Page 7 of An Enigma for the Lycan Crown Prince

I always listen to what he says, but I won’t stop meeting Flora. I can’t! “But she is nice. I won’t stop meeting her!”

I see his hand coming, but don’t move away fast enough. At least I am prepared for the impact. I stand my ground, relieved he doesn’t knock me off my feet. Usually, he only hits me when I do something wrong. I don’t know what I did wrong this time. Can’t I have a friend?

“Caelum,” Mom says, but nothing else. To my surprise, she looks at him now, though, and through her clouded eyes she looks angry.

“You are making him soft, Carolina,” he says coldly. “He is a prince! My successor. He is Crown Prince to the throne of the Council.”

I can’t remember how often I have heard these words and how little they mean to me. The Council is an organization in Paris; a group of elders and special lycans and werewolves keeping the balance in our world, or something like that. King Quentin has been reigning until recently, before he died. Now, they are waiting for someone to succeed him one day. Apparently, I could make the cut.

When Mom was better, she once told me that I come from one of the five first lycans. It’s the five families that are supposed to rule. I asked why Dad doesn’t. She said he wasn’t blessed by the Goddess. Seems like not every member of the families are. Quentin was, and some children of the newer generation are, and I am. I am a blessed child.

Whatever that means.

It sucks.

I just want to be a normal child. But having a potential successor to the throne was Dad’s entire motivation in having me. He said so himself. That’s why I was born.

“I told you, you are not supposed to play with the commoners,” he huffs. “You are a royal lycan and Crown Prince. If the Council votes for you, you will one day inherit the throne!”

I want to tell him that I don’t care for the throne. But the last time I did, it didn’t end too well for me, so I keep my mouth shut.

“Don’t jeopardize your chances,” he continues. When he isn’t angry, he is cold. “If you need a friend, you can meet with Jace. His father isn’t a royal, but he is a true supporter of my cause. But the children in our pack? You can’t hang out with them. You are supposed to be better than them! Why can’t you just listen for once!?”

“Sanddorn,” Mom mutters.

Dad turns to look at her, his brows furrowed. “What do you mean?”

Mom looks away from him.

“Wait, you mean Hazel Sanddorn’s grandchild?” he inquires, the look in his eyes turning angry when Mom ignores him.

I decide to intervene. “Her name is Flora.”

He looks at me again. “Why didn’t you say that sooner? Flora Sanddorn has many secret gifts and she is part of the prophecy. She is not a full-fledged royal lycan, but she has royal blood in her, through her father’s side . You can meet her. Next time, just say it outright instead of having an attitude.”

I watch him walk off, ignoring Mom completely. Once he is gone, Gamma Tobias comes inside with a bag of ice cubes. He wordlessly presses them against my face. Then he turns to Mom. “Luna,” he says softly, “do you need something?”

Mom shakes her head and reaches out her hand for me. “Flora’s grandma made a cake,” I tell her. “Do you want to eat some with me?”

Mom doesn’t say anything but squeezes my hand. Tobias takes this as a hint and shuffles off to retrieve a few plates. Mom doesn’t eat much, but I still feel she is more responsive than usual. Hopefully, she will recover soon.

three

The Trio

*FLORA*

The daily trip with the school bus is the worst because everyone is on it, and I can’t escape the laughter and the insults. Today though, when Grandma hands me my bag and lunch box and I head out of the door, I’m in for a surprise.

I’m about to make a run for the school bus when I hear a voice behind me.

“Where are you going?”

I turn around, blinking at Elden. “School.”

“We are not taking the bus,” he says.

“We are not?” I ask.