That was my mother’s signature poison.
The leshane’s power drained away, and my body was restored to some of its former strength as I reached out to Emma through our bond. I felt her vibrant soul brush against my own, so she was alive.
Thank the gods. Though this was yet another close call. I had been cutting myself off from her, avoiding her, to save her from experiencing some of the agony. I didn’t want her to feel the leshane’s magic. I tried to shield her from the blowback as much as possible, because I felt it my duty to do so.
Another foolish mistake. I could shield her from the leshane, but not my own mother.
The sight of Emma lying in a hospital bed was far too familiar to me. I hated every moment of it. Her face was swollen, hives still blooming over her skin. She’d had a bad allergic reaction.
“Emma.” I pulled up a chair. Finlay hovered behind me as I grasped her hand. “Can you breathe?”
“I’ll be okay.” Her throat was raspy, as she was still recovering. Her eyes went to Finlay. “Can you give us a moment, please?”
He did so, though his eyes flitted to me for a moment— as if he worried about leaving Emma alone with me.
He needed to mind his own damn business.
Once Finlay shut the door, Emma gave a weak cough. “It was an assassin.”
“What happened?”
“He stabbed me. A wound to the stomach.”
I pulled down the hospital blanket and lifted Emma’s gown to see. She didn’t protest. She was wearing nothing underneath, but I hardly fathomed that fact. The thick bandage over what I knew had to be the entry point caught all my attention.
I gently covered the wound back up. “A poisoned blade.”
“Yes. He… as he stabbed me, he told me your mother sent her regards.”
My throat became tight as my hands shook with rage. I couldn’t believe… didn’t want to think… that my mother had done this.
But the evidence was there, and it was too much to deny. Over all others, I believed Emma.
I squeezed her hand tightly. “I should’ve been there.”
“Finlay was. He saved my life.”
Gratefulness coursed through me. Though I despised him, I owed Finlay everything for saving Emma’s life. If he hadn’t shown…
My body shuddered with the possible reality. “Is he staying here with you?”
“Yes.” Her tone was wary. “What are you doing?”
I rose from my seat. “I am going to rectify the situation.”
“Ethan, if you confront her, it’ll make it worse.” Emma’s eyes were full of fear. She truly believed that.
“I have to do something. I won’t allow you to be frightened of her.”
I left Emma behind, though her face had gone pale. Finlay slipped in the moment I slipped out. Though spitefulness flared, I privately thanked him for being with her, so she wouldn’t be alone.
I should be at her bedside, and yet, I couldn’t be. Not when there was a threat to her existence.
I changed into a wolven and charged into a run the moment I left the infirmary. The university was far left behind me as I ran toward the royal grounds, where my mother’s mansion was. Revenge had me trapped within its jaws, and I foamed at the mouth to fulfill it.
Over the years, my mother had gotten rid of a variety of political opponents using her poison. She’d never been caught. My father had always shielded her from the backlash, and when that didn’t work, she merely threw one of her servants to the wolves to satisfy the Circle and place blame.
But never would I assume she’d be so bold to pull a stunt like this. I’d been ignoring the obvious. This was my mistake.
