From the corner of my mind, I could register my room door opening and my maids rushing inside.Arnou was panicking badly and trying to get me to respond to him but I couldn't. It seemed like I had floated to a secluded corner of my mind from which I observed everything around me.Different people kept coming in and leaving my room and sometime during the commotion I fell asleep.That night, I seemed to be transported to a different plane. It was some kind of dream but felt so surreal I was confused.I opened my eyes and the first thing I observed was the cold. Someone was lying on top of me trying to conserve my body heat.I felt grateful for whoever that person was. Nafira. The girl laying on me was called Nafira.I don't know how I know that, but I do.“Hey, wake up,” I said softly as I tried to pry her off with my small hands.I knew she had to be able because someone was coming. I felt a sense of urgency I didn't understand and tried my best to wake her again.“Nafira! Come on,”
Chapter 75I took my shower quickly, I had no desire to spend too much time under the cold water. I still felt some cold thing underneath my lines that made me shiver.I turned off the shower head and wrapped myself in a fluffy bath towel hanging on a hook.My entire body felt strange like it belonged to me but didn't at the same time. I wasn't going to let Arnou know how I felt though. He was already worried enough, I didn't want to add to his worries.I could hear whispers coming from my room before I entered it. I stood outside for a beat and closed my eyes, trying to discern the people in the room.Granny was saying something I could hear her voice, Arnou was definitely there. They were arguing about sorts.As soon as I pushed open the door of my room and entered inside, the whispering stopped.They all looked at me weirdly but I ignored their strange looks of concern.Lea got a bathrobe the moment she saw me and opened it up for me to wear.That was when I realized, I had come i
I was still feeling moody minutes after Alisa left my room. However, I couldn't shake the feeling that I had wasted too much time. It was logical though, I mean the more time wasted after the wedding, the more stale any clues we might have had would go.I sat at my desk, going over the books Gabriel had delivered to me. Arnou must have read them all by now, yet it didn't seem like he had new information to share with me.I understand that he's worried about my health. Talking about conspiracy theories is probably the last thing on his mind. But Herley is dangerous and she's still in the palace. I might have given up if I knew for sure that she would stop at poisoning me.But I had no way of knowing that she wouldn't step over everyone in her attempt to claim Arnou as hers.I had waited too long for my happily ever after and I was ready to fight for the love and acceptance I had found with Arnou.I took out a piece of paper and began to write down all the people who had died on Herl
Chapter 77The first thing I observed was the pungent smell of piss.I gagged disgusted, don't they get chamber pots here?As I walked downstairs I realized I had no idea what the living conditions of the dungeons were like.I had condemned Nikkini to a temporary life here without knowing what the place looked like.Tears welled up in my eyes as I entered through the tiny door at the base of the stairway.The guards on duty seemed confused at my presence but seemed to recognize my royal guards.They bowed before me and greeted in unison.“Good day, Queen of Queens,” I couldn't bear to speak, I felt so many emotions rising inside me.If I did this to Nikkini didn't that make me as bad as her? I waves their greeting off and began to walk deeper into the cells.I didn't say a word but they knew the prisoner I wanted to see and led me to her silently.I stood in front of her cell for a few minutes before I realized that I had arrived at my destination.Nikkini lay on the floor, or at le
Chapter 78Arnou lay flat on the bed sleeping with all his clothes on. He looked so tired and cute while sleeping that I couldn't help but feel guilty. He probably hadn't gotten much sleep, not with me being poisoned and randomly passing out.I walked up to him tiredly and gently tugged off his shoes, then I rolled him over and covered him up with the duvet on the bed.I was careful to not touch him for longer than necessary. Once I was satisfied with the way he was resting, I walked up to his bath chamber and washed my face clean with water.Arnou, Alisa, Nikkini, and even the guests were forced to remain in the palace for a ceremony that wasn't confirmed. Everyone was suffering from this entire situation.It needed to end and I was powerless to end it. I kept spending all my time, investigating Herley’s origins even though Alisa was so sure she had been a good person.What if it was all an immense waste of time? I had not made any progress on the whereabouts of the antidote either
Chapter 79Nafira and I are in a cave. It's cold and terribly wet, we've been on the run for three days now, and despite Nafira’s attempt at cloaking us, Mama's men are too good.They keep on finding us because they know if they return to Mama without us, she'll kill them.On the morning of the day, we escaped, Nafira and I had stayed glued to each other in that smelly stable. Too scared to do anything else but munch on moist bread Nafira had stolen from the chef.At first, the fortress had been quiet, then the chef had gone into the kitchen and cried out in outrage.Within minutes the entire Hottigan fortress was in pandemonium. Amid the commotion, we had snuck into the kitchen wagon and hidden between the supplies that left the fortress.I just got chills whenever I remembered the wrath with which Mama had yelled our names.I knew within me that she wouldn't rest until she found us. I think Nafira knew it too but she liked to pretend like everything was fine.Even now, in this cave
Chapter 80Arnou had woken up some time while I slept and had sat beside me working on his table.When I woke up with a scream, he jumped up and tried to confirm that everything was alright with me.He kept asking if I was alright but I was still reeling from the epiphany I just had.“Daciana please just say something. I verbally need to know that you’re fine,” Arnou please be with me.I knew this entire situation must be tasking for him. I mean he can’t even touch me to make sure I’m fine.“I’m fine, I’m fine. I just-“ I reassured Arnou as I trailed off and shook my head in an attempt to clear my thoughts.Arnou let out a breath of relief and balanced on the bed beside me.“Bad dream?” He asked quietly.I blinked at him strangely. I could swear I felt sand on my skin and my sweat-soaked dress must have actually been soaked by raindrops from the trees in the woods.“Arnou I need to tell you something. And please I need you to not interrupt me until you’ve heard everything I have to sa
Chapter 81The door opened and Gabriel walked in followed by a woman. She was dressed in draping skirts and had cowries braided into her hair.I smiled a welcoming smile at her and beckoned them both to come closer.“Good evening Lycan, Queen of queens,” she greeted with a bow.Gabriel bowed before us as well but remained silent.“Thank you, Gabriel, you may leave,” I waved him off.“Hello woman, what's your name?” Arnold asked the lady politely.“Verena, Lycan,” she replied.I could have offered her a seat but I didn't. Arnou and I were both seated while she stood in front of us.It was a simple power tactic I had picked up as Luna of the blood diamond pack.I was being incredibly nice to her but by not offering her a seat, It unconsciously reminded her of her position. “Hello Verena, can you tell us a bit about what you do?” I asked her with a smile.She had no idea why she was here. Gabriel had not briefed her on our questioning. She probably wondered why the Lycan and High Luna