CHAPTER FIFTEEN
1269 Words
Alexander court doors slammed shut behind him with a sound like a coffin closing.
Torches lined the stone walls, casting long shadows over the maids who bow their head in silence, waiting. No one dared breathe too loud when Alexander was like this.
Alexander didn’t throw her into the dungeon .
He dragged her straight to the center of his court, right in front of his throne, and forced her to her knees.
“Look up,” he said, voice low, dangerous.
Laura lifted her chin, eyes burning.
“If you’re going to kill me, get it over with.”
Alexander crouched in front of her, close enough that she could feel the heat of him. The maids could see every word, every breath between them. That was the point.
“I’m not going to kill you,” he said. “That would be too easy.”
He ran a thumb across her jaw, rough and possessive.
“You think you can do anything you like with others. Laugh with them. Let them touch what’s mine.”
“Am not yours,” Laura spat.
His jaw ticked.
“Then prove it.”
He stood and snapped his fingers. A servant brought forward a silver chalice filled with dark liquid.
“This is the Oath of Possession,” Alexander announced to Laura .
“Ancient magic. If you drinks, your blood will bind to me. If you lie about where your loyalty lies, the poison will burn you from the inside out.”
Murmurs rippled through the room.
Laura stared at the cup. “You’d rather kill me than let me go.”
“No,” Alexander said quietly, only for her ears. “I’d rather brand you as mine than watch you belong to anyone else.”
He held the cup to her lips himself. His hand trembled—not from fear, but from restraint.
“Drink,” he said. " you are mine and nobody else owns you".
The court was silent.
The poison swirled in the cup.
And Laura had to choose.
The chalice was cold against Laura lips.
Poison. Ancient. Meant to burn out a liar’s heart from the inside.
Alexander held it there, eyes locked on hers, daring her to break. The whole room was silent. If she drank, she either proved herself, his or died trying.
Laura didn’t flinch.
She tilted her head back and drank.
The liquid slid down her throat like ice and fire at once. awaiting her death in silence.
Every maids held their breath. Alexander’s hand froze mid-air, like he wasn’t sure if he wanted her to live or break.
A second passed.
Two.
Nothing happened.
No scream. No collapse. No blood.
Laura was shocked why this didn't affect her ,lowered the empty cup, wiped her mouth with the back of her hand, and looked straight at Alexander.
“Is that it?” Laura said. Her voice didn’t even shake.
Alexander’s expression cracked for half a second. “What…?”
Laura stepped forward, still kneeling, but now Alexander looked like the one on trial.
“The poison didn’t work,” Laura said quietly. but didn't try to act confused.
Gasps rippled through the court.
The runes on the walls flickered, like the magic itself was confused.
Laura smiled, slow and dangerous.
this words ran through her mind.
" I will do whatever it takes to live "
The court erupted in whispers.
Alexander stood there, stunned, jealousy and something else—respect, fear, maybe even desire—flashing in his eyes.
He’d wanted to break her.
Instead, he just proved how untouchable she really was.
Laura stepped out of the chamber, the heavy door closing behind her with a dull thud. Her mind was still spinning.
The poison didn’t work.
It should have. Ancient court poison didn’t just fail. Unless… unless she was wrong about who she was. She barely noticed the cold stone under her feet, too caught up in the thought clawing at her.
“Laura.”
A voice pulled her back. One of Nathan’s maids stood in the hallway, hands folded, eyes wide with relief.
“Zinna’s awake,” the maid said quickly. “She’s conscious now.”
Laura blinked. All the confusion drained out, replaced by a sharp jolt of urgency.
“Take me to her. Now.”
They moved fast down the corridor, past flickering torches and silent guards. When Laura reached Nathan court, the physician was already there, wiping his hands with a cloth. Zina lay on the bed, pale but breathing steady, eyes open and tracking the room.
“She’s out of danger,” the physician said quietly. “She can leave now. Rest will do the rest.”
Laura let out a breath she didn’t realize she’d been holding. She crossed to the bed, helped Zinna sit up, and quickly dressed her in clean clothes they’d brought.
Nathan stood there too. He gave a short nod, his expression unreadable but grateful.
“Thank you,” Laura said to him, low but sincere. For everything.
Once Zinna was steady enough, they packed what little they had.
Nora slipped an arm under Zina’s to support her as they walked out of the Lord Dutch household.
The air outside hit different. Cool, open, free.
They carried their things in front of them, stepping past the gates with the weight of the place finally lifting off their shoulders.
The gates of the Lord Dutch household had barely closed behind Laura and Zina when the sound of hooves stopped them cold.
A carriage stood in the road, polished and quiet. Too quiet.
Before Laura could speak, a footman stepped down, opened the door, and gestured.
“Miss. The young master requests your presence inside.”
Laura hesitated, but Zina was still weak, and arguing here would draw attention. She stepped in.
Inside, a man she didn’t recognize sat back against the leather seat. He watched her like he’d been waiting years for this moment.
When he spoke, his voice was smooth, practiced.
“My name is Tyson. Heir of the Tyson family.”
He leaned forward.
“I’ve been watching you, Laura. You and the Lord's Dutch household. You have a fire in you. So here’s my offer: walk with me. Hand in hand. We plan it together. We kill them. We destroy the Lord's Dutch household. Burn it to the ground.”
Laura stared at him.
“You want me to help you murder them?”
“Not just murder,” Tyson said, smiling. “Legacy. Power. You’re wasted there. Aspire higher. Be on the winning side.”
For a second, the carriage was silent except for the sound of Zina’s breathing.
Laura laughed, short and sharp.
“You don’t know me if you think I’d take your hand to do that.”
Tyson’s smile faltered.
“I know you have enemies there. I know they’ve wronged you.”
Laura’s eyes went cold.
“If anyone kills the Lord's Dodge household, it won’t be you. It won’t be your family. It’ll be me.”
Tyson landed her a slap . blood clot in Laura's mouth.
but She sat up straighter, voice low and certain.
“They have more enemies than I can count. But if that house falls, I’ll be the first to take it down. Not as your pawn. On my own terms.”
Tyson grinned.
Laura reached for the door.
“No one is taking down Lord's Dutch family except from me . me Laura .And Also I’m not for sale.”
She stepped out, Zina following, leaving the carriage behind in the dust.
- Writer
