Chapter 30

Kieran

I tried to reason with Lucian after he captured Zara and threw her back in the tower. My brother was convinced that the recent Rogue attacks, and now this new assassination attempt, were all part of one larger plot. And maybe he was right. He usually was. But I just didn’t think Zara was involved.

“I don't think it was her,” I said.

Lucian crossed his arms. “She had the poison. She was the only one to handle the food after it left the kitchen.”

“So one of the cooks did it,” I said. “It makes as much sense as Zara deciding that she's suddenly okay with murder.”

Lucian shook his head. “I already interrogated the kitchen staff. And cross checked their stories against each other. Our food was only handled by one person, the head cook, and she was not out of sight of at least two other staff members during the entire meal prep.”

“It’s still possible,” I insisted.

“How?” Lucian asked.

“I don’t know, slight of hand,” I suggested.

“You think the head chef, who you personally vetted before hiring her, is secretly both a Rogue assassin and an accomplished stage magician?” Lucian scoffed.

“Okay, maybe not. Still, there must be another explanation.”

“If there is, I can’t think of it,” Lucian sighed. “This is why I told you not to get attached, to let yourself be distracted.”

He was right. I was attached. And Zara was an excellent distraction from our inevitable slide into madness. But I wasn’t ready to admit defeat. I would not give up when we were so close to a solution.

Zara made the screaming stop. We needed her. I needed her.

“Look. Can we at least talk to the healers?” I asked. “They must have finished checking over the tainted food by now. Maybe, I don’t know. Maybe there’s something.”

Lucian sighed. “Fine. Fine, let’s go see the healers.” He shook his head. “Don’t get your hopes up too high.”

“I won’t,” I promised.

It wasn’t hope. I just knew Zara wouldn’t do something like that. It wasn’t in her. She wasn’t a killer. She wasn’t like us.

I followed Lucian to the healer’s building. It was a nice place, well appointed with a pleasant little garden. This pack clearly valued their healers. The healers who’d followed Lucian and me from our original pack had integrated into their staff with very little friction.

As Alphas, we didn’t need to request entry. However, even Lucian understood that skilled healers deserved a certain level of respect. So we compromised, and strolled right inside but politely asked the first person we saw for the chief healer.

The chief healer was quick to send us to the healers assigned to deal with the poisoned food, led by Healer Esmeralda.

The healer made her report. “There was barely a drop of poison in your sandwiches, Alphas. Even if you'd eaten the whole thing, the worst you'd suffer is a stomachache. Perhaps some dizziness.”

“What?” Lucian breathed. “She had to know that wouldn't be enough.”

“Maybe it was a prank,” I suggested.

“Hardly,” the healer scoffed. “Your sandwiches had very little poison. Zara's, however, had enough to kill ten wolves.”

“But she ate half of it,” Lucian protested.

“And she should be dead,” the healer said. “Frankly, I don't understand it. I would like to examine her.”

“Is it because she's part human?” I suggested.

The healer shook her head. “No. The ingredients of the poison used would kill a human faster than a wolf. It simply makes no sense.”

Lucian looked at me. I stared back. Zara had shown no signs she'd taken any poison at all.

“Could she have taken an antidote?” Lucian asked.

“There is no antidote for that particular poison, at least none known,” the healer said. “If she did, some trace of it could still be in her bloodstream. That is another reason I would like permission for an examination.”

Lucian nodded. “Go ahead. You have an hour.” He paused. “Report back to us when you're done. Remember that any vows of silence a healer takes don't hold true when the patient is a prisoner.”

“I understand, Alpha,” the healer said and left with a bow.

We returned to the Alpha house to wait for the healer’s report on Zara’s condition.

“This proves she isn’t the one that did it,” I said.

“Really,” Lucian said.

“Really. Why would she put so little poison in our food, and enough to kill herself in hers? It doesn’t make any sense.”

“Obviously she knew she would survive,” Lucian said. “She must have an antidote.”

“Did you see her take one? Hm? I didn’t. She’s barely been out of our sight for five minutes. When would she even collect the poison?”

“About that,” Lucian said, “Did you ever find out what happened to the original vial?”

“No,” I admitted. “But the servants may have just thrown it away and not wanted to admit it. Or you’re right and we’re surrounded by assassins, one of which collected the damn thing.”

Lucian sighed. “You think I’m paranoid.”

“No, I’m pretty sure you’re right. People want us dead. Mostly the other Alphas who are sure we’re coming after them next.” I paused. “We are, aren’t we? This isn’t the end is it?”

Lucian shook his head. “You know it’s not. Once this pack is fully integrated with the rest of our pack, we move on.”

“Should we really take on another pack before we find our mate?” I asked.

Lucian shook his head. “We won’t find her here. If she was part of this pack or one of its allies, she’d have been at the Mate Ball. We need to move on. We’ll find her.”

“But can we hold five packs without a Luna?” I asked.

Lucian smiled. “Of course we can. We have Zara.”

“You think she tried to kill us,” I pointed out. “Can we trust her to control our wolves after that?”

“You’re sure she’s innocent, so why not?” Lucian countered. “Anyway. Give it a couple more days, and we can negotiate any deal we want. She’ll crack soon.”

I sighed. “I think you’re dealing with her the wrong way, Lucian. She’s not like those she-wolves you stuffed in the dungeon. She’s stubborn. The more you push, the harder she’ll dig in her heels.”

“Oh, and what do you suggest?” Lucian asked.

“We could try reasoning with her. Give her something she wants.”

“Wht she wants is to leave the pack,” Lucian sighed. “We can’t give her that.”

“Well, no, but there has to be something.”

Lucian shook his head. “Oh, by the way, I got this back for you.”

He tossed me the collar I’d put on Zara. I caught it and studied it for a moment, surprised. I’d honestly thought she’d have tossed it when she ran.

“She was still wearing it?” I asked.

“I think she forgot she had it on,” Lucian said. “She’s grown accustomed to being your pup, maybe.”

“More like she’s used to wearing this,” I argued. “It’s like when you’re used to wearing a bracelet or a favorite pair of earrings or whatever.” I stared down at the collar in my hand. “Maybe I should find something nicer. Something she won’t hate as much.”

“Why? Isn’t the point to drive home that she’s just a pet?” Lucian asked.

“Maybe but… maybe,” I sighed. I didn’t know. It did something, seeing Zara wear my collar. I couldn’t explain it to Lucian. He’d never understand.

“Whatever. Just remember that she’s dangerous. And she’s still just a means to an end.”

“Right,” I said.

After an hour, the healer returned.

“Well?” Lucian asked.

“It doesn’t make sense,” the healer said. “She most definitely ate the poisoned food. But there’s no sign that she’s been affected by it at all.”

“How?” I asked.

“I don’t know,” Healer Esmeralda admitted. “The quantity of the wolfsbane concoction in her blood should have killed her. But she’s perfectly fine, if still malnourished and stressed.”

“Thank you, Healer,” Lucian said. “We will look into this matter further.”

“Yes, Alpha.” The healer hesitated a moment. “If you will forgive my impertinence… I have known Zara for many years. She would not do something like this. Please, consider that she may be innocent. After all, she was poisoned, too. She just seems to be immune.”

“If she knew that,” Lucian began, “then she might have poisoned her own food to give herself an alibi.”

“But she has no idea there was poison in her sandwich,” the healer said. “She asked me why I was examining her, and was genuinely shocked when I told her I found poison in her meal.”

“I will consider your request,” Lucian said. “You are dismissed.”

The healer bowed and left.

I looked at my brother. “We have to speak to Zara,” I said.

“Yes,” he agreed, “we do.” He paused. “Because if she’s not trying to kill us, then someone else is trying to kill her. And they almost succeeded.”