SILENT TRAPS

Elaris’s POV

My heart turned cold with the sound of heavy footsteps turning the corner of the wall, walking right towards where I hid.

Caedmon couldn’t see me yet, but I recognized his voice.

“Fan out. She cannot be far away.”

Virelle’s lighter footfalls came next behind him.

“She must still be close by.”

My heart pounded.

Averic stood beside me in the dark, his arm securely placed around my waist.

Neither of us moved an inch.

If Caedmon found us standing there together, how would we explain that I was eavesdropping on him and Virelle?

Not only that, Virelle would find out that her whole plan was blown to bits.

Averic bent down to whisper to me again.

“Stay behind me.”

I nodded without speaking.

The footsteps grew louder and louder.

I flattened myself against the stone column in the garden, my breath caught in my throat and my wolf inside me terrified.

Averic’s body protected mine.

I could sense the power emanating from him.

He was not afraid.

He was calculating.

I looked up at his face.

His jaw was hard set and his eyes were trained on the small gap between the hedge columns.

Caedmon’s shadow crossed the pathway.

"One last minute," he mumbled. "Search everywhere."

Averic gripped my hand tighter.

It suddenly hit me.

It wasn't just that he was hiding me.

It was because he was listening.

He wanted to see how much Caedmon had already spilled.

There was the crack of a branch somewhere.

Caedmon turned.

The boots approached closer.

Then the voice came, interrupting Caedmon.

"Watch your step!"

As Caedmon took another step toward the alcove, Neryss Vale, the young palace maid, blocked his way with a heavy basket of linens.

The basket covered most of her body.

She seemed totally unconcerned about the heavily armed warrior standing before her.

Caedmon halted.

"What are you doing here?"

Neryss blinked innocently.

"Delivery of linens."

"This is an off-limits area."

"I wasn't aware of that."

Caedmon looked toward the gardens.

"Get out of the way."

Neryss did not.

Instead, she shifted the basket on her hip.

"These are to be delivered to the western wing."

"I said to move."

She kept her polite stance.

"Yes, sir."

And yet, she did not move at all.

I stood behind the pillar.

Averic's gaze hardened.

He understood her game.

She was giving us time.

"Be careful where you step," said Neryss coolly, lowering her head so that she fully blocked Caedmon's view of what lay ahead.

Caedmon’s expression contorted.

"Do you know who I am?"

"Yes."

"Then you should learn obedience."

Neryss looked down.

"I'm sorry."

She shifted the basket.

A pile of folded linen fell off the side of the basket, landing right on Caedmon’s shoes.

He cursed.

"I’m sorry!"

Neryss quickly bent to pick them up.

Caedmon took a step backward irritably.

Virelle suddenly appeared behind Caedmon.

"What is taking so long?"

Neryss straightened.

"Nothing, Lady Virelle."

Virelle glanced towards the wall.

For a moment, I thought she had spotted us.

But then Neryss deliberately took a step to the side and blocked Virelle's way as well.

"My lady, perhaps you should return indoors. The garden is damp."

Virelle’s gaze narrowed.

"You are dismissed."

Neryss made a bow.

"Of course."

She remained standing until Caedmon turned away.

Caedmon snarled at the servant, muttering a curse under his breath and turning back to address Virelle, allowing me to make my escape through the servants' passage.

Averic gestured for me to go first.

I silently made my way through the passage.

He gave one glance towards Neryss before disappearing down the corridor.

I left her before we even arrived at the grand hall.

I rushed off alone to Maevra’s wing.

I was trying to process a lot.

Who was this mysterious woman?

Why had she put herself at risk by interfering?

And how did she know that we needed help?

Before I even had time to turn the corner, I heard footsteps behind me.

I turned around.

There was Neryss.

“Don’t stop.”

I looked at her in astonishment.

“Why did you help us?”

She got serious.

“Because I saw someone going into Lady Maevra’s room last night.”

I felt my heart stopping.

“Who?”

Neryss took a quick glance behind her.

“It was Virelle.”

I rushed to Maevra’s wing, thinking that the presence of Virelle in her room last night was a deliberate scheme from Caedmon.

But now I realized that Neryss’ warning made the situation even more dangerous.

Virelle was close enough to Lady Maevra’s room.

She had the access.

The motive.

And now I knew that she was messing with the medicine.

Two guards stood outside Lady Maevra’s room when I arrived there.

“Where is Sela?”

“One of the healers called for you.”

My stomach clenched.

“When?”

“Just after Lady Maevra fell ill.”

I looked through the slightly open doorway.

Maevra was alone.

That wasn’t supposed to happen.

I went into the room right away.

Maevra was lying in her bed, her hands were pale and weak, but her mind was sharp as she saw my fast breathing.

“Elaris?”

I approached her quickly.

“Do you feel worse?”

“Just tired.”

Her voice was weaker than usual.

I placed my hand on her forehead.

It was cold.

“Have you taken your medicine?”

Maevra nodded.

“A little while ago.”

My stomach fell down.

“Who has given it to you?”

“One of the servants.”

“Who?”

She closed her eyes for a moment.

“I do not know.”

I turned my gaze toward the bedside table.

The medicine bottle was missing.

My panic rose up.

“Where is your tonic?”

Maevra pointed towards the cabinet.

“It must be somebody’s idea to move it.”

I opened the cabinet.

Empty.

There was no bottle.

“You look like you have just met a ghost, my dear Elaris,” whispered Maevra, stretching out to touch the edge of her mattress.

I sat down next to her.

"Someone's after you."

Her expression never faltered.

"I suspected as much."

I gazed at her.

"What? Suspected?"

Maevra nodded.

"The questions you asked told me plenty."

"Why didn't you tell me?"

"Because I wanted to make sure if my suspicions were right."

I lowered my voice.

"It's Virelle."

Maevra's gaze sharpened.

"Do you have any proof?"

"Yes. I have something."

I showed her the cloth with the tiny stopper.

Maevra observed it carefully.

Her expression changed.

"Where did you get it from?"

"In my room."

Maevra grabbed for it.

But once she saw the crescent mark, her fingers stopped.

"You recognize it?"

"Yes."

"Where?"

Maevra's gaze moved to the locked door.

"Many years ago."

I sat down next to her, dying to tell her about Virelle and Caedmon, but realizing that without any tangible evidence, I would sound insane with my jealous suspicions.

"Maevra, you must trust me."

"I do."

"Then trust me when I tell you Virelle isn't here because of Averic."

Maevra continued to gaze at the stopper.

"She has another reason to be here."

"Yes."

"And Caedmon?"

"They work together."

Maevra took a deep breath.

"That's even worse than I thought."

My heart stuttered.

"You knew?"

“I got the feeling Caedmon coming back had nothing to do with making peace.”

She glanced out the window.

“Power brings in people ready to tear down whatever stands in their way of the crown.”

“We’ll have to let Averic know.”

“Not yet.”

I stared at her.

"Why?"

"Because if Virelle has already poisoned me, then she may have made plans for the accusation."

My stomach felt like it had just been dropped through a hole in the floor.

"She could make it look like I did it."

Maevra met my gaze.

"Exactly."

I carefully examined Maevra's daily medicine bottle, tasting a little on my fingertip—only to discover that it smelled slightly metallic and wrong.

I wiped my finger on the cloth.

"This isn't the right medicine."

Maevra's breath came quick and shallow.

"What is it?"

"I don't know."

I held the bottle up to the light.

There was a small amount of black substance coating the bottom of the bottle.

"This was added later."

Maevra shut her eyes tightly.

"Then we must hide the bottle."

I frowned.

"Why?"

"Because whoever did this will be coming back for it."

There was some noise from outside.

Neither of us said anything.

Footsteps were coming nearer.

I hastily covered the bottle with a piece of cloth.

Maevra said softly,

“Put it under the mattress.”

I obeyed.

Then the handle of the door twisted.

I got a shock – Virelle was already manipulating the doses of Maevra’s medication right before us!

But then another thing came to my mind.

It was no mistake, the missing bottle!

The bottle had been taken away on purpose!

I glanced at Maevra.

“We should find Sela.”

“Yes.”

“I will.”

Maevra stopped me by taking my wrist.

“Elaris.”

I turned back.

“Do not accuse anyone without a proof.”

“I know.”

“And take care of yourself.”

Her eyes glanced at my abdomen.

I was petrified.

She knew it.

Or she suspected it.

“Maevra…”

She smiled.

“I have lived long enough to recognize a woman who tries to guard something dear.”

I felt my throat tightening.

“You knew it?”

“I only suspected.”

But I did not have time to ask anything more – the door suddenly opened.

Virelle entered the room.

Two guards accompanied her.

Her face was full of horror and worry.

Before I managed to hide the modified bottle, Virelle entered the bedroom, followed by two palace guards. She pointed her manicured finger at me and shouted that she had caught me trying to poison the Luna with her life-saving tonic!

"There!"

Her voice echoed throughout the room.

"She was holding the bottle!"

The guards instantly drew their weapons.

I backed away.

"That didn't happen."

Virelle rushed up to Maevra.

"Mother Luna, are you all right?"

Maevra stared at her.

"You're lying."

Virelle's face crumpled to wounded innocence.

"I came to see if you were all right."

One guard went up to me.

"Give me the bottle."

I froze.

The bottle was not in my hands.

It was hidden under Maevra's mattress.

Virelle knew it.

She had counted on me hiding it.

The second guard checked the bedside table.

Nothing there.

His eyes moved to me.

"Where's the tonic?"

"I don't have it."

Virelle suddenly pointed at the bed.

"Look underneath."

My blood chilled.

The guard raised the mattress.

There was the wrapped bottle.

His eyes widened.

Virelle covered her mouth.

"Oh, Goddess..."

She stared at me with perfect horror.

"She poisoned the Luna."

I stared at the bottle.

Then there was Virelle.

She had thought of everything.

However, there was something she didn’t expect.

The door was opened once more.

There stood Sela, panting and holding a sealed record from the medical department.

“I know who tampered with that tonic.”

All eyes turned to her.

Virelle was looking directly into Sela’s eyes.

“Here is the original preparation record as proof.”