Chapter Thirty-Three

I didn't even have to turn around to know that Thomas was starting at me. I could literally feel his gaze burning a hole into my back, and at first, I didn't know why he was staring at him so intently. But, after a moment, it dawned on me.

Anthony had called me a "him" right in front of the older Healer.

Now, I couldn't be mad at him considering our current situation, but I couldn't help but wonder what Thomas was going to do with such information. Was he going to tell Henry and Beth? Was he going to demand a ransom to keep this knowledge a secret? Maybe I was thinking too far ahead. Maybe I was just stressing myself out for no reason. I mean, maybe he didn't even hear Anthony at all and I was just thinking too hard on it.

No. With the way Thomas was staring at me, I knew he heard it. And I guess William came to the same conclusion as me, for his tanned skin had paled, sweat marring his brow while his sage eyes remained on Anthony.

"Your Highness," the man in question spoke, causing me to flinch while Anthony went stark white, "may I inquire as to why your...friend there, called the future Queen of England a "he"? I do realize I am getting up there in age, but I do know that my hearing is still impeccable."

William's sage gaze briefly snapped to me before the blond pursed his lips and stood up, turning his attention to the older man. "Are you sure you heard right? I have lain with Lady Melani and I can firmly say that she is very much a woman."

Thomas snorted and tilted his head, the older man stuffing some of his stuff back into the wicker basket he had brought. "Your Highness, I have advance knowledge of the structure of both men and women and there are some differences that may go unseen to an untrained eye. When Melani's stitches ripped, was I not the one to repair the damage? And while you both were adamant about keeping the lower half covered, I was able to see the structure of Melani's hips, and it is much too narrow to be a woman's." My heart dropped and I looked at Anthony, who had his face in his hands. "I had my suspicions when I met Melani, but your friend there confirmed that he is indeed a man."

William visibly gulped and lowered his gaze, his voice slightly shaking as he spoke. "You mustn't say a word to anyone, Thomas. If word gets out, Melani and his entire family will be beheaded for treason. Melani is a good man, he doesn't deserve such a fate."

Thomas waved his hand in the air dismissively as he grabbed his satchel and turned to my husband. "I won't tell. What use would snitching give me? It's not like it's any of my business what flesh interests you, Your Highness. However...I would like to ask for one thing in return."

William narrowed his eyes suspiciously, and to be honest, I was shocked as well. He knew of my true gender...yet he was choosing to keep such vital information to himself? What did he think he could accomplish by doing such a thing?

"And what may this "one thing" be, I ask you? Surely you want something of value to keep a secret such as this to yourself."

Thomas shrugged, and even had the audacity to smirk mischievously. "I merely wish to be transferred to another room in the castle. The one I am currently occupying is much too small and cluttered for me, and with me getting up there in age, I'd rather not be wary about whether or not my room is going to kill me."

"I-Is that really all you want?" I wondered in shock, my brows raised as Thomas turned his attention to me.

"Were you expecting me to ask for a hefty sum of money? Psh, I'm paid just fine for a palace Healer."

William was nibbling at his bottom lip when I looked towards him, his eyes glazed over in distrust as he nodded. "I can have you arranged elsewhere if that is what you truly desire."

Thomas grinned and clasped his hands together. "Wonderful! And seeing as you are no longer in need of my assistance, I shall begin packing my things. He turned that brown gaze towards me. "And shall you rip those stitches again, do not hesitate to send for me."

Once he left the room, I let out a breath of air I didn't even know I had been holding, my body relaxing when I turned my attention to Anthony. I nibbled at my bottom lip and hugged the other man tightly, my heart warming with relief. "I am so happy you're ok, Anthony. W-When I saw you writhing like that on the floor..." my vision went blurry as tears began slipping down my cheeks, "I-I was so terrified, a-and I thought you were going to die, a-and I can't even imagine what I would have done if I had lost you." I held him tighter against me, my body shaking. "P-Please do not scare me like that again, I beg of you."

I began crying harder when Anthony wrapped his arms around me and held me, my heart hammering in my chest as I wailed against him. "A-And I'm sorry for blurting out what I did. Had I known-"

"You didn't know, Anthony." The bed dipped as William sat down next to us, the blond gently cupping Anthony's cheek as he stared lovingly in those gorgeous teal eyes. "And we seemed to have resolved it for now. The important thing right now is that you're alright." He nibbled at his bottom lip. "Are you in any pain at all? Is there perhaps anything you need me to fetch?"

Anthony shook his head, a frown on those full lips of his. "I...I just want but a moment to be with both the men I love. I thought I was dying and w-was never going to get the chance to see either of you again." It broke my heart when tears began slipping down his sunkissed cheeks, and I ended up hugging him to me, rubbing his back in a lame attempt to soothe him.

Even William's gaze flickered with tears before he was hugging the both of us, his body shaking as we all sat in silence, enjoying the warmth of one another.

And we stayed like that for a good while, too, long enough for the sun to peek over the horizon to start a new day. Anthony had fallen asleep a while ago, but William and I made sure to keep an eye on him as we both snuggled into his warmth, both of us overjoyed that he was alive. He was still with us and I couldn't be more thankful.

"I may have a plan," William suddenly, but quietly, spoke up, causing me to glance at him tiredly.

My brows furrowed, my curiosity spiking while I wondered what he was going on about. "A plan? For what?"

I shivered when that sage gaze glided towards me, and I was surprised when I saw determination swimming in those light gems. "To catch the bastard that's doing this to us." He then bit his lip and glanced at Anthony's peaceful, sleeping face. "Let us talk in the study."

Bewildered beyond belief, my brows furrowed as I followed him off of the bed, into the study. Though, as soon as I stepped into the room, I froze, images from the night I was stabbed slamming into me as my sight swayed to the spot I had almost died on. Of course the carpet had been replaced, so there was no blood to be seen, but fear still climbed up my spine, making me lightheaded and unable to look away.

I almost screamed when I felt a hand on my shoulder, but I was able to collect myself in time to see William's saddened face cross my vision, a frown on those full lips of his. "You're alright, Mel, I promise you. Just take a deep breath for me, ok?"

I closed my eyes and inhaled shakily, William's presence in front of me calming me down. Finally, after a moment, I nodded and opened my eyes. "I-I'm ok. I just...needed a moment to collect myself." I shyly tucked a strand of hair behind my ear, nibbling at my bottom lip as I stared at my husband. "S-So what is this plan of yours you've come up with? How are we going to catch the individual that's t-trying to kill me?"

William glanced away and began nibbling at his bottom lip, hesitating for a moment before that sage gaze flickered back towards me. "W-Well...we've tried just about everything we can think of to draw them out, and yet they managed to hurt Anthony without us even realizing they were here in the first place. We've interrogated suspects, asked around if anyone saw anything, even spied on the couple individuals we were strongly suspicious about...yet there's still no good news. T-There's one thing we have yet to try...but I'm afraid you may not like it."

Dread began filling me as I stared at the other man, and I began feeling like I knew where he was going with this. "W-What haven't we tried yet?"

William sighed and leaned against his deck, the blond staring down at the floor as he bit his bottom lip, his lashes casting faint shadows on his tanned cheeks. "W-We need you to..." He glanced up at me through his lashes. "We need you to be bait."

A/N: Oooooh snapppp, William what the fart are you up to?

Hope you enjoyed the chapter!