Bingo, Said Aeron

The infirmary doors slammed open.

Elias was already shouting instructions to the healers and omegas inside, but Jax didn't wait. He carried Nova's limp body straight to the nearest bed, heart hammering like a war drum in his chest. Cael laid Elle gently beside her, his face ashen.

"Pulse?" Elias demanded, shoving a second antidote syringe into Nova's arm, near the shoulder this time.

"Fading," An assistant replied hoarsely, feeling Nova's wrist. "She's ice cold."

"Same here," Another assistant said, watching Elle's chest barely rise.

Elias gave both a second dose of antidote near their hearts.

"They need blood," Elias muttered, scanning Nova's face. "Fast. Preferably mate blood."

Jax didn't hesitate. He was already rolling up his sleeve. "Take mine. All of it if you have to."

Elias looked at him, prepping the transfusion line.

Jax looked down at Nova, brushing a thumb along her pale cheek.

"My wolf... marked her. Weeks ago. Not on her neck. Somewhere less obvious." He said it softly. Like a secret finally released into the world.

No one looked surprised.

Cael let out a low exhale, shoulders sagging. "That tracks."

"Elle is my fated." Cael added.

Blood flowed from Jax and Cael's arms into separate beakers, one for Nova and one for Elle.

Aeron spoke, "This type of poison. I've seen it before. What did they drink?

Jax frowned, "Wine. They both had it from Nova's goblet."

"How much did they have of that wine?" Elias asked.

Cael answered. "Elle barely had any. A sip, I think. Nova drank the whole glass."

Elias's brow furrowed deeply.

"What is it?" Jax asked.

Elias looked between them. "The poison is called Lycura's Kiss. Made from Lycura - a very poisonous plant - and laced with dark magic. It is tasteless, odorless, and a coward's way to kill an enemy and make them suffer."

Cael's jaw flexed. "Dark magic from what kind of source?"

"A life sacrifice," Aeron said grimly. "This wasn't just meant to kill. It was designed to torture. Painfully. And with a signature - the blood."

Fin walked into the infirmary just as Aeron's face lost all color. He looked at Nova like he was seeing something... else.

"What?" Jax asked Aeron.

"Nova once mentioned something to me. Her mother ... some claimed her throat was slit because of the pool of blood around her body. But... there were rumors it was a woman's method to kill. Less direct. Poison. Designed to make her suffer. Bleed. Burn from the inside out."

"Why would someone do that?" Cael asked.

"When it's personal." Aeron replied.

Jax frowned. Nova didn't talk about this with him. He'd never pressed for it either.

"What are you implying?" Jax asked, rubbing his face. He had a feeling he knew the answer.

"The late Moonveil Alpha was married to his fated, Selene. She was carrying a child, not yet showing when Theron Ashbane, Riven's father – slaughtered the entire Moonveil pack. Theron granted her death by sword as she was queen. When he entered the room, he couldn't carry out the deed. Do you know why?" Aeron asked.

"Yes..." Jax said. Nova had never personally told him. But he knew from following her and Elle a few months ago.

Aeron continued, "The reason why he couldn't carry it out was a cruel twist of fate. Just guess who her second chance mate was."

Fin rubbed his face.

Cael answered, "If it's who I think it is, then the Moon Goddess has a fucked up sense of humor."

Aeron let out a dark laugh.

"Yes. The Mad Alpha King was fated to Selene Moonveil and took her by force back to Ashbane. By then, he already had Meredith and Riven with Queen Velora. He intended to discard Velora and crown Selene in her place. Selene refused. A lethal mistake on her part. After that, Theron never touched Velora again and cared only for Selene, who I suspect was trapped. I doubt she could have loved the man who slaughtered her pack."

"Theron let Nova keep her father's name then," Cael said slowly.

"Correct," Aeron replied. "Moonveil was not her mother's maiden name. No one questioned why the supposed bastard of Ashbane carried it. I suspect he let people believe Nova was his to protect her. Even the queen believed it."

Silence stretched across the room as the truth settled in. Jax had always known Nova wasn't Ashbane blood, but hearing the full story laid out like this landed differently.

"If Riven knew that Nova wasn't his half sister, don't you think he would have taken her as a mistress? Or worse. I think he thought she was his blood up until a few months ago when he tried to take her back."

Aeron didn't pause for a response.

"Selene was already known as the most beautiful woman in Varos. Theron loved her openly, in a way he never loved Velora. Everyone knew it. He loved her enough to claim another man's child. Supposedly, when Selene was murdered, Theron felt extreme pain through the matebond. He rushed to her, but when he arrived, she was already lying in a pool of her own blood. He couldn't save her and she died in his arms."

Jax rubbed a hand over his face, pieces finally fitting together. "I know who did this."

They all looked at him.

His eyes were like steel.

"Princess Meredith."

"Bingo." Aeron said, waiting for someone to finally connect that.

Elias stopped working for a beat, staring at the blood still flowing between tubes.

Cael didn't argue. Everything they'd seen — everything they'd suspected — snapped together like broken pieces finding their original shape.

"She tried to get into the room Nova was in across from Fin." Jax added, looking to Aeron. "She refused to move away from the door."

Cael froze. "Elle told me that the princess had crazy eyes the day they met... threatened Nova and said she would finish the job her mother started."

"She snuck into my chambers last night again while I was asleep. I woke up and smelled she was in the room." Fin's voice came from the doorway.

They all turned. He stood tall, arms crossed, gaze fixed on Nova. "She's desperate. And delusional. If this was her doing..."

Aeron rubbed his temple. "Do we have proof?" He asked, his voice low.

"Not yet," Fin said through gritted teeth. "But we will get it. We need to catch her in the act. Set her up where she thinks no one is looking and see how far she'll go."

"And when we get that proof..." His voice dropped, dangerous and dark, "we will deal with her."

No one disagreed.

"Was she in the dining hall?" Aeron asked.

"No." Fin said, looking at Aeron like he grew two heads.

"Who served your table, and poured her drink?" Aeron asked, looking at Jax.

"I did. The tables were already set with goblets. There were multiple vases of wine on each table." He answered, face pale as a ghost.

"Did anyone else drink from that vase?" Fin asked.

"Yes. It wasn't just her." Cael answered.

"So it was either slipped into her drink or already in her goblet." Aeron said.

"I was sitting next to her the entire time." Jax said, shaking his head.

"Does she sit there everyday?" Fin asked.

"In that area, but not that exact spot everyday." Jax answered.

"I am having the cooks, servers, and everyone there questioned as we speak. But everything has checked out so far." Fin said.

Jax turned back to Nova, brushing damp hair from her forehead. Her breathing had steadied. Color was returning to her lips.

His voice cracked when he whispered, "Come back to me."