I hoped it would make me feel better, but all I feel is fury and fear as I march back up to my wing. Raelyn has to be okay. I’ll accept nothing less.
“Kian!” my father’s angry voice rings out, stopping me in my tracks.
Hasn’t he yelled enough today?
“What’s this I hear about Lord Havordshire’s son being in our dungeon?” he spits out as he gets into my face.
“He assaulted and poisoned my wife!” I retort.
The king frowns. “I’m sure it was a misunderstanding. Your wife was looking a little peaked earlier in the garden. Perhaps she is ill.”
I can’t believe the words I’m hearing.
“He was found on top of her in a bedroom.” I seethe.
Father crosses his arms. “Who’s to say she wasn’t there by choice? Perhapssheshould be in the dungeon for forsaking her vows.”
“You’ve got to be joking right now.”
My father’s eyes burn with ire. “Watch your tongue, son.”
I point toward my wing. “She is unconscious in our bed! The alchemists are trying to figure out what she was drugged with. How dare you accuse her of misconduct?”
My father raises a brow, not even fazed by my words. “I was told she was seen with Dylan Havordshire alone in the garden and willingly followed him up the stairs toward the north wing.”
“That doesn’t make her guilty of anything.”
He tilts his head, a menacing smile on his face. “It does not prove her innocence either.”
“I’m sure she will make things clear when she awakens.”
Father tuts. “You’d better hope so.”
“Why not use your truthsayers to question Dylan?” I ask. “I’m sure they can confirm his guilt.”
“Lord Havordshire is to be released immediately. I have no intention of interrogating him at this time. If I find you go against my wishes or lay another finger on him, there will be consequences.”
I bite down on my tongue to keep from saying something I’ll regret. Of course Father would be on Dylan’s side. I just have to hope Raelyn can explain when she wakes up, but Lady Astoria’s words that Sera overheard haunt me: “She won’t remember a thing.”
I stalkdown the hall toward the alchemist’s chambers.
“Please tell me you have something,” I say as I barge in without knocking.
Hennig looks up from his instruments and sighs. “I don’t have good news for you, I’m afraid.”
“Spit it out.”
“The drink appears to contain an overpowered version of the suppression tonic that Raelyn brought when she first arrived at the palace.”
Shit. Her stepmother must know. But why in the hells would her father have told that conniving bitch?
“Is that what knocked her out?” I ask.
Hennig shakes his head. “There’s also a sedative and paralytic in it.”
“Can you counteract it? Wake her up?” I ask, holding my breath.
“I can try,” he says, but I can tell he’s holding back.
