Chapter 25
CHAPTER 25
L othar gathered his mate close, his chest aching at her tears. He had failed her again. How could he have let her be taken by that male? His Beast growled, still demanding to destroy the threat to his mate. But she was clinging to him, her small body shaking, and his rage faltered.
He stroked her hair soothingly and her sobs gradually subsided. She finally looked up, but the shaky smile on her face was replaced by horror.
“Oh my God. Your throat is bleeding.”
Her voice broke on the words as she reached up to touch his neck. His Beast retreated further, unable to maintain its hold in the face of her distress.
“I’m fine.” His voice was still rough, but he managed to form the words. He caught her hand and guided it to his neck where the wound was already knitting closed. “See? Already healing.”
She traced the closing wound with trembling fingers, and he breathed in her scent - fear fading into relief. His Beast purred at her touch, content now that she was safe in his arms. He pressed his face into her hair, allowing her presence to ground him, to chase away the last vestiges of rage.
“I thought-” She pressed closer, her whole body shaking. “When I saw the blood-”
“Shh.” He stroked her back, marveling at how quickly his Beast had yielded to her gentle touch. “It takes more than that to harm me. Much more.”
Tears sparkled on her lashes as she smiled at him again, and he could no longer resist. He bent his head and kissed her, still amazed at how perfectly she fit between his tusks. The taste of her, the feel of her pressed against him, drove away the last traces of his Beast. Her hands slid up his chest, and he groaned, deepening the kiss. Heat flared between them as she responded eagerly, her body melting into his.
Then she stiffened and pushed away.
“We have to go back. One of the Brides was going to do something to Jessamin.”
“Poison,” he said grimly. “The convent was in an uproar when I returned.”
“Oh no.” Her face paled. “I overheard them in the garden - that’s why Khorrek took me. The High King doesn’t want Norhaven and Almohad to form an alliance and if-”
“If she dies here, any alliance would be out of the question.” He growled, his Beast stirring again at the thought of such treachery. “Hold on to me.”
He swept her into his arms and started running, giving the Curse enough rein to move faster than his normal speed. The forest blurred around them as he raced through the trees, following the path back to the convent. She clung to him, her face buried against his chest.
“Do you know what kind of poison?” she asked, her voice muffled against his chest. “I might be able to help.”
“I don’t know, but we’ll find out. “
They returned through the gate in the garden wall and he paused long enough to break the handle and create a temporary lock. The guards could arrange a more permanent solution once he informed them of its location.
The convent was unnaturally silent - the usual bustle of activity had disappeared, replaced by hushed whispers and the soft padding of feet. His skin crawled at the oppressive atmosphere as he carried her to Jessamin’s quarters.
Several women huddled together outside Jessamin’s door, their faces drawn with worry, but they parted as he approached, his fierce expression brooking no argument. As soon as they were inside, he placed Jana back on her feet and they hurried through to the bedroom..
Jessamin lay still on the bed, her skin pale and waxy. The room reeked of herbs and medicines and incense. The healers were clustered around a table to one side of the room, having a soft-voiced argument. Ulric sat beside her, holding her limp hand, his face a grim mask. Jana rushed over to the bed, ignoring the startled looks from the attendants, and gently pressed her fingers to Jessamin’s wrist.
“How long has she been like this?”
“She collapsed shortly after breakfast,” one of the attendants said. “The healers can’t determine the cause.”
“What was the last thing she had to eat or drink?”
“She had tea with one of the Brides.”
“Is the cup still available?” she demanded.
“It may be. I don’t believe anyone has been back in the sitting room since then.”
The servant hurried away as his mate finished her examination.
“Do you know what’s wrong with her?” Ulric demanded.
“I might, but it could be the result of several different types of poison. I hope we can find the cup.”
Time seemed to stretch endlessly before the servant hurried back in and handed Jana a delicate cup. She lifted it to her nose and inhaled deeply. Her face turned pale but her voice was calm when she turned to Ulric.
“Your Majesty,” she said calmly. “I recognize this poison. I’ve worked with the plant it comes from, and I know how to counteract its effects.”
The two healers exchanged skeptical glances. The older one cleared his throat. “We’ve already tried several antidotes-”
“Please,” she interrupted, her attention fixed on Ulric. “Let me help her. I know what to do but we need to act quickly.”
Ulric’s massive hand engulfed Jessamin’s pale one, his thumb stroking her skin with surprising gentleness. When he looked up at Jana, his eyes were dark with pain.
“What do you need?” he asked hoarsely.
“I need my herbs,” she said, turning to him.
Before he could ask what to bring her, the door burst open and a healer entered, his arms full of bottles and pouches. He started to order them out, but Ulric’s growl stopped him in his tracks.
“Lady Jana is in charge,” Ulric commanded. “She knows how to help the queen.”
“I need fresh water, clean cloths, and a mortar and pestle,” she told the servants, then turned to him. “In the garden, there’s a small patch of purple flowers near the stone wall. Bring me as many roots as you can find, and look for white mushrooms growing at the base of the oak tree.”
Her fingers traced patterns in the air as she described the other herbs she needed. He recognized several of them from their time in the woods and did his best to memorize the others.