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I also knew one important thing about Constantine. He knew everything there was to know about poisons and how they worked.
“Vampires possess ancient knowledge about poisons and have the ability to strike in secrecy. This is probably just the start of their effort to disrupt the stability of your reign or to undermine your alliance with the Hemlocks.”
The king nodded, his mind obviously racing with the implications. It was obvious to us both that a thorough investigation was necessary to uncover the truth and bring the responsible party to justice.
“We must approach this matter with the utmost care,” he told me, his voice exasperated, but filled with resolve. “The safety of us all depends on it.”
“If Your Highness allows me a few men to take with me, we could scour the castle for any evidence of vampire involvement, such as concealed traces of their presence, or even a hidden lair in the woods.”
The king’s eyes widened in shock. “Do you think they would dare venture so deeply into our territory to be right in front of our noses?”
“It is possible,” I confirmed something he already knew. “Let’s just hope that no one in the castle is working for them.”
That idea would be devastating for him. I knew that everyone in his castle had been in his employment for at least five years. That meant that only those worthy of his loyalty were allowed to work for him, and a full background check was done on every single one of his employees, including me. Now, if it was really true that someone inside the castle betrayed him, this man would probably take it as a personal insult.
“I hope that is not the case,” he said a little naively, but I decided to keep that to myself. “Also, I think that your suggestion about an investigation is good. You can go talk to themain guards and take as many men as you need. Additionally, we must reach out to our allies within the vampire community who are committed to peace and cooperation. They could provide valuable insight in identifying any rogues among their kind.”
He paused after that, but there was nothing else left to say. We both understood the delicate nature of the situation. This incident threatened to strain the already fragile human-vampire bonds.
With determination etched on his face, the king concluded. “We shall proceed with caution and wisdom. We will not allow this incident to bring us down. It will serve as a reminder that we need to be more vigilant in our pursuit of the truth.”
He didn’t need to say anything more. I knew that he meant me as well. I needed to keep a closer eye on Lilith as well. She was my focus.
I couldn’t help but think whether she was the real target. Or perhaps, her sister? I still couldn’t quite understand what anyone would gain with Luke’s death. He wasn’t an important factor in the human-vampire relations. His death wouldn’t change anything. That was why I couldn’t help but think that he drank that coffee by accident, that it was meant for someone else, and the cups simply got mixed up somehow.
“Could you please go bring Lilith to me?” the king’s voice brought me back to the present moment.
“Of course,” I bowed quickly once, and found my way out of the study.
I knew where to find her. She would be in the place where she had spent the past two days. Luke’s room.
That idea didn’t sit right, but at the same time, I couldn’t say anything. He was her husband to be. It was only to be expected of her to stay by his side and tend to him. Yet,something inside of me wanted to wring his neck because of this, especially when I would see her dabbing his forehead with a wet cloth, keeping the fever at bay.
I stopped in front of Luke’s room, clenching my fists. I knocked hard without thinking.
“Yes?” I heard Lilith’s voice from inside.
I opened the door and immediately saw Lilith sitting by Luke’s side, tending to him with unwavering care and devotion. She gently wiped his forehead with a damp cloth, which made me grind my teeth. Much to my annoyance, the room, filled with an air of tenderness and concern, smelled of solace in the times of heavy uncertainty.
“Lilith,” I called out her name, and only then did her eyes lock with mine curiously, as if wondering what could be so important for me to interrupt them. “Your father requires your immediate presence.”
As soon as these words left my lips, I couldn’t help but feel another pang of envy. I had no idea where all of this was coming from. The sight of her caring for Luke, her untiring dedication evident in every touch and word, only heightened my own desires and frustrations.
“What is it about?” she wondered, getting up and putting the cloth on a small bedside table.
“I don’t know,” I shrugged.
She didn’t ask for more clarification. Instead, she turned to Luke and smiled at him. “I’ll be back as soon as I see what Father needs me for.”
“Alright,” Luke said weakly.
Only then did I glance at him. He was still sickly pale, as his body was still fighting to recover from the poisoning. I couldn’t help but think how fortunate he was. The dosage must not have been lethal, otherwise no amount of urgent help would have made any difference.
Something just didn’t feel right, only I couldn’t quite put my finger on it. There was a tangible threat inside the castle, and I knew that I couldn’t take my eyes off of Lilith even for a single second. The king had told me to watch over both of his daughters when they were together, but apart, Lilith was my priority.
So, as soon as she walked out of the room, I followed her. She walked slowly, noiselessly, the carpet underneath her feet absorbing the sound. I caught up with her quickly and now we were walking side by side.
There was a palpable awkwardness barring us off from each other. The weight of recent events, most importantly Luke’s poisoning, seemed to cast a shadow over our interaction, of which there had been very little in the past two days.
