All Chapters of HE LEFT ME TO DIE, NOW I'M HIS ONLY CURE: Chapter 41 - Chapter 50

SELINEAs I stared back at Beatrice, I pushed down my disbelief and tried to keep my face as neutral as possible. Austin's stepmother's words were harsh, but I couldn't let her threaten me."Rest assured, I'm being completely honest with you," I said calmly. "The Alpha King was especially concerned after the viper appeared here at Duskhaven, and wanted a thorough investigation done on the beast.""Were there any findings?" Beatrice practically demanded. The woman's nostrils flared in agitation, and her mouth pursed as she awaited my reply."Yes," I confirmed, and I made sure to keep my tone as even as possible as I leaned forward. "The viper that attacked the Alpha King seemed to be raised deliberately by someone-""What does that mean?" she interrupted me, and her eyes narrowed further."The essence released in the bite wasn't venom," I revealed. "It was an artificial poison."The moment the words left my lips, a strange feeling moved through me. I didn't regret blurting out the word

SELINEThe next day in the lab, I was hard at work when I realized Hannah was staring at me."What's wrong?" I asked, and I smoothed my hair down. "Is my hair sticking straight up or something? Do I have something in my teeth?""No, no," Hannah assured me, but her expression said otherwise. "Did you have some trouble sleeping last night?""How did you know?" I wondered."Your eyes are swollen," my assistant pointed out gently. Heat spread to my cheeks, and I took my protective goggles off. I was hoping it wasn't that noticeable, but apparently, that wasn't the case.After I'd gotten Ethan to sleep, I'd gone to my own bed and cried into the early hours of the morning. Hearing about Leo and the way Austin had used him to mourn my loss had been such a heavy burden to learn about, and I wasn't processing it well.But I couldn't think of that now. There was too much work to be done."Anyway," I said slowly, and then I shifted the subject. "Hannah, have you found anything more about Malrick

AUSTINAs the Alpha King of Valcrest, I often had to endure things that I didn't want to, and this meeting was no exception.I wasn't usually one to drift off during important conversation, but this particular one wasn't holding me as much as I wished for it to.I'd invited a few of my more trusted councilors into my study to discuss some business, and as I sat back in the leather armchair at my desk, their discussion danced by my ears. I'd had the housekeepers make some rearrangements, so the councilmen were seated around me rather than all of us sitting in the more informal seating area of my study.I fidgeted in my seat. These days, I was more restless than I'd ever been. There was much to attend to, but ever since the viper attack in Willowmere's garden with Seline Carter, I'd been off my game."Your Majesty?" one of my councilors, an older gentleman named Edgar, prompted me out of my stupor. His dark eyes were wide with concern as they studied me, and I straightened my posture so

SELINEAs the days went by, I couldn't get the cold look on Austin's face out of my mind. It lingered there like a ghost and haunted my every move.The way he'd dismissed me, the way his lips had drawn into a thin line…But what else had he expected me to do? I didn't want to stay here or compete with Vanessa for his affection. I wanted to complete my research, find a cure for the Alpha King's mysterious condition, and leave Ravenspire for good.And yet, the image of Austin's face made my heart wrench."Mommy!" Ethan called out and interrupted my thoughts. I shifted my attention to my son and forced a smile. He was dressed up in brand new clothes and his normally serious face was bright and cheery.Though I tried to replicate his enthusiasm, he saw through me right away, and his smile turned into a frown."Mommy," he complained. "What's wrong? You've been so distracted."It was an intelligent observation and I knew I needed to save face."I'm sorry baby," I apologized. "I've just been

SELINEEthan cried in my arms and I wanted to soothe him, but we had to get as far away from this situation as possible.The back door of the shop let out into a small alley. There was little room between the buildings at all, but I could spy a way out in the distance. I just needed to get us back out to the main street, and then we could disappear into the crowd of people and leave the crazed man and woman behind."Hang tight, baby," I urged Ethan as I braced him against me. He sobbed quietly in my arms but kept his grip around me obediently."M-Mommy, who are those people?" he whimpered as he buried his head into my neck. "Why are we running?""I don't know, honey," I said. "Just stay quiet and close your eyes."The young woman suddenly rushed out into the alley with us. I continued to walk backward slowly."Please," I begged her. "We don't have to do this. We could forget about this entire thing-""I don't think so," the young woman retorted, her eyes full of venom as they bore int