Chapter 63: Would you really poison me?
~Ava's POV~
I don’t understand. What does she mean? “Callie,” I called out gently, gritting my teeth to keep myself from snapping at her.
She lifted her head, her eyes brimming with tears. They were red, swollen from crying. The impatience I had been feeling evaporated instantly. She looked terrified.
“I promise you, Callie. I won’t hurt you. So tell me what’s wrong,” I coaxed softly, trying to soothe the frightened girl. Something was seriously wrong.
She began chewing on her lower lip, her hands clenched tightly on her knees. My gaze dropped to her trembling fingers. Whatever was disturbing her had to do with the pool, meaning something had been added to my bath.
Could it be the herbs? Ah… she had looked so guilty when I asked her about them earlier.
Hades! I swore silently under my breath. “I guess it’s the herbs, right?” Her eyes immediately snapped up to meet mine, wide and frightened.
I knew I was right. “I’m sorry,” she cried out, banging her head on the floor.
“Callie, stop that!” I snarled. What was wrong with her? I had promised myself I wouldn’t forgive those who tried to kill me after my rebirth. If that was truly what she had intended, I wouldn’t forgive her, unless she had a valid reason.
She stopped hitting her head, her soft whimpers filling the spacious room.
“Now, calmly tell me why. Your life depends on it.” Callie was a human slave, after all. The people in this kingdom had little respect for humans without wolves or ordinary people, unless they were mated to one of them. And even that didn’t guarantee safety.
I felt a pang of sympathy for her. What could have pushed her to do something like this? Or rather, who could have pushed her?
I would have been just like her, rejected, a slave to be sold or used as a plaything for the king or whoever that found me pleasing. Fortunately, I had my wolf and Raphael.
“Callie?” There was a warning in my tone. Callie was a sweet girl, different from the others.
She was the opposite of Mia, always keeping to herself, which was why I had reached out to her. I didn’t want her to feel lonely, but she shouldn’t push me. I would hate to cause her harm.
“It was Lara!” she wailed, her sobs growing louder. Lara Croft again?
“Go on. I’m all ears,” I said, striding toward the bed and sitting down. I knew I must look imposing and cold, but I couldn’t help it. If people kept trying to kill you, you’d be detached too.
“She has my brother. She wanted me to feed you the herbs and burn them so you could inhale them. I heard they were very dangerous…” Her voice trailed off as she looked down at her tightly clasped hands. Her face was flushed, perhaps from embarrassment.
“Why didn’t you tell me?” It was a futile question. If I were her, I wouldn’t have trusted me either.
I wondered if all the humans in the palace hated me. Ah, Goddess, what exactly is your plan, pairing me with Raphael? Crazy fates. I muttered under my breath.
“I’m sorry,” she said in a small voice.
“How old is your brother?” Why was I asking? I didn’t need to know. Yet, I didn’t want her to feel alone.
“He’s ten, my lady.” Ten? And Lara was threatening a ten-year-old child.
“Would you really have poisoned me with the herbs?” Another foolish question, but I needed to know.
Her already pale face drained of whatever color was left. She looked ashen, and without her answering, I had my answer.
“I’m sorry,” she whispered, her shoulders slumping as she bowed her head deeply, as if surrendering to whatever decision I would make.
“Did you kick the maids out?” I couldn’t see Mia or Carla. They were the other two maids who had been serving me for the past two weeks.
“No, my lady,” she said, her voice shaking. Meaning she had done something to them.
A cold dread sent shivers down my spine, making the hair on the back of my neck stand on end. Had she killed them? If she had, I wouldn’t forgive her, no matter how much sympathy I felt for her.
“What did you do to them?” I had been patient, but my patience was wearing thin.
She didn’t answer. “Did you kill them?” I asked sternly.
“No! My lady, I would never do that!” she cried out, tears streaming down her face.
Okay, she hadn’t killed them. So where were they? “I was promised the herbs wouldn’t hurt you. I just drugged the others to sleep,” she admitted, her voice heavy with guilt.
“Should I be grateful?”
“No, my lady. I’m sorry.” Her face was swollen, her eyes puffy from crying.
“Do you know their plan, or were you just sent to use the herbs on me?”
“The herbs are aphrodisiacs,” she choked out. I nearly choked on my own spit at her words.
“Why would she give you aphrodisiac herbs?” I asked, the question roaring in my mind.
“I don’t know. I was instructed to make you bathe with the herbs and then leave the chamber doors unlocked.” Oh. It all clicked then.
“They were going to send someone to rape me?” I asked incredulously.
“I’m sorry, my lady. Please forgive me!” she cried, banging her head on the floor again until I couldn’t bear it.
“Stop it!” I snapped, my patience gone. “Let me think, Callie,” few seconds later, I came up with a plan. “ We’ll carry on with what they want.”
“What?”
I must have sounded insane, but it was the only way to kill two birds with one stone, saving Callie and her brother from execution. Because Raphael would do it. He’d end her life before she even knew what hit her.
“I’ll use the herbs to bathe,” I repeated, seeing the confusion on her face.
“Why?” she choked out, her swollen eyes streaming out more tears. Will she have more tears in her socket? I shake the thought from my mind.
I continued with my explanation “It’s the only way to save you.” Plus, I wouldn’t let them get away with this. I just needed to summon Drakon.
“I-I’m sorry,” she murmured, her head dropping dejectedly.
“It’s no worries. Just make sure the king doesn’t find out if you want to live.”
“ Find out what?”
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