Poison in the Palace
203 Words
The tea smelled wrong.
Evelyn noticed it immediately.
Subtle.
Almost undetectable.
But wrong.
She froze.
“You’re not drinking that,” she said sharply.
Li Jian paused.
Looked at her.
Then at the tea.
“You’re certain?” he asked.
“Yes.”
No hesitation.
He set the cup down.
Evelyn stepped forward.
Carefully.
Slowly.
She leaned in.
Examined it.
“Bitter almond,” she whispered.
His eyes darkened.
“Poison,” he said.
She nodded.
Silence.
Heavy.
“Inside the palace,” he murmured.
“Close to you,” she corrected.
Their eyes met.
And something changed again.
This wasn’t coincidence anymore.
This was targeted.
Personal.
“You were right,” he said.
Evelyn crossed her arms.
“I usually am.”
A faint smile.
Gone quickly.
Then—
He stepped closer.
Close enough to feel his presence.
“You saved me again,” he said quietly.
Her breath caught.
“That doesn’t make me safe,” she replied.
“No,” he said.
His voice dropped.
“It makes you mine to protect.”
Her pulse spiked.
That—
Was new.
Now she’s under his protection… and deeper in danger
…and neither of them realized just how deep this would go.
- Writer
