Chapter 86

The sunlight streamed through the cracks in my curtains, casting golden rays across my chambers. I had left before the party ended, unable to deal with the wave of fatigue that plagued me. The moment I laid on my bed, I quickly drifted into a deep deep sleep. 

But by the time I woke up, I was reminded of my problems again.  Every word Kaelin had said replayed in my head, each accusation a thorn that pricked deeper into my resolve.

A soft knock at the door jolted me from my thoughts.

"Come in," I called, sitting up and smoothing my disheveled hair.

The door opened, and Rowan stepped in. He was dressed simply, though his commanding presence was anything but subtle. His eyes swept the room before landing on me, a flicker of disappointment crossing his face.

I looked around, wondering if anyone had saw him enter.

“What are you doing here?!” I asked him, mildly shocked at his brazen boldness. 

"You didn't come," he said, his tone soft but firm.

I swallowed, feigning confusion. "Come where?"

His jaw tightened. "To my chambers. I waited for you."

Panic flared in my chest. I had forgotten all about his invitation in the haze of Kaelin's words and the overwhelming weight of the evening. I forced a smile, hoping it would ease the tension in his voice.

"I was so tired after the party," I said, rising to my feet. "I didn't mean to forget, Rowan. It was a long night."

He studied me, his piercing gaze searching for something beneath my casual tone.

"Arin," he said, his voice dipping lower, "what's going on? Ever since your family came from Braam, it seems like you’ve been trying to distance yourself from me. Why is that?” 

I moved toward the window, needing space between us. "Nothing is going on. I'm just trying to be careful. You said it yourself—we have to be discreet. I want us to be more careful.” 

Rowan stepped closer, his presence filling the room. "That's not what I mean. I can feel you slipping away from my hands. You're shutting me out."

I turned to face him, my fingers gripping the edge of the windowsill. "I'm trying to protect you, Rowan. If anyone sees us together like this, you know what would happen.”

“I’m your brother’s wife.” 

He cut me off, his voice tinged with frustration. "It's more than that. I can feel it. You're hiding something."

My heart pounded, and I forced myself to meet his gaze. "You're imagining things. I'm just being cautious."

He stared at me for a long moment, his expression unreadable. Then, with a sharp exhale, he stepped back.

"Fine," he said, his voice colder now. "If that's what you want me to believe, I'll leave you be."

I nodded, relief and regret warring within me. "Thank you."

Rowan turned toward the door but paused before leaving. He glanced over his shoulder, his eyes filled with something I couldn't quite name.

"Whatever's going on, Arin," he said quietly, "you don't have to face it alone. Remember that."

And with that, he was gone, leaving me alone with the guilt that clawed at my chest.

The moment the door closed, I sank onto the edge of the bed, my hands trembling.

I had pushed him away, just as Kaelin had wanted. But why did it feel like I had betrayed something more than just him?

I glanced at the small silver mirror on the vanity, catching a glimpse of my reflection. My amber eyes stared back at me, their brightness dulled by the weight of secrets.

Kaelin's words echoed in my mind: "You're naive to believe his lies."

But were they lies? Or was I lying to myself to justify my actions?

I buried my face in my hands, torn between loyalty to my mission and the unexpected pull Rowan had on my heart.

As much as I tried to deny it, I was drawn to him, in a way that I couldn’t explain, despite everything. 

……..

The day passed slowly, each tick of the clock a reminder of how confined I was to my bed. My body ached, my head throbbed, and the chills that ran down my spine were relentless. The flu had gripped me tightly, and all I could do was lie there, wrapped in layers of blankets, trying to endure it.

A soft knock came at the door, followed by Milla's familiar voice.

"Princess Arin? It's me."

"Come in," I croaked, my voice weak.

Milla stepped into the room, her expression a mix of concern and her usual sharp curiosity. She carried a tray with tea and a bowl of something steaming.

"I heard you weren't feeling well," she said, placing the tray on the bedside table. "I brought you some broth."

"Thank you," I said softly, though my appetite was nonexistent. The smell of the broth nauseated me. 

She pulled up a chair beside the bed, her eyes darting around the room before landing on me. "Actually, I came for something else."

I sighed, shifting under the blankets. "What is it, Milla?"

Her tone dropped, and she leaned closer. "I overheard something you might want to know."

I frowned. "What now?"

She hesitated for a moment, as if weighing whether to share. Then, in a hushed voice, she said, "The Queen. Queen Isabelle. Rumor has it that she’s planning something big. Apparently she’s desperate to get the King in her bed to make an heir so she’s looking for a special kind of tonic.” 

"A tonic?" I repeated, my brows knitting together.

"Yes. One that would put an alpha into a deep sleep," Milla explained, her voice barely above a whisper. "She plans to... lie with him while he's unaware. She somehow thinks this might give her children. Her handmaidens have been going from healer to healer to find this special tonic.” 

My stomach churned, though I couldn't tell if it was from the flu or the implications of her words. "She wouldn't dare. How could she think of something so despicable? So desperate?” 

"Oh she would," Milla said firmly. "I don’t know if you heard but the wolf clans are not happy with her being queen. There’s talk of her being deposed if she can’t provide the Alpha King with an heir. This is the only way for her to secure her throne.  The queen is determined to have her way with him, no matter what."

I shook my head, anger bubbling up despite my exhaustion. "How do you know this?"

"I heard her speaking with her handmaid," Milla said, crossing her arms. "She was very clear about her intentions."

A sickening feeling settled in my chest. Isabelle's desperation had become dangerous, and if what Milla said was true, the Queen was willing to stoop to unthinkable levels to secure her position.

"What do you want from me in return for this information? I know you don’t just offer all of this for free.” I asked, wary of her motives.

Milla smirked, shaking her head. "Not yet, my l princess. When I need something, I'll remind you."

Her cryptic response unsettled me, but I didn't have the energy to press further.

She stood, brushing nonexistent dust from her skirts. "One more thing," she said, her tone casual yet pointed.

"What now?" I asked wearily.

She turned to face me, a sly grin tugging at her lips. "I noticed something about you recently."

I blinked. "What are you talking about?"

Milla leaned in, her voice dropping to a conspiratorial whisper. "You haven't had your monthly cycle yet, have you?"

My breath hitched, my mind racing. "That's not—"

“I’m sure I have. You probably don’t even remember it.” 

"Oh, don't lie to me, dear princess," she said, her grin widening. "I'm very observant. And it's been... what, over a month?"