POISONED
1095 Words
The poison wasn’t meant to scare me.
It was meant to kill me.
Darkness wrapped around me like cold water. My chest felt heavy, and every breath burned as though fire had settled inside my lungs.
Voices drifted in and out, too faint to understand.
“…Hold her still!”
“Your Majesty, the poison is spreading—”
“I said hold her!”
Then… nothing.
A cool breeze brushed against my face.
Slowly, I forced my eyes open.
The room was dim, lit only by the soft glow of a dying fire and the silver light of the moon pouring through the tall windows.
My body felt weak, as if every bone had been drained of strength.
I tried to sit up.
Pain shot through my stomach.
A gasp escaped my lips.
“Don’t.”
The deep voice came from beside me.
I turned.
Kael sat in a wooden chair next to the bed.
His head rested against the back of the chair, his eyes closed. His arms were folded across his broad chest, but even in sleep, he looked alert, as though he could wake at the slightest sound.
A strand of black hair had fallen across his forehead.
Without his usual cold expression, he looked… human.
Almost peaceful.
Had he been here the whole time?
The mattress creaked as I shifted.
Golden eyes opened instantly.
For a brief moment, relief flickered across his face before his calm expression returned.
“You’re awake.”
His voice was low and rough.
“You…” My throat hurt. “What happened?”
He reached for a glass of water on the table.
“Drink.”
I accepted it with trembling hands.
The cool water soothed my burning throat.
After a few careful sips, I looked at him.
“I remember eating…”
“You were poisoned.”
The words were simple.
Calm.
But I noticed the tightness in his jaw.
“I almost died?”
“You did.”
My heart skipped.
“I used Lycan healing before the poison reached your heart.”
I stared at him.
“Lycan healing?”
“It comes at a price.”
“What price?”
He looked away.
“You don’t need to worry about that.”
I frowned.
“I do if you almost died saving me.”
Silence.
His silence was answer enough.
“You…” I whispered.
“You gave me your own life force?”
He shrugged as though it meant nothing.
“You were worth saving.”
My chest tightened.
No one had ever said those words to me before.
Not my father.
Not Damon.
No one.
I quickly looked away before he noticed the tears forming in my eyes.
“Why?” I asked quietly.
“You barely know me.”
“I know enough.”
“You know I’m an Omega.”
“I know you’re Aria.”
“You know everyone thinks I’m cursed.”
“I don’t.”
I laughed bitterly.
“You should.”
He leaned forward.
“Should I believe people who watched an innocent woman collapse and did nothing?”
His question stole my words.
The memory rushed back.
The banquet hall.
The laughter.
My body hitting the floor.
No one moved.
Except him.
“They all just watched,” I whispered.
“I know.”
“You were the only one.”
“I know.”
His voice softened.
“And they’ll answer for it.”
I looked at him carefully.
His eyes weren’t filled with anger anymore.
They held something far more dangerous.
Determination.
The silence between us felt strangely comfortable.
Then I noticed the dark circles beneath his eyes.
His shirt was stained with dried blood.
His hair was slightly messy.
“You haven’t slept.”
“I’m fine.”
“That’s not what I asked.”
A faint smile tugged at his lips.
“You ask too many questions.”
“And you avoid too many answers.”
His smile grew just a little.
For the first time, he looked less like the terrifying Lycan King everyone feared…
…and more like a tired man carrying the weight of an entire kingdom.
I caught myself staring.
“What?”
“You smiled.”
“I did not.”
“You did.”
“It must have frightened you.”
I rolled my eyes.
“It wasn’t that bad.”
“So you’re admitting you were looking at me.”
Heat rushed to my cheeks.
“I wasn’t.”
“Liar.”
“I was making sure you weren’t secretly planning to throw me out of the palace.”
“I’ve had many plans.”
I narrowed my eyes.
“And?”
“None of them involved letting you leave.”
I blinked.
“You’re incredibly possessive.”
“I’ve been called worse.”
I couldn’t stop the small smile that escaped me.
He noticed.
His expression softened.
“There it is.”
“What?”
“A real smile.”
I quickly looked away.
“I didn’t smile.”
“You did.”
“I absolutely didn’t.”
“You should do it more often.”
Why did those words make my heart beat faster?
This man confused me.
One moment he was an untouchable king.
The next…
He was teasing me like we had known each other for years.
Maybe…
Maybe the monster everyone feared…
…wasn’t a monster at all.
But I wasn’t ready to trust him.
Not yet.
“I still don’t know who you really are,” I said quietly.
“You don’t.”
“And I don’t know why you’re helping me.”
“You will.”
“When?”
“When you’re ready to hear the truth.”
Before I could ask another question, someone knocked on the door.
A royal physician entered and bowed.
“Your Majesty… Lady Aria’s condition has stabilized.”
Kael nodded.
“Good.”
The physician smiled politely before leaving.
Neither of us noticed the servant standing just outside the chamber.
The moment he disappeared into the shadows, his respectful smile vanished.
He hurried through the dark corridors until he reached an abandoned tower.
A hooded figure stood waiting.
“Well?” the figure asked.
The servant lowered his head.
“The girl survived.”
For a long moment…
Silence.
Then the hooded figure smiled.
A cold…
Terrifying smile.
“So…”
“The Lost Luna still lives.”
The figure turned toward the moonlit window.
“Prepare the next move.”
“This time…”
“She won’t escape.”
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