This is going to actually be the last update for a while. Due to a request, here's another chapter. Good luck to ValentinaLuu on your math test and to the rest of y'all on your homework, quizzes, tests, or even just getting through the week. I love y'all <3

We were now downstairs. Sage had dragged me back to the room he said would be mine, although by his current mood, I did not think it would remain that way for much longer.

He paced across the floor, his boots thumping against the ground. I sat on the edge of the bed, watching him. It had been this way for several minutes, and I wondered if it would remain so for hours more.

"I told you." The silence was pierced by those three words, shattering like broken glass. His voice was firm, anger stirring beneath the thin layer of calmness.

"I told you I would take care of my part of our deal," he added, his volume beginning to rise. "Yet, you ignored me! Do you now see why you cannot challenge him? Would you prefer to be in the place of the furniture?" He snapped, finally halting in his movement, his eyes on me.

"I'm not at fault for the King's anger!" I snapped back, standing up. I would not sit here and allow him to scold me like a spoiled child.

"What your King needs is to leave that area! Do you not think that could be the reason for his anger at everything? He lives up there all alone, trapped like a domesticated wolf! If you attempt to keep a wild animal locked up in your house, it will eventually turn against you," I replied, my own anger slipping through.

People continuously attempted to tame wild animals, desiring exotic pets. However, when these animals began showing signs of their instinctual natures, their true selves, humans no longer wanted anything to do with them. They would feign disgust at the animal, perhaps have it put down for its "inhumane" nature.

"You cannot expect him to live up there in solitude and not change. If he is as animal-like as you say, he needs more freedom. The space in which he resides is much too small for him. Any animal would be in distress living the way he does," I said, much softer.

I looked at Todd, who had found the dresser. One of its drawers had been slightly open, thus it became an invitation to him. He was now curled inside, fast asleep. I could only imagine how stir-crazy my little one would be if he did not have the forest to run in.

"He prefers it that way, Rowan; it is not us who sent him up there. He does not want to be around so many people when he has the opportunity to hurt them," Sage explained, sighing. It seemed his anger had also evaporated.

"It does not matter, Sage. This is one way you can help him." I paused, walking past him as I opened the door and peered outside.

The hall was almost empty, save a couple of guards and a servant. For a castle as big as this one, the hall should be filled with more people.

"Are there many guards and servants left?" I asked Sage, closing the door and turning back to him.

He studied me, wondering where this was going. When he couldn't figure it out on his own, he answered: "There are not many left. They feared for their lives or their families after an incident."

I opened my mouth but decided it was best to close it. I did not think asking him what the incident was would be a very good idea. I might end up joining those who left if I found out.

"Send the remaining into town. Allow them to visit their families for a few days; I do not care what you do with them. When the castle is empty, you can take him outside into the nearby forest. This way, he does not have the chance for another incident to occur," I explained, but Sage frowned.

"I cannot do that, Rowan. If he even allows me to, which he will not, some will not have somewhere to go," he said but I shook my head.

"There's a town nearby. They can stay there and visit. They can go in groups, a guard with each of them. I do not care how you do it, but this is your best opportunity," I said firmly, watching as he clenched his jaw.

He looked at me for a moment, his thoughts fighting with one another before he finally answered. "I will talk to him," he said shortly and I nodded, relaxing.

"Good. While you are here with him, I can visit my father and—" I started, but Sage was quick to stop me.

"No, Rowan. You will be there with us; do you not understand? You are here to interact with the King so that your magic works, not to advise me. You cannot visit your father yet," he said, and I could feel my nerves fraying.

"I have helped you! I should not have to hold his hand on the way to the forest; that is your job!" I snapped back, nearly pulling my hair out of my head.

I wanted to make sure my father had settled in fine, yet Sage had other plans. If he thought I would follow as a loyal dog would, he needed to readjust his plans.

I wasn't going near the King until I was calm enough to deal with his anger again, but that certainly wouldn't be anytime soon.

"Your magic will not work if you are not around the King, will it?" Sage snapped back, and I opened my mouth but replied by biting my tongue.

I could see satisfaction cross those brown eyes before he continued. "Exactly. So you will be by the King's side, along with myself, when this plan is put into place."

"You cannot expect me to continue working with you when I am not sure of my father's health right now!" I tried, but he only began adjusting his armor, preparing to leave.

"I was told by those who brought him in that he was fine. I will check on him myself today, but you will have to wait until later." With that, he walked out the door, not once glancing behind him. Had he, he might've caught the storm in my eyes.

"This is why I easily prefer you over humans," I muttered to Todd, whose eye had lazily opened when the door closed. His gaze remained trained on me, the other eye opening as well when I sat on the bed's edge.

Within seconds, he jumped from the dresser drawer and onto the bed, chattering as he climbed onto my lap. I sighed, stroking his fur in thought. The King was certainly going to be more of a challenge than I had expected.

He was rumored to look like that of a beast: hideous and brute. Some claimed he had claws in place of fingernails and teeth as large as a leopard's. Others said he was tall enough to tower over anyone who stood in his way and was built like a bull. None of these proved to be true.

King Sandalius only seemed like a malnourished human in my eyes. His nails appeared to be bitten as far as he could go, ragged and torn. I was sure his teeth weren't equivalent to a leopard's since they all fit within his mouth, none hanging out. He was tall, but not tall enough to tower over all of his enemies. He may have been built at one point but now, he was only a skeleton of what he used to be.

I had heard of how quick his temper could turn from the calm ocean waters into screaming waves that crashed against the sand in protest. However, it was different experiencing it in person where the threat was much more immediate than the rumors.

He had attempted to control himself—which was a start, I suppose. Had he not, I might've been the one harmed instead of the chair. It showed that he wasn't a lost cause, despite how difficult it was going to be to help him.

I was almost positive that some fresh air would help his mood, if not anything else. I hadn't lied to Sage: wild animals did become stir-crazy when placed in an enclosed space for too long. What worried me was that he had been locked inside the room for so long that the approach in mind wouldn't do much else.

Going outside could become a routine thing, enough so that his skin would regain its natural complexity. The walks would be a small substitute for exercise and perhaps aid in reconditioning his muscles. They could ultimately help fix his physique; however, they could do little to nothing for his mental stability.

Todd's chattering brought me back, taking me away from my thoughts. I sighed at him, pulling him closer which he was completely fine with.

For now, the small plan I had created would do. It wasn't much, but it was something to create a foundation with that I could build upon. I would worry about how to deal with his mental situation later as I couldn't fix everything at once, no matter how much I desired to do so.

"Let us hope this works, little one," I murmured into Todd's ear before laying down on the bed with him next to me, my thoughts floating around the both of us.