The Prince's Guard

He pushed the heavy door and instantly a hive of activity met him. Healers rushed around, there was a group of guards standing to the side, clear concern on their faces.

“You really can leave,” Jesse was saying in front of the group.

“All the same to you, Gamma, we’re staying,” Adam spoke up.

“Jess, let ’em.” Callum gave him a soft smile.

“Just, stay out of the way.” Jesse turned, clearly relenting. “Chris,” there was a note of relief in his tone, “Through here.” He gestured to the door that held the private suites.

Finally, he found Jaxson on a bed in a small room, “Jax?”

His head turned from the wall that it looked like he’d been staring at. “Chris,” he croaked, lifting his arm slowly out to him.

He approached somewhat cautiously, this was the second time he was seeing Jaxson looking not very healthy in an infirmary bed. “Are you OK?” he asked a little lamely, entwining their fingers as soon as he could.

“Course, picture of perfection.”

“Doesn’t look that way to me,” Chris replied bluntly.

“Thanks, baby.” He cracked a chipped smile his way. “It’s just wolfsbane… a lot of it.”

“Have they done blood tests?”

“Yeah, waiting for the results.” Jaxson softly patted the mattress next to him allowing Chris to perch.

“I was so worried,” Chris grabbed his hand again.

“Same. What happened?”

Chris relayed what he remembered, which admittedly, still wasn’t much.

Jaxson groaned as he shifted in the bed a little, “Can you remember any of the spell?”

“No… just… she told me to tell the truth.”

“What weren’t you telling the truth about?”

“I’m more polite than I want to be. I hate mushrooms but pretend I like them. I hate the decoration in my suite. I can’t stand crow-”

“Alright… alright… I think it was some kind of truth spell, it could be working.”

“What do you mean?”

“Tell me I look fine, that I can leave the infirmary.”

“But you look atrocious.”

“Try again.”

“You look… you look-” he just needed to say fine, just like yesterday… he couldn’t say it. “Shit.”

“Not the worst thing.” Jaxson’s shoulders shrugged a fraction, making him wince.

“Stay still. What happened?”

“Woke up in a tree. Don’t know what happened before that, or who took me before you ask.”

“Me either… I didn’t recognise them. Apart from one voice… but can’t place it.”

“The guards will work it out,” Jaxson reassured.

“What if they don’t? We haven’t really got anything to go on.”

“Shh, worry about it later. You’re alive. All I care about.” Jaxson’s eyes slid shut, his pain evident.

“Can I get you anything? Have you eaten?” Chris fretted.

“Said they’re getting me something. I know bane hurts but…”

“I’m sorry.”

“Don’t. Not your fault.”

Chris gently stroked his bare forearm, knowing his nerves would be sensitive. “Sure there’s nothing I can get you? Clothes?”

“Just… stay here.”

Chris nodded as the door opened. “So… oh, Your Highness.” Doctor James gave a small incline of his head in respect. “I’ve got the results.”

“Say it, Doc.”

“Very well. You’ve got a reasonably high dose of wolfsbane in your blood. As you think it’s been about forty-eight hours… I’m going to speculate… you are extremely lucky to be alive.”

“How much is roughly in his system?”

“Two-hundred milligrams… give or take.”

“That’s…” Chris stared at Jaxson in some sort of awe. It was something he had learnt in his schooling, the effects of wolfsbane, he’d also learnt about doses. Two hundred was the dose given to prisoners, any more was considered unethical. Whether using wolfsbane at all was ethical was a debate for another day.

“Indeed,” Doctor James agreed.

“Least I’m a damn sight better than I was.”

Chris couldn’t quite believe he was any better than he had been. He must have been a statue previously.

“I can only prescribe vitamins, food and rest. You should be feeling back to normal in twenty-four hours, your wolf will come back after that.”

“Are there any long term effects?” Jaxson asked.

“In honesty? I don’t know. I think you were given a lethal dose, no one has survived that dose before. Even a royal would struggle.”

His words sunk in for Chris. He could have lost him. It was all his fault, Jaxson was a mere casualty. A bystander to whatever was going on. A chill of regret tingled over his skin.

“Can I heal at home?” Jaxson asked hopefully.

“Want to keep you in until you’ve eaten. Is home within the palace?”

“Yes.”

“Then yes, once you’ve stomached a good meal, you can go to the Prince’s suite.” Doctor James winked before retreating out the door.

“Good, hate these beds.” The door swung open again, Pete, holding a plate ladened with meat and greens, as well as a glass holding a not so appetising green coloured drink. “Your Highness.” He stooped in a small bow. “Jaxson, Chef said gotta drink all of this.”

“Looks like swamp water.”

“Could be. Food, he said eat until you feel just full. Don’t eat more.”

“Got it.” The plate was placed on his lap before Pete left. Jaxson picked up the fork but stopped before he got to his mouth, grunting.

“Here, let me.” Chris took the fork and placed it to his mouth.

Jaxson took the bite before grumbling, “Could have done it eventually.”

“Hush.” Chris held the fork up again. After several mouthfuls, he picked up the glass. “Might as well get it over with.”

“Fine.” Jaxson took a few generous sips before weakly pushing at Chris’ arm. “That’s disgusting.”

“Chef says all, you drink all.”

“It’s sewage!”

“No, it’s not. Drink.”

“No.”

“Don’t be a baby.”

“I’m not drinkin’ it,” Jaxson argued.

“Jaxson. I can’t see you like this. If this drink is going to help you recover faster. I want you to drink it. You look like death.”

Jaxson sighed, but allowed the glass to be brought back to his lips. Drinking until it was empty. He pulled a face of sheer disgust when Chris finally took the glass away, offering a piece of chicken on the fork.

When over half the mound of meat and greens had gone, he gestured he was done.

“I’ll go get the doctor, make sure he’s happy for you to leave.

“No.” Jaxson gripped Chris’ wrist with surprising strength in his condition. “Don’t leave. You can’t.” His brown eyes pleading with a hint of fear and concern.

“Alright,” Chris placated instantly. He splayed his hand over Jaxson’s chest. “I’ll stay here.”

He quickly linked for the doctor who arrived and stated if he could make it to the Prince’s suite, he could leave.

Chris helped him up, with his bulk bearing down on Chris, they began slowly shuffling out of the room. As soon as they made it to the main infirmary, the guards stood to attention before Adam stepped forward. “Good to see you on your feet, bud.” He dipped under Jaxson’s other arm, relieving Chris of some of his weight. “Your Highness, we can take him,” one of the other guards offered.

“Thank you. I’ve got him.” Chris secured his hold around Jaxson’s back, feeling Adam do the same.

“I’ll escort,” the guard stated. Chris couldn’t remember his name.

“Where are your guards?” Jesse asked.

“Oh… they were with Laura, think she had sex with a guard to get out of the cells and admitted she tried to give me some potion to make me love her. Delusional bitch.”

A few guards silently sniggered behind him.

“She what?” he snarled. Chris pressed a little closer to Jaxson, feeling Jesse about to request someone else take Jaxson and he answer questions. But Jesse’s face relaxed. “Actually… OK keep that in mind, I’ll come speak to you in a bit. Get Jaxson upstairs.”

Chris nodded thankfully.

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