Althea smiled softly at the Queen Mother as she raised her hand to accept the cup.
“Thank you for the tea, Your Highness,” she said with a gentle hum, her tone calm, almost serene.
lva gasped softly and crawled forward on her knees, reaching out. “My Lad—”
But she froze when Althea gave her a quiet, reassuring glance.
Without another word, Althea brought the cup to her lips... and drank.
The Queen Mother’s thoughts scread in disbelief.
‘She really drank it?! Just like that?! What is she up to now? Is Cain’s daughter truly as naive as they say?’
Althea set the empty cup down and slowly raised her eyes to et the Queen Mother’s stunned expression.
“If only I could make ands...” she said softly. “If my life could bring back those my father destroyed... or those who died because of him... I would offer it without hesitation.”
She ant every word.
No, she couldn’t undo the past. But if there was any way, any way at all, to pay for her father’s sins, she would carry that burden without question.
She wished she hadn’t been so afraid to read more of her father’s thoughts. Maybe... just maybe, if she had, she could’ve found a way to stop him. Maybe she could’ve saved the people he hurt... saved him, even.
But it was already too late.
All she had now was the present. And with it, the chance to atone for his wrongdoings, and for the lives shattered because of them. Because deep down, a part of her blad herself for how things had spiraled this far.
She had stood by, paralyzed, not because she didn’t see the signs... but because she didn’t want to lose her father’s favor. His love. And in clinging to that love, she had done nothing.
‘You probably think I’ll ask you to kill yourself whore. That will never happen. I won’t give you an easy death! Cain must suffer—through you!’
The Queen Mother didn’t speak, but Althea had already read her thoughts. She turned to leave but before she reached the doors, she stopped and said coldly, “You are to join at my table every lunch.”
Althea understood imdiately. She wanted to poison her slowly, through her als. To make her loose her sanity like Princess Riela.
“As you wish, Your Highness,” Althea replied, calm and composed.
The Queen Mother wallked out of the room with her servants trailing behind her.
The mont the doors closed, Althea fully collapsed to the floor with a heavy, shaky breath.
lva rushed to her side, her voice full of panic. “Tell what herbs I need to find. I’ll beg the guards to let out, I’ll jump from the balcony if I have to!”
Althea gave her a tired smile and whispered, “I guess we really are back to the old days, huh? Just like in the pack.”
Since the Luna and mistresses in her own pack had tried to poison her, lva beca her trusted ally, helping her create antidotes. Althea had a natural gift with dicinal herbs and poisons, though very few knew about it, she had intentionally kept that part of herself hidden except from trusted friends.
She had learned everything from books, and for so reason, her mind absorbed and rembered it all. Now that her lost mories had returned, she realized that all the knowledge she possessed had co as well from her mother.
“My Lady, this isn’t the ti to joke!” lva cried, her eyes glassy with unshed tears. “That drink... was it poison?”
Althea slowly nodded. “Yes. But it won’t kill . She just wants to make sure I can never carry the Alpha King’s heirs.”
lva’s breath caught in her throat. “Then we need to flush it out of your system. I’ll find a way–”
“No herbs,” Althea said gently, interrupting her.
“I can expel the poison myself...”
lva’s eyes widened. “But how?! We always use herbs! Antidotes!” she gasped.
Althea smiled softly, already reading the flurry of questions racing through lva’s mind.
“Trust , lva,” she said calmly. “All I need is ti, quiet and undisturbed. Think of it like ditation. But... can you promise one thing?”
lva nodded right away. “Yes, My Lady. What is it?”
“No matter what you see... can you promise not to ask questions?” Althea’s voice lowered, almost trembling. “You’re important to , lva. And the more you know certain things about ... the more I fear it might put you in danger soday.”
‘Oh heavens, why is My Lady suddenly saying these things? Still... I promise. As long as it keeps her safe and out of harm’s way. But how can she expel the poison without antidote? Maybe I should ask Beta Osman for help!’
Althea couldn’t help but smile, touched by the sincerity in lva’s thoughts and the way she truly cared for her. “lva, promise ...” she interrupted her chaotic thoughts.
“I promise. I really do,” lva said firmly. “Now go on and do whatever it is you need to do. I’ll keep watch at the door.”
She gently pulled Althea to her feet, her voice determined yet filled with worry. “You have to expel that poison. You must bear the Alpha King’s heirs, no matter what. Carrying his children could work in your favor. It might even draw him closer to you.”
lva led her to the privy chamber and opened the door with care. “Here,” she whispered. “If anyone cos asking, I’ll just say you’re... relieving yourself. That should keep them from barging in.”
She hesitated, then gave a nervous gulp. “I’ll be right outside. Just call if you need , alright?”
Althea nodded quietly. Once lva was gone, she raised a light barrier around the room to ensure privacy. A small smile touched her lips, this was the first ti she had been able to freely use the power within her. It had been sealed for years, ever since she lost her mories.
She lowered herself to the floor and placed a gentle hand over her lower belly. Closing her eyes, she whispered a spell under her breath. A soft blue glow blood from her palm as it flowed through her... cleansing, soothing, washing the poison from her body.
Then ca a gentle warmth burning away whatever remained.
Suddenly, a deep voice bood outside.
“Where is she?!”
Althea flinched at the sound of Gavriel’s voice, her breath catching in her throat.
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