Ch. 36..40: Alpha King’s Lost Luna Chapter 36-40
Chapter 36 The poison
CA SSANDRA
As my assistant walked toward me, my mind ached with a million questions. What were the results? Was this dire? Were we going to be able to save Asher after all?
Becky pushed her round glasses up the bridge of her nose. She was a beautiful girl- petite with short dark red hair and a pale, angular face full of freckles- and under normal circumstances, she had a pleasant demeanor. But tonight, her russet eyes were underscored by dark circles. She looked visibly worn out. Her lab coat had been hastily pulled on over her night clothes. I felt bad that she’d been awoken at this late of an hour.
“Ca ssandra,” she greeted me as she approached, and then her eyes fell to Asher. “How is the Alpha King?”
“Not great,” I admitted, and then I gestured toward the stack of papers in her hands. “You have the results?”
“Sort of,” Becky replied, and her eyebrows creased together. “But sort of not at the same time. I… I couldn’t identify the venom.”
My heart dropped in my chest.
“Oh,” I whispered, and when my lower lip began to tremble, it took all of my effort to keep from falling to the ground. The world spun around me a little until I took a long, deep breath.
“It doesn’t resemble any of the ones in our texts,” she continued on.
“Did you check the book in my laboratory?” I asked.
Surely the book that Emmett had recorded strange poisons in would have the answers we needed.
But Becky shook her head and frowned.
“Which one?” she asked.
I realized then that I hadn’t actually taken the time to show my assistant the book. Things had been so frantic and hectic around here lately that I hadn’t gotten
around to it.
“We need to go back to the lab,” I said. “I think there’s an answer in that book. somewhere. There has to be.”
“I can go-” Becky insisted, but I shook my head.
“It’ll be faster if I come with,” I said, and I peeled my gloves off and dropped them into the waste basket beside me. “I’ll just need to alert the guards before we go.”
Becky nodded. “Right.”
Without another word, the pair of us crossed over to the double doors and stepped out into the hallway. The guards seemed surprised to see us.
“Please don’t allow anyone to enter the chamber,” I requested, and the guards nodded.
“Yes, Healer Ca ssandra,” one said, and the pair raised their staffs to show they were serious.
go.”
“Thank you,” I said with a courteous smile, and then I turned to Becky. “Let’s
The two of us wasted no time and traveled down the halls until we reached the laboratory.
The lights were brighter than I’d anticipated, and after I took a moment to let my eyes adjust to the harsh light, I headed over to my station. The room was enormous compared to what I was used to back in my clinic in Wild Crawler territory. I’d been assigned my own workspace in the white-painted lab, fit with a
large white wood desk, rows of bookshelves, and a small testing station that allowed me to run chemical tests.
I approached the bookshelf adjacent to my desk and scanned the rows until | found Emmett’s book. I held it aloft to show Becky, and after my assistant’s face brightened with understanding, I began to sort through the pages.
“Can you hand me the results?” I asked Becky, and without any hesitation, she brought the papers over to me. Once they were in my hands, I set them on my desk. and began to rifle through Emmett’s book. My eyes scanned the pages quickly while my brain processed the various entries.
It took me nearly fifteen minutes to sort through the book until finally, something seemed promising. My eyes widened as I took in the information on the page, and my lips curled into a smile.
“I found something,” I proclaimed.
There was a particular entry in Emmett’s book that seemed promising. When I compared the composition of the venom to the description in the book, I found a good amount of similarity.SIO
Much to my surprise, what was plaguing the Alpha King was technically poison.
Before I bookmarked the pages, I caught sight of a sentence that made me hesitate. It was written very tinily in the margins of the book.
“The poison was invented by a sorcerer named Udosyn.”
I froze.
What?
Sorcery had long since been wiped out in the empire of Wegalla. What did the sentence mean? How could a poison be the work of a sorcerer?
Surely Emmett was mistaken or the sentence was a joke I didn’t understand. Either way, I didn’t have time to ponder it. We needed to act fast if we were going to
save Asher.
I instructed Becky to remain in the lab and continue studying the venom, meanwhile, I assembled some medicines and herbs from the lab’s supply shelves. I worked quickly and filled a spare kit with the other necessary things like gloves, syringes, and cotton pads, and then I rushed out the door as fast as my feet could
carry me.
Normally, I would have taken care to remain quiet at an hour like this, but time. was of the essence. I figured no one had entered the Alpha King’s chamber while I was gone, but I didn’t want to waste a second anyway. Asher needed me and he needed me quickly.
However, the moment I turned a corner toward the right hallway, I was stopped in my tracks. Kane stood there against a pillar, his arms crossed against his chest, and his blue eyes s
“Healer Ca ssandra,” he greeted me with a tilt of his head. “Have you found the
cure?”
I gave him a polite expression.
“Yes,” I said, and then I corrected myself. “Well, at least I think so. I need to administer the treatment to be sure-
“I see,” Kane remarked.
“If you’ll excuse me-” I started to say, but then Kane stepped away from his perch and blocked my way.
“I don’t understand any of this,” he said in a suspicious tone. “My brother isn’t a weak man. The viper, the garden… something about all of these events is rather strange,
His brilliant eyes narrowed at me and his dark eyebrow raised up.
“You seem very worried,” Kane continued on. “I noticed it even there in the chamber. You seem to care in a more personal way than the other royal healers. Do
you… have you… perhaps, fallen in love with my younger brother?”
I froze and heat rushed to my cheeks. Had Kane really just asked me such a
question?
“No,” I insisted, and I raised my hands up. “No, my Lord, I don’t have any such feelings. He’s my patient, that’s all. Any show of caring is simply professional. He is our king after all.”
Kane didn’t seem convinced. He continued to study me until I spoke up again.
“Now, if you’ll please excuse me, My Lord, I need to attend to the king-”
I took a step forward and much to my surprise, Kane stepped aside. Asher’s stepbrother’s expression softened, but only slightly.
“As you wish,” he said, but then he let out a small laugh. “But just so you know, Healer Ca ssandra, if you’re holding something back, you’d better do it well. My brother is much smarter than I am. He’ll discover your secret. Mark my words.”
I held back a shiver and then continued walking down the hall, pretending I hadn’t heard his warning.
Chapter 37 Attraction and Control
CA SSANDRA
By the time I had Asher’s condition stable and under control, I was utterly exhausted. The clock on the wall read 4:00 AM, and I was certainly feeling the effects of being up so late.
It took a lot of effort and plenty of medicine, but Asher finally looked better than he had before. His breath was steady, no longer labored, the blueness of his lips had faded, and the swelling of his bite went down. Yet, he still hadn’t regained consciousness, so I needed to stay with him and make sure he was truly alright.
I pulled a chair up over to Asher’s bedside and then slumped into it with a long, heavy exhale. This felt like the longest night I’d ever experienced, longer than the night Finnick and I had spent in the woods.
I rested my head in my hands for a moment and closed my eyes. My adrenaline was finally wearing down and sleepiness was starting to take hold.
As I sat there, Kane’s earlier words played like a repetitive song in my mind. There was a chance Asher’s stepbrother was right- Asher had been suspicious of my identity from the start. I was starting to run out of luck very quickly. The longer I stayed here in Anemond, the more difficult it would be to keep my past a secret.
My only way out of here was to discover the cause of the mysterious disease that plagued the Alpha King. But how could I discover the source when I had no clue of its origins?
My head swam with dizziness and I slumped in my seat a little. This was becoming a major disaster very fast. I needed to do anything in my power to keep -my identity hidden from those who would use it to destroy me and my son.
I leaned back in my seat and settled in. I struggled to keep my eyes open and every so often, my entire body twitched from the effort. I was exhausted.
Nearly two hours later, I hadn’t realized I’d fallen asleep and awoke to a soft touch against my cheek. I blinked my eyes open sleepily, and then Asher’s face. came into focus.
Panic set in for a moment, and then my eyebrows creased together.
“Asher?” I whispered, forgetting all formality.
The Alpha King nodded and stared deeply into my eyes. His expression was full of affection and his finger brushed against my lips. I shivered. What was happening?
My heart raced in my chest and the distance between us narrowed until I could feel his breath against my face. Part of me thought I was dreaming, but the other part wasn’t quite sure. This all felt so real.
Asher’s lips pressed against mine, and for a moment, I hesitated, until I went against my own instincts and kissed him back. I knew it was a bad idea, but I did it
anyway.
Heat spread up from my core.
Asher and I were kissing.
He pressed up against me further and then swiftly lifted me up from the chair. I wasn’t sure where this was going but I wasn’t about to question it. He was warm and inviting, and the scent of his wonderful cologne invaded my nostrils. He was enticing in every way, and my body was going numb from pleasure. I wrapped my legs around his torso fór stability.
Asher held mé against him gently and ran his hand and then we collapsed onto the bed. He arranged himself on top of me and then leaned down and kissed me again. We continued on like this for a while until I carefully sat up and began to unbutton my nightgown. Asher took over by the third button and then eased me out. of the dress, leaving me in nothing but my underwear.
Asher laid me back down on the pillow and stared at me. His expression was intimate like he was looking at the sun for the first time, and I couldn’t help but be in awe of this reverence.
He pulled me against him then, and as I lifted up from the bed, my hair flared out around me. The Alpha King’s hands got lost in the coppery strands, and when he tugged slightly, a soft sigh escaped me. I didn’t like to admit it to myself very often, but I enjoyed a little roughness when it came to intimacy.
Asher’s lips curled into a grin at this discovery, and then he pulled again, a little harder, before he brought his lips down against mine. We kissed for a while and then he pulled away and kissed my neck. His breath was hot against me, and I moaned with delight as he cupped my breast and ran his thumb over my nipple. I hadn’t been touched like this in years, and my body yearned for it.
Asher ran his fingertips along my bare skin and I shivered in anticipation. This moment was unlike any other. I wasn’t sure how far this was going to go, but if I had it my way, we’d never leave this bed.
I
Eventually, before our intimacy could reach the next logical step, I caught his hand and held it in place. Asher froze and his eyebrows creased together in confusion.
We caught our breath and then there was a long, drawn-out silence between us that spanned for what felt like hours but was likely only a few minutes. I stared deeply into his beautiful gray eyes and searched my mind for the right words to say.
What could be said?
Should I apologize? Explain myself?
“I… I’m sorry, Ca ssandra,” Asher breached the silence, and he offered me an apologetic expression. “I don’t know what came over me.”
“It’s okay,” whispered, and then I broke my gaze to look for my discarded nightgown. “Are you feeling better now?”
The Alpha King nodded. “Yes, I’m feeling much better. Thank you, Ca ssandra, for taking care of me.”
“Of course,” I replied, and I carefully rose from the bed and began to dress myself. Asher helpfully held my hair back as I pulled my dress on, and once I had it
securely buttoned, he dropped the strands and let them fall down my back.
I studied him again, wondering what else to say until I finally managed to speak. “I should leave. The hour is late and Finnick is probably wondering where I am.”
“Yes, of course,” Asher whispered. I wondered for a moment if he would stop me, but I was relieved when he made no move. “Ca ssandra, is there anything you want?”
I frowned. “What do you mean, Your Majesty?”
Asher ran his hands through his hair. “I want to repay you for saving my life. Is où for saving my life. Is there anything you require, anything at all that would make you happier here in the palace?”
I considered
I considered the idea briefly, but nothing came to mind. I wouldn’t be able to find happiness here in Anemond, no matter what favor he could grant me, so it was probably best to turn him down.
But when I opened my mouth to speak, a thought crossed my mind..
Maybe there was something after all.
“Perhaps,” I said, and I raised my chin slightly. “I want your maid, Erika, to be appointed as Finnick’s babysitter.”
Chapter 38 Believe the ones you trust
CA SSANDRA
“Mommy, look! Erika taught me how to make a paper crane!”
When I entered our bedroom, Finnick came charging toward me, his little arms extended out in front of him. His normally serious gray eyes were wide with excitement and his lips were curled into a happy grin.
He presented me with the little crane and I held out my hand to accept it. He set it there gently and then looked up at me with glee.
“Wow, baby!” I exclaimed with genuine excitement. “This is incredible. You did such a great job!”
“Thanks, Mommy!” he replied, and then I turned to Erika.
“Thank you,” I mouthed, and the maid winked back at me. Her warm eyes were friendly as she smiled and for a moment, I remembered what it was like to know her as a child. She’d taught me the same thing when I was young and the tiny crane in my hands reminded me of happier times.
A week had passed since the viper had attacked Asher in the garden. These days, I returned to my quarters earlier than I did before. The Alpha King/repeatedly dismissed me sooner than expected due to Pack business he was reportedly busy with, but I had the sense that there was more to it than that.
There was definitely some awkwardness between us after what had happened. that night. Neither of us had acknowledged it, but I didn’t mind. I was relieved to not address/our actions or face his questions at all.
Besides, getting dismissed from the Alpha King’s study early meant I got to spend more time with Finnick and Erika before she finished her hours for the day.
Requesting Erika’s care had been risky, but at the end of the day, I didn’t regret
it at all. Finnick adored the maid more than anyone here in the palace, and it was nice to have her around, even if she didn’t know my true identity.
“Would you care for some tea, Ca ssandra?” Erika asked me as I closed the door. behind me, and she gestured at me with a teapot. “I’ve just brewed some. It’s nice
and hot.”
“That would be wonderful,” I said with a smile, and then I joined her and Finnick over at the small table in the corner of the room. Erika was always so kind and attentive to everyone and their happiness.
She poured me a hot cup of tea, and when the jasmine-scented air filled my nose, I let out a contented sigh.
“Someone I knew long ago loved jasmine tea too,” Erika remarked with a small
smile.
My stomach suddenly turned and a lump formed in my throat. But I managed to stay calm.
“Oh?” I tried to say in a casual manner.
Erika nodded. “Yes. It was her favorite tea. I prepared it for her nearly every day. I miss her dearly.”
“Who… who was she?” I wondered though I knew the answer.
The maid got a strange look on her face, almost as if she was going to cry. “A young woman, not much older than yourself. She was like a daughter to me. But her name is unspeakable here in Merliscire. In all of Anemond, in fact.”
“What happened to her?” I asked quietly.
Erika’s lower lip trembled and her warm eyes grew apologetic, like she was embarrassed to be sharing something so personal. I leaned forward and placed my hand on her arm.
“You don’t have to tell me-” I started to say, but Erika shook her head.
“It’s okay, Ca ssandra,” she assured me. “I don’t mind. It’s just sad, that’s all. The poor girl got caught up in some trouble and then… well… she perished in that horrible fire.”
The sight of my old nanny tearing up tugged at my heartstrings. I wanted to reveal myself right away, but I knew it wasn’t safe. Yet I couldn’t help but ask more questions.
“Are you referring to Cora Felix?” I whispered and Erika blinked at me with surprise.
“Yes,” she said, and then she frowned in confusion. “How do you know about her? Aren’t you from the Wild Crawler Pack? The one that’s at the very edge of the Wegalla border? I’m surprised you’d know her name-”
“I heard it from others,” I spoke before she could continue questioning me. “Back when it happened, I mean. It was all anyone could talk about those days.”
“Yes, it was,” Erika agreed quietly, and then she dropped her head in sorrow. “They didn’t ever find her body. Did you know that?”
“I didn’t,” I replied. The sight of the maid so upset was nearly enough to bring me to tears but I held them back. Beside me, Finnick seemed confused, but he didn’t ask any questions. He simply sipped at
his tea like a polite gentleman and played with his crane.
“Can I ask you a question?” I asked her, and when she nodded, I continued. “You seem sad about her passing, but from the way others spoke about her… wasn’t she a terrible person? I heard awful things about her wanting to use the king to save her guilty family.”
Erika shook her head and her gray-streaked blonde hair flared around her. “No, those were just terrible rumors. The Felix family, they were never evil, and neither was Cora. Her family never would commit a crime and she would never try to manipulate the king for her own gain. Besides, sweet Cora loved the king too much. to ever use him for her own gain. No matter what they say, I don’t believe the rumors for a second.”
This time, I had to turn away to keep Erika from seeing the tears that started to spill down my cheeks. My tough exterior was cracking. I wanted to tell Erika everything. I wanted to scream out that I was Cora Felix and that I loved her just as much now as I did back then. I wanted the woman to hug me as she’d done in the old days.
But I couldn’t.
So, I took a deep breath and turned back around. My nails dug into my palms at my sides until I decided to try the tea. Perhaps the jasmine flowers would help calm my nerves.
“Mommy, why are you sad?” Finnick asked quietly, and he gently tugged on my
sleeve.
I searched my mind quickly for an excuse.
“I… I’m just moved, sweetheart,” I explained after I took a sip of tea. “Cora Felix’s story… it’s rather sad. I’m not sure that I believe she was guilty either.”
“Really?” Erika whispered, and when I nodded, she finally smiled again.
“Really,” I confirmed, and then I turned to Finnick. “What about you, Finnick? What do you think?”
Finnick considered the idea. I could practically see the gears within his mind turning as he searched his brain for an answer. He set his crane down on the table and then faced me directly.
“I would believe her,” he said thoughtfully.
“You would?” I asked.
Finnick nodded. “Dominic told me once that it’s important to believe the people you trust and cherish no matter what.”
“That’s wise advice,” I agreed, and then I leaned over and kissed Finnick’s head. “You’re such a kind soul, Finnick.”
“Both of you are,” Erika remarked, and then she smiled warmly at us. We didn’t say anything more after that, but something in my soul felt better than it had in
years.
Chapter 39 Jealousy and Mystery
ASHER
“Checkmate!” Kane laughed as he shifted his pawn.
An agitated grumble rose out of me and I sat back on the couch in irritation.
“That’s the third time you’ve lost today,” my stepbrother remarked, much to my annoyance, and then he grinned at me. “So strange, brother. Ever since we began playing years ago, you’ve never lost a single match. Tell me, what’s bothering you?”
I remained silent and did my best to ignore him as I crossed my arms against my chest. It had been a huge mistake to invite Kane to play chess with me, but I’d needed something to distract me from thinking about Ca ssandra Keller. That being said, this experience only added to my frustration.
“Let me take a guess,” Kane continued on, and he rubbed his chin and gave me a mischievous, boy- like expression. “It’s the healer, Ca ssandra, isn’t it?”
I wanted to curse him out at even mentioning her, but I held my tongue and rolled my eyes instead. How dare he pretend to know me?
“Don’t deny it,” my brother prodded, and then he chuckled. “She’s really rather
cute.”
“She’s alright,” I mentioned off-handedly, and I regretted my words immediately. Kane sat forward and leaned on his elbows.
“She’s more than alright,” he replied with a shake of his head. “I can see the lust in your eyes, brother. You want to f**k her, don’t you?”
“Kane!” my voice hardened, and I nearly rose from my seat at his crude remark. He was entirely unbothered, though, and pressed further.
“Well, well,” Kane mused, and then he laughed. “Sorry for my bluntness, but do
you really think you’re hiding it that well? Everyone in Merliscire knows you fancy the woman. Besides, you’re rather obvious about it, Asher. You personally had her promoted to be your private healer, and we all know that you let her stay in your chamber late in the day… every day.”
“In my office,” I corrected him through narrowed eyes.
“What’s the difference?” Kane retorted, and he sat back in his brown leather armchair. “The office, your chamber… either way, Adalyn is sore about it.”
Adalyn?
Sore?
This wasn’t a good thought..
“How do you know?” I pressed, and I tucked my hair behind my ear.
“It’s clear as day, my brother,” Kane replied. “Adalyn is jealous. You can practically smell it in the air when she enters the room. She wants to kill your cute healer. So, I’d advise you to be careful.”
“Adalyn?” I frowned. “No, she wouldn’t dare do something like that. It isn’t like her to be prone to violence.”
“Adalyn may have been a more simple-minded girl in our youth, but she’s changed, Asher,” my stepbrother insisted, and this time, the playfulness in his tone. disappeared. “She knows you don’t want her, not in the way she needs you to. Jealousy has twisted her heart, that much is clear. I understand that you want to think the best of her, but how can you?”
“I don’t believe you,” I said, and a strange expression crossed Kane’s face.
“You haven’t laid a finger on a woman since Cora died, Asher,” he said gently.
The room fell into silence at the mention of Cora’s name. The two of us hadn’t spoken about her in ages. I’d practically outlawed any remarks about my former mate, yet there was something nice about hearing her name aloud.
“Asher, you need to move on,” Kane continued on, and then he sighed. “You can’t live in a memory forever. She’s haunting you and will continue haunting you until you decide to move on.”
I didn’t know what to say. I knew three was some truth to my stepbrother’s words. As much as I didn’t want to admit it, I knew Adalyn was prone to jealousy, and I knew that that jealousy had only surged with time. I couldn’t touch her, not when the memories of touching Cora still lingered in my mind. I hadn’t desired a single woman since Cora.
That is until Ca ssandra Keller arrived in Anemond.
But how could I forget Cora? I missed her every day of my life and was reminded of my mistake with every passing moment.
“Alright, it’s been a very long day,” Kane spoke up again, and he rose to his feet. “I’m going to get some rest, but before I do, I have to tell you something about your
healer.”
“Enough about her-” I started to say, but Kane waved me off.
“Please,” he insisted, and when I sighed, he tilted his head slightly. “This is important, Asher. The night you were attacked by the viper… Ca ssandra Keller was quite protective over you. She wouldn’t let any of us come too close to you while she was treating you. It seemed like she was prepared to do anything if it meant
saving you.”
I opened my mouth to speak, but no sound could escape.
Had Cas sandra really been so protective of me? I’d had no idea.
“Thank you,” I managed to say through my frown. “For telling me.”
Kane nodded and then flashed me a slightly playful smile as if he were amused by his own words. It was hard to say if he was simply teasing the issue or if he was being truthful, but that was always the story with Kane.
Once he was gone, I released a sigh and closed my eyes. I was still so tired
from the whole ordeal that it felt nice to relax in the quietness of my chamber.
Not long after, I heard a knock at my door.
“Enter,” I called out, and moments later, Lancel stepped into the room. He’d been on a mission for a while now out in Wild Crawler territory, doing some investigative work for me, and I was both relieved and nervous to see him.
“What took you so long?” I wondered with a raised eyebrow.
“My apologies for the delay, Alpha,” Lancel replied dutifully, and he gave me a small bow of respect. “I would have arrived back in Anemond sooner, but while I was there in Wild Crawler territory, I found something suspicious and had to follow the lead.”
“Suspicious?” I said. “About the fire?”
My most trusted guard nodded. “Yes, Alpha. I spoke with the guard there, the one who first reported the fire to us when we were in Alpha Gareth’s garden. I knew he had more knowledge about that night than anyone else, so I chose to speak with
him first.”
“Proceed,” I said, and I leaned forward. That night had been strange on all counts and I wanted to know more about what had caused Ca ssandra’s house to
catch on fire.
“The guard reported that that night, he’d gone to Ca ssandra Keller’s house to retrieve her things, and when he got there, a man stood in the entryway,” Lancel continued.” The man was wearing some kind of mask that concealed his face.
“What?” I breathed in surprise. This all sounded so strange.
“The masked man was apparently sneaking into the healer’s house, but we don’t know why,” Lancel said. “The healer’s house was a total mess as if the man were searching for something.”
“What happened next?” I demanded as my curiosity grew.
“Apparently, Alpha, the guard went to chase the man, but it was too late,”
Lancel said, and his eyes grew weary. “The man had already set the upper part of
the house ablaze.”
“Great Goddess,” I cursed.
Why would someone break into the house, destroy it, and then set it ablaze?
What was the man searching for? And why was Cas sandra’s house the target?
Was this a random robbery or something more sinister?
“There’s more, Alpha,” Lancel said. “After the guard told me the story, I searched the grounds and found a set of footprints, along with a lingering scent. I followed them all the way to the forest, but then they ended and disappeared once they reached the tree line.”
“Disappeared?” I repeated back and Lancel nodded.
“The tracks ended there and his scent vanished,” he remarked. “Alpha, it’s as if the man just vanished into thin air.”
Chapter 40 Dinner with his stepmother
CA SSANDRA
Erika was preparing to leave for the evening when we heard a knock at the door. It was the end of the day, so I was surprised by the sound.
Who was there at this hour?
“I’ll get it,” Erika said in a helpful tone, and before I could stop her and do it myself, the maid went to the chamber door. On the other side stood-a se rvant dressed in the royal family’s colors.
“Hello,” I addressed him, and I took a step forward. “Can I help you?”
“Lady Adalyn and Mistress Margaret sent me to deliver a message,” the se rvant said politely. “They wish to invite you to dinner, Miss Ca ssandra, as a token of their gratitude for curing the Alpha King and Prince Marco.”
I was instantly taken aback.
Adalyn and Margaret wanted my company?
This was a trap. It had to be. Why else would the pair of vicious and vengeful women seek out my company?
The room fell silent as I considered my options..
There was no part of me that wanted to go through with this. And yet, despite my suspicions, I knew I couldn’t deny their invitation. The se rvant wasn’t asking me if I wanted to come, he was simply the messenger sent to retrieve me.
Adalyn and Margaret wanted something from me, that much was certain, and I knew they were both capable of going to great lengths to get their way, sol needed to cooperate.
“Can you watch Finnick for just a while longer?” I requested and Erika nodded wholeheartedly.
“Of course, Miss Ca ssandra,” she said, and then she gestured forward. “Now, go along. It’s best not to keep your company waiting.”
Her words alone were vague, but her inflection and tone said what we both were thinking- Adalyn wasn’t someone to toy with.
“Give me one moment, please,” I asked the se rvant, and after he nodded. politely, I rushed over to the small dresser beside the bed. I stared into the mirror and made sure I was presentable. After I ran a quick comb through my long hair, I deemed myself worthy and walked back over to the door.
“Please behave for Erika,” I instructed Finnick, and I gave him a small smile. “I’l be back later this evening.”
Finnick nodded politely. “Yes, Mommy.”
After I ruffled his curly hair, I turned back to the se rvant. He held the door open for me,and then we stepped out into the hall. The moment the door closed behind us, a lump formed in my throat. This was definitely terrifying.
But I took a deep breath and forced myself to find some calmness. I had to stay strong and keep my wits about me.
The ser vant quietly led me to a dining room on the first floor. I was a little surprised that we weren’t dining in the larger chamber, but I wasn’t about to complain. I normally ate with Finnick in our
chambers, so this was an interesting change of scenery, even if it was with the Alpha King’s wife and stepmother.
The se rvant held the doors open for me, and the moment I set foot in the room, I could feel an awkwardness in the air.
Despite the smaller size, the room was beautiful. The floors were a pale marble with streaks of black and gold, and there was a glittering chandelier hung high above us.
Adalyn and Margaret sat on one side of the long, black marble table at the center of the room. When my eyes met theirs, a shiver traveled down my spine. Their steel-like gazes were chilling and uncomfortable in ways I couldn’t fathom.
What was going on?
Why was I here?
“Healer Ca ssandra,” Margaret greeted me in a sickly-sweet tone. “So nice of you to join us.”
“Good evening,” I said politely as the se rvant guided me to the seat opposite of Adalyn. “Thank you for inviting me to join you.”
“It was no trouble at all,” Margaret replied with a slight tilt of her head. “It’s nothing compared to what you’ve done for our family. Treating my son and grandson in such a short amount of time. They’re lucky to have had you around.”
“It was nothing,” I murmured.
Margaret waved her hand in the air. “Nonsense. Don’t be, dismissive, healer. Your quick thinking saved both of their lives.”
As the Alpha King’s stepmother continued on, I could feel Adalyn glaring at me from across the table. I was certain she wanted to interrogate me and ask what L was doing in Asher’s study every day, but there was no chance of that happening with Margaret in the room. The older woman was too much of a force to allow that kind of indecency, especially at dinner.
“Thank you so much for the kind words,” I sair when Margaret finished and sipped at her wine. “Being able to provide care for the royal family is a great honor.”
Another se rvant, a v
girl, came by and refilled Margaret’s glass, and then came around and filled mine and Adalyn’s. I wasn’t much for wine, but I politely smiled anyway when she approached.
“Thank you,” I whispered. The se rvant nodded and then quietly snuck out of the chamber when Margaret waved her hand.
Asher’s stepmother watched me for a moment, and then smiled a strange smile.
“So, Healer Ca ssandra,” she began slowly as she swished her wine around gently in the glass. “Why did my son bring you all the way here to Anemond?”
So that was it.
Margaret wanted to use me to get information about Asher.
“The Alpha King brought me here to make sure Prince Marco would be fine after the treatment I gave him in Wild Crawler territory,” I explained, but Margaret and Adalyn didn’t seem satisfied by my reply.
“Liar,” Adalyn blurted, and her amber eyes narrowed. “There’s more to it than that, there has to be.”
I had two choices. I could succumb to my inner fear or I could stand my ground.
So, I smiled nicely, like I hadn’t heard her words.
“There was a strong possibility that Prince Marco hadn’t fully recovered from the viper’s bite,” I said in a sweet tone, and I straightened my posture. “The Alpha King and I were worried there may be left over toxins in the young prince’s body-”
Adalyn suddenly gasped, and her skin turned white as a sheet. Her full, red-painted lower lip trembled and she struggled to contain herself.
“No!” she insisted. “No, you’re lying!”
“Adalyn!” Margaret hissed at her outburst, and then she turned to me. “Now, tell me, Ca ssandra, what are you and your assistant doing in the laboratory?”
I didn’t miss a beat. “We’re using the lab to test the venoms and also creating serums to treat that sort of thing moving forward. The King was concerned about the vipers and wanted to make sure that there would be cures and aids in the future. to treat anyone who may get bitten.”
“Interesting,” Margaret mused. “Going forward…. Is that a possibility?”
“We don’t know,” I said simply. It wasn’t a lie, not exactly. Becky and I were working on antidotes and cures for the snakes’ bites, but that wasn’t the only research being conducted. However, I had to continue to keep the Alpha King’s condition a secret.
Margaret leaned forward. Her eyes narrowed suspiciously as she studied me, and her lips drew into a thin line.
“Healer Ca ssandra,” she said my name with a tone of malice. “I hope you’ understand that you need to be utterly honest with me. Any lies that come from your lips may cause consequences. Severe consequences.”