THREE NIGHTS

Averic instructs the healers to bring him all the records of Maevra's medicines over the past ten days.

He reads over a long table in the medical room while Elaris is allowed to sit with the other healers, two warriors watching from the doorway.

The senior healer reads aloud as he makes his markings.

"Morning dose. Correct.

"Afternoon dose. Correct.

"First night. Reduced."

Elaris leans forward.

"I wasn't the one who prepared that."

The healer marks it as such and the next entry is yet another reduction.

Elaris remembers she had not prepared Maevra's medicine that night.

They reach for the third altered dose and Elaris immediately remembers the circumstances.

"I was with Maevra until the evening meal. After that I was called away to speak with Sela."

The healer checks over the household records.

The dates coincide with the three nights that saw deliberate reduction.

Two of those nights, after Virelle had already entered the palace under council escort.

Averic asks, "Who prepared the doses?"

The healer names them, none having been Elaris.

The discovery does not rule Virelle any less guilty.

But it does make one thing undeniable.

The poisoning was already underway.

Virelle is summoned before the table of records.

She arrives with an anxious look and immediately asks if Maevra has worsened.

Averic tells her they have found evidence that Maevra's medication was repeatedly reduced.

Virelle pushes her hand against her chest.

"I only tried to help!" Elaris watches her closely.

Virelle recounts that Maevra looked exhausted during the first few nights that she was visiting.

"I thought the medicine was far too strong for her!"

Averic asks, "You altered the dosage?"

"Only slightly,"

Virelle's admission catches everyone by surprise.

She quickly adds that she never intended to harm her.

"I thought a weaker dose might make her more comfortable."

The senior healer interrupts.

“You had no authority to alter Lady Maevra’s prescription.”

Virelle's eyes fill.

"I didn't know."

"You were told not to interfere with her treatment," says Averic.

Virelle lowers her head.

"I was afraid she would die."

Her explanation is soft enough to sound sincere.

Elaris says nothing.

She watches Averic process the confession.

He does not defend Virelle, nor does he condemn her.

The uncertainty is almost more damning than anger.

Before Averic can question Virelle, Lord Sennik arrives uninvited.

The council speaker carries the weight of the elders with him and several council warriors wait just outside the medical room.

His eyes settle on the bottles.

"I heard there was an accusation of poisoning."

Averic replies, "There is investigation."

Sennik looks towards Virelle.

"And this woman still under council protection."

"She is," says Averic.

Sennik reiterates that a woman believed to be carrying the Alpha's child cannot be accused of crimes based on suspicion.

"The altered bottles are concerning," Sennik says. "But concern is not proof."

Elaris feels the familiar feeling of pressure return.

Sennik has his attention on her.

"And neither is proximity."

Averic's expression hardens.

Sennik continues.

"Until the hearing, I recommend that Elaris remain under closer supervision."

Elaris understands what he is suggesting.

Another accusation.

Another restriction.

Another set of eyes watching her every move.

Averic refuses to publicly defend Sennik's demand.

"She is already guarded."

"That is not the same as supervision."

"She is not a prisoner."

Sennik matches his stare.

"Neither is Virelle."

Elaris agrees with Averic's compromise.

The palace will remain under increased security, no one moving freely without an escort.

Once the council speaker has gone, Averic turns towards Elaris.

"The private wing is no longer safe."

"I know."

"You will have an escort whenever you leave your chamber."

Elaris looks towards the warriors by the doorway.

"And if I refuse?“I won’t force you.”

Averic's response surprises her.

Then he adds, "But I won't leave you unprotected either."

The distinction is difficult to understand.

He is giving her protection but taking away freedom.

It feels like being placed inside a cage whose bars are made from concern.

Elaris agrees.

Not because she likes the restriction.

But someone has already proven that the palace can find her when she thinks she is safe.

Later, Neryss finds Elaris near the inner chamber.

She waits until the guards are far enough away to speak.

"The kitchen girls heard something."

Elaris asks what happened.

"Two of the scullery girls were carrying trays through the service passage when they heard Virelle talking to one of the senior attendants."

"What did she say?"

Neryss hesitates.

Then she repeats the words exactly.

"Sometime pregnancies are stronger than others."

Elaris's stomach tightens.

Neryss continues.

"And she said the weak ones rarely reach the blood moon."

Did the girls hear anything else?

"She smiled when she said it."

"And the attendant?" The attendant laughed.

The information feels like another piece of a puzzle that has been deliberately left unfinished.

"Will they testify? Neryss shakes her head.

"They're frightened."

"Of Virelle?"

"Of the council."

Elaris understands.

A servant can accuse a protected woman who believes to be carrying the supposed Alpha's child and suddenly find themselves without a position, without protection, or with anyone willing to believe them.

Elaris decides not to report the conversation.

Neryss looks confused.

"You heard what she said."

"I did."

"Then Averic needs to know."

"He needs proof."

Elaris places both hands over her stomach.

The child shifts faintly beneath her palms.

"I won't give Virelle another accusation to turn against me."

Neryss asks what she plans to do.

"Remember."

She repeats the words in her mind.

The exact sentence.

The location.

Those present.

Virelle's expression.

The attendant who laughed.

The time of day.

Everything.

If those women ever find the courage to speak, Elaris wants their testimony supported by facts rather than desperation.

She has spent too much of her life watching people twist her words into weapons.

This time, she will give them nothing to twist.

That evening, Averic comes to the inner chamber.

He dismisses the guards from inside the room, but leaves them stationed immediately outside.

For some time, neither of us speaks.

His attention eventually sets on my stomach.

"The healer examined the child again."

I ask, "And?"

"Strong."

Relief loosens something inside me.

"Good."

He remains silent.

Then he says, "Whatever happens with the investigation, I won't let anyone harm it."

I look at him.

"The child."

"Yes."

There is a pause.

He does not say, "me."

I notice.

Perhaps because he realizes it himself and his expression softens.

I ask if Maevra is improving.

"She is more awake often. The healers believe the damage can be managed if the poison stops."

"That is something."

"It is."

He looks at me again.

"You should rest."

I almost laugh.

Rest.

As if sleep can make me forget that someone inside this palace has been trying to destroy the people I care about.

Instead, I simply nod.

Before Averic leaves I ask him one question.

"If the next cup is wrong, will you believe me then?"

He stops.

The question sits between us.

I don't soften it.

I don't explain why I'm asking.

Eventually he answers.

"I will believe the proof."

The words hurt, though I expected them.

"So my word isn't enough?"

"This isn't about your word."

"It feels like it is."

He exhales.

"My mother nearly died."

"I know."

"I cannot afford to decide based on fear."

"And I cannot afford to be treated as guilty every time something happens."

His eyes meet mine.

"I am not calling you guilty."

" Not yet."

He doesn't argue.

That silence tells me more than a denial would have.

I turn away.

He leaves soon afterwards.

I remain standing beside the window long after the door closes.

His answer is fair.

It is also painful.

I had hoped that after everything we had survived together, he would choose to believe me before the evidence forced him to.

Instead, he has chosen caution.

I understand why.

I simply don't know how long my heart can survive it.

That night, I am escorted to Maevra's chamber for the first watch.

A healer remains beside the bed while two guards stand outside.

Maevra is more alert than she was earlier.

When I approach she reaches for me.

Her fingers close over my wrist.

"Elaris."

"I'm here."

Her eyes move towards the doorway before returning to me.

"Virelle has always known how to look gentle while she cuts."

The words send a shiver down my spine.

"You know of something."

"I know enough."

She struggles for breath and I immediately call for the healer.

Maevra stops me.

"No."

"Maevra—"

"Listen."

I lean closer.

"If they turn this palace against you, take the child and leave."

I stare at her.

"You want me to abandon you?"

"I want you alive."

Her grip weakens.

"Promise me."

I cannot make the promise.

But abandoning Maevra feels like surrendering the only family I have found since Caedmon destroyed mine.

"I'll keep the child safe," I tell her.

She watches me.

"That isn't the promise I asked for."

"I know."

She closes her eyes.

I remain beside her until her breathing settles and she slips into sleep.

On my way back through the west-wing corridor, I note that there is someone waiting near the entrance.

Virelle.

The guard who has been assigned to me is several steps behind.

Virelle moves just enough to place herself beside me without alarming anyone.

Her smile is pleasant for anyone watching.

Her words are only for me.

"He will never choose the woman who almost killed his mother."

I continue walking.

She follows for two steps before adding, "And that child won't survive the next full moon."

My hand instinctively moves towards my stomach.

Virelle notices.

Her smile grows.

"I'll make sure of it myself."

I stop.

This is the first time I turn towards her.

"You should be careful what you say when there are guards nearby."

She gives a tiny laugh.

"They didn't hear me."

"Then perhaps you should ask yourself why you were so comfortable saying it."

Her nice smile returns.

"I was only speaking to you."

She turns away before the guard catches up.

I continue towards my chamber.

I don't look back.

But her threat follows me all the way to the door.

I enter the chamber and close the door.

Only then do I realize my hands are shaking.

Neryss immediately notices.

"What happened?"

I tell her.

Her face drains of color.

"We need to wake Alpha Averic."

"No."

"She threatened your baby."

"I know."

"Then why are you protecting her?"

"I'm not protecting her."

I sit beside the bed.

"I'm protecting the truth."

Neryss doesn't understand.

I explain that if I report a private threat without witnesses, Virelle is likely to deny it.

Then she will cry.

The council will question why I confronted her.

She will say I am frightened because I know the investigation is turning against me.

And suddenly I will be defending myself again.

Neryss says, "But, what if she acts?"

"Then we watch."

I don't like the words.

But I have learned something about Virelle.

She wants me frightened.

She wants me reckless.

She wants me to accuse her before she gives anyone something they can hold against her.

I refuse to give her that victory.

I lie down without sleeping.

The image of Maevra's face keeps returning.

So does to Virelle's smile.

And beneath both memories is the thought that the blood moon is coming.

Just before dawn, someone knocks on the chamber door.

A palace servant enters with a breakfast tray.

“For you, Lady Elaris.”

I stare at the tea and something about it catches my attention.

The liquid looks normal at first.

Then I see it.

I see a faintly darker ring of tea clinging to the bottom of the cup.

My stomach tightens.

I don't touch it.

"Set it down."

The servant obeys.

I call the guard.

Within minutes, the chamber has swelled with warriors and a healer, and Averic is here and looking from me to the untasted cup.

“You didn’t drink it?”No."

The healer tests the liquid.

His face changes.

"The same substance."

Averic moves closer to the table.

The tea meant for me has been altered with the same substance in Maevra's medicine.

Before he has the chance to ask another question, movement comes from the corridor and Virelle appears with a pale face and eyes that fill with tears almost instantly.

"I only wanted to send her a peace offering."

No one speaks.

She looks at Averic.

"I thought perhaps we could stop fighting."

I stare at the untasted cup.

Then at Virelle.

She arrived too quickly.

Almost as though she had known exactly what would be found.

Averic's attention moves between us.

For the first time, he does not turn from Virelle's tears.

Or defend Elaris either.

His eyes remain fixed on the cup.

Then me.

Then the woman standing in the corridor.

The evidence has no longer been hidden inside Maevra's private medicine chest.

It has been delivered directly to the woman Virelle has spent days accusing.

And this time, Elaris never touched it.

Virelle cannot make that fact disappear.