leonis's answer.

  Today was cold and I was already pissed when I was woken up by Grimore and the others while snuggling with Avery. I decided to let out my frustration with the captured man who was locked in the dungeon under the palace.

  Let's see what excuse you have to make up.

  **********

  It was dark and cold under the palace, perfect for questioning potential criminals. Leonis and I walked down the spiral stairs that led to the underground.

  Once we reached the bottom, Leonis unlocked the metal door where the cells were. I entered and glanced at the empty cells except for one. On my right, the middle cell, sat a man who was disheveled. He had a swollen cheek and a black eye. I stood in front of the cell.

  "So... wild wolf pups, huh? A bold choice, I would say." I coldly stated.

  The man looked up at me. His eyes widened and fear was etched on his face. He moved back to the wall of the cell.

  I ushered Leonis to open the cell and once he did, I stepped inside. The man cowered, quivering in fear as he curled on himself on the floor.

  "I'm begging you! Don't hurt me! I-I only did wh-what I was t-told!" The man exclaimed.

  "You dare talk to His Majesty that way!" Leonis hissed, lurching forward to attack the man.

  I held my arm out, stopping him. I glanced back at him.

  "Don't," I said then I looked back at the man, "Tell me. Who was ordering you around?"

  "I-I don't know! I don't r-really know!" He screamed.

  This guy is lying. He flinched the moment I asked who.

  "Really? You're taking orders from someone you don't know?" I scoffed, trying to rile up the guy.

  "I swear! H-He just gave u-us a list of the m-monsters we should capture!"

  The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation.

  A list? How does that person know what monsters are lurking here in Lazarith?

  I grabbed the man by his collar and glared down at him. I felt furious about the thought of a traitor within the kingdom.

  "What list?" I growled.

  "O-Our leader hands out a-a list! H-He gives it t-to us d-during the operation!" He was trembling and tears started streaming down his face.

  Pathetic.

  I threw the man and rolled back my shoulders, letting out a cracking sound. I glared menacingly at the man who curled on himself again.

  "Keep him here until he spits out who is their leader or whoever is giving them orders." I ordered Leonis. I looked at him, "Just don't kill him. We need him to talk."

  "Yes, Your Majesty." Leonis bowed.

  I heard the metal doors shut close and the key clicking. I walked ahead, heading back up to my bedroom.

  "Your next orders, Your Majesty?" Leonis asked.

  "Show him the hospitality of Lazarith. I wouldn't want him dying on me without giving me answers." I said coldly.

  I'll make sure he spits it out one way or another.

  **********

  "It seems that you're body temperature rose quite a bit, Your Majesty." The physician noted as he glared at me and added, "I wonder why that is."

  Avery was sitting beside my bed as I laid comfortably. My arm was draped on my eye as I suddenly felt sluggish and tired. I sighed softly.

  "I was only up for a few minutes. I managed to get some sleep. Don't worry about it." I tried to assure our physician, but he did not believe me.

  "Please see to it that His Majesty gets proper rest, Grimore. If not, I might ask him to stay in bed for a few more days." The physician reminded Grimore.

  "Alright. I'll make sure of that. Thank you, sir!" Grimore replied.

  "I shall see you in a few days, Your Majesty." The physician bid, bowing to me before leaving my room.

  I sighed again, "He's worrying too much."

  "Well, you went out with less clothing earlier. You were still not feeling well and you decided to run around the palace." Avery reprimanded.

  "It wasn't a big deal. I was fine." I stubbornly reasoned.

  "Yeah. But look at where it got you," She huffed, standing up and glaring down at me, "Don't worry about other things for now. You should get some rest."

  "Maybe I could get some proper rest if you slept beside me." I teased, taking a peek at her reaction from under my arm. I grinned mischievously.

  Avery turned red. She gasped then in an instant, I felt a pillow hit me. I grunted. She grabbed the pillow beside me and smacked it onto me.

  "Just get some rest already. My goodness." She hissed and stormed out of my room.

  I chuckled, removing the pillow and looking at the door. Grimore sighed.

  "You're teasing Her Majesty too much, Your Majesty." He grumbled, walking towards me. He placed a cold washcloth on my forehead to normalize my body temperature.

  "She's just too adorable." I groaned at the feeling of the cool cloth on my skin.

  "But... aren't you worried that she might get annoyed, Your Majesty?" He asked.

  "Hmm... I never thought of that."

  Grimore shook his head before sitting on the seat where Avery was earlier. It seemed like he has something to report. I closed my eyes.

  "What is it?" I asked, serious.

  "It's about the new eggs you brought back a few days ago, Your Majesty." He began. I opened one and looked at him.

  "What about it?"

  "They're about to hatch, but... it seemed like... Calagon is already imprinting on them." Grimore explained, almost hesitantly.

  There was silence. No one spoke for a few minutes. Grimore was looking at me apologetically and I stared at him in shock.

  "What...?"

  Shit. This can't be true. If those dragons imprint on Calagon, it will be harder to bring him to my missions.

  "You can't be serious, Grimore." I said, chuckling,

  "I'm not kidding, Your Majesty! One of the caretakers said that she just left to pick up some blankets for the eggs, but when she came back, the eggs were nowhere to be found." Grimore explained.

  "Where were the fucking eggs, then?" I hissed.

  "Well... another caretaker said that he saw Calagon making a nest. Then, he placed the eggs on it before sleeping beside them." He sniffled as I grabbed his collar.

  I sighed softly. I did not realize that I sat up and lunged at Grimore. I laid back down. Grimore fixed the washcloth on my forehead. I thought for a minute before looking at Grimore.

  "It'll be hard to take those eggs away from Calagon. He gets very possessive of his belongings." I said, then an idea popped.

  "Tell Leonis that I order him to take the eggs from Calagon." I ordered.

  "I will rely the message to him, Your Majesty," Grimore enthusiastically said and bowed, "Get some rest now, Your Majesty."

  Grimore left and I just laid in bed, body hot and a cold washcloth on my forehead.

  I just hope he can retrieve those eggs.