Rise of the rogue queen-Chapter 20 - - The truth

Caden's POV

I watched her as she slept, her chest rising and falling slowly. She was tough, hiding such a wound for so long.

She stirred, her body shifting left and right, her face contorted in distress. I rushed to her, taking the damp cloth and wiping away the beads of sweat forming on her forehead.

I held her arm steady, groaning as I sucked the poison from her body. The bitter, acrid taste filled my mouth, and I spat it out, gasping for breath.

The poison had already spread through her bloodstream. I couldn't heal her by transferring my energy.... not when she was in this critical state.

A loud bang rattled the door. I had used an invisible force to hold the door firmly and covered the room with a barrier to reduce the noise from outside.

"Open up!" Roland's voice thundered through the room.

More fists pounded against the door. I could sense their fear and desperation to see their queen. But she needed no disturbance right now. Neither could I allow them to know the truth, that she was my mate.

I pressed my palm against my chest, inhaling sharply. The poison I had absorbed burned beneath my skin, black veins creeping up my arm.

I could withstand it unlike her. If it had remained in her, it would have destroyed her completely. It might weaken me for a while, but I would heal.

Finally, Zephyrine's breath calmed. She was at peace again. I exhaled heavily, brushing a few strands of hair from her face.

She looked so vulnerable like this, so unlike the fierce woman I knew. A soft chuckle escaped me at the thought.

Zyphora appeared, her tiny wings fluttering.

"My Lord," she whispered.

I pressed a finger to my lips, glancing at Zephyrine. "Shush."

Zyphora tilted her head, floating closer to the sleeping woman. "Who is she?"

I smiled. "It's a secret, and you mustn't tell anyone."

She gasped dramatically, covering her mouth with her wings. "My lips are sealed!"

A chuckle rumbled in my chest. "She's my mate."

Zyphora's eyes widened as she darted closer to Zephyrine, studying her before turning back to me. "Really?"

She hovered above Zephyrine's face, then flew back to my shoulder. "My Lord, she's beautiful..." But then her expression shifted, her voice barely above a whisper. "You won't leave me, will you? Now that you've found your mate?"

I sighed, offering her a sad smile. "Of course not."

Zyphora still looked uncertain, but before she could press further, she suddenly tensed. "My Lord, there are people outside trying to break down the door."

I glanced at the entrance, still sealed with the invisible force I had cast. "Let them try. They won't get through. Not until she's safe."

A sudden cough broke through the silence, and I turned back to Zephyrine. She was stirring, her lashes fluttering weakly.

I rushed to get her water. I grabbed a jug and a cup to turn the water in, but as I lifted it, a sharp pain seared through my chest.

"My Lord," Zyphora whispered, her voice filled with worry.

I clenched my jaw, pushing past the discomfort, and forced a smile. "Don't worry, I'm fine."

I walked over to Zephyrine helping her to sit up carefully, pressing the cup to her lips. She drank in small sips before settling back against the pillows.

Zyphora's gaze flickered to my arm, and she gasped as she saw the black veins creeping beneath my skin. "You've been poisoned, my Lord."

I quickly rolled down my sleeve, silencing her with a sharp look. "Don't let anyone know about this."

Next morning.....

I couldn't sleep. Instead, I had spent the night watching over Zephyrine, tending to her every need, ensuring she was stable.

A soft murmur escaped her lips. Then, finally, her eyes fluttered open. She blinked, her gaze adjusting to the dim light before locking onto me.

"What are you doing here?"

I ignored the question. "How do you feel?"

I reached out to touch her forehead, but she caught my wrist midair, her grip surprisingly firm. She sat up, glancing down at her arm. The wound was gone. She touched her chest and the pain was gone, the poison was no more.

"What happened?" She asked confused.

"Do you remember anything from yesterday?"

She frowned, touching her forehead. "My memories are hazy. I remember speaking with you and then..." Her brows knitted together.

I placed my hand over hers. "Don't stress yourself about it."

I stood, taking a cup of tea from the tray beside the bed. Zyphora had helped prepare it, as Sylvia often refused to let me make anything myself back in Grim Hollow.

I sat beside Zephyrine, blowing on the tea to cool it down. She said nothing, simply watching as I spoon-fed her.

A sudden commotion outside made her pause.

"There are noises outside," she muttered.

I had forgotten about the barrier I had placed on the door. With a single thought, I released the magic.

The door flung open, and the guards stumbled forward, nearly toppling over each other. The young man rushed in first, Roland close behind him.

Zephyrine remained composed, quietly sipping the tea as I continued to feed her.

"Seize him at once!" Roland barked, but he froze at the sight before him.

"My... my queen," he stammered, looking stunned. "I thought..." He trailed off, glancing at the young man beside him.

The young man pointed an accusatory finger at me. "You—you can't trust him! What kind of man locks himself in a room with a woman for an entire day? It's suspicious!"

Roland's gaze flickered between Zephyrine and me, uncertainty in his eyes.

"Don't trust him," the young man insisted. "He might have hypnotized her!"

Zephyrine finally spoke, her voice calm. "I'm fine."

I set the cup down.

She attempted to stand, and I instinctively reached out to help her.

"I can walk," she insisted.

I released her, but I could see that she was still weak, though the poison was gone.

Roland stepped closer. "My queen, are you alright?"

Zephyrine offered a small smile. "I made you all worry. How is Dara?"

"You should worry about yourself first," Roland said, his eyes narrowing as they flickered toward me. "Did he hurt you?"

I sighed, exasperated.

"If you could please excuse me," I muttered, rising to my feet. "I need to rest."

Zephyrine nodded to a nearby guard. "Take him to a guest room."

As I turned to leave, her voice stopped me.

"Caden."

I paused.

"Thank you."

I nodded once before stepping out.

The moment the guard left after showing me my room, I pulled off my shirt, gritting my teeth at the sight of my arm. The black veins had spread further.

"My Lord," Zyphora whispered, appearing beside me with the flower I had requested.

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I quickly took it, crushing it between my fingers, letting its essence seep into my skin. A faint relief washed over me.

"You shouldn't have done this," Zyphora sniffed. "You know the state of your heart. I don't want you to die."

Zyphora rolled the blanket over me.

No one knew about my weak heart except Sylvia, Xelvorn, and now Zyphora. Sylvia had insisted Zyphora needed to know since she was always with me.

Due to the circumstances of my birth, my heart had always been fragile.

I had never known my parents. Xelvorn had told me they were slaughtered by werewolves.

The werewolves weren't always this powerful. Our realm had once been the only one in existence. But they stole from us, betraying us, seizing power that was never theirs to take.

And now... Now I was mated to one of them.

I clenched my fists. I wouldn't let my rage consume me. Killing them would be too easy.

No, revenge was far sweeter when served slowly.

I would make them feel the same pain our kind had felt when we were betrayed.