Chapter 79 My own terms
~ Brenda's POV ~
Looking at my still flat stomach in the mirror made a smile bloom across my face, the kind of smile that belonged to a little girl who had just had her birthday wish granted.
There was a quiet thrill in seeing no visible sign yet, in knowing that something powerful and life altering was already taking root beneath the surface, hidden and entirely mine.
After laying out my plans so carefully in my mind, step by step, I knew without a shred of doubt that this pregnancy would get me exactly what I wanted. I was ready to commit to it fully, to nurture it, protect it, and use it as the leverage it was meant to be. There would be no hesitation and no second guessing. I was all in.
I dressed quickly and stepped out of the bathroom, only to notice a folded note that had been slipped into my room through the narrow opening beneath the door. It lay there quietly on the floor, immediately demanding my attention. I reached for it and unfolded it.
“My room, 10 minutes,” the note read.
I didn't need a name to know it was Dagan. He had already asked that we limit our visits and be mindful of our movements now that Kael was back from his trip. He had not given me a clear reason for the sudden caution, but I was not foolish enough to ignore it. I also knew this was the time we should be as careful as possible to avoid being caught or suspected.
If he was asking to see me now, it meant only one thing. He had my items ready. The thought alone sent a pulse of excitement through me.
I didn't waste a second. When nine minutes had passed, I left my room and made my way toward his, careful to move naturally and remain alert. It was still daytime, which meant eyes were everywhere, and I made sure no one followed me or found anything suspicious about my behavior.
“I saw your message,” I said the moment I stepped inside his room. He was standing in front of the window, completely still, his back to me. “Please tell me you already have my stuff,” I added, impatience creeping into my voice before he finally turned to face me.
“I do,” he said, holding out a plain paper bag toward me. “Here. Please read the instructions carefully and don't mess this up,” he added the instant I took the bag from his hand.
The irritation hit me fast and sharp at his words, and I made no effort to hide it.
“The fuck is the meaning of that? What do you mean do not mess it up?” I demanded, my displeasure written clearly across my face.
“It’s just a word of advice,” he replied dismissively, as though my reaction was an inconvenience.
“And what made you think that word of advice was necessary?” I pressed, my voice firm. “Have you ever seen me mess up anything that was placed in my care?” I asked, intent on making sure he understood he was crossing a line he had no business crossing.
“Look, Brenda, I really do not have time for this,” he said, his tone weary rather than apologetic. “Forget my earlier misuse of words. I believe you can do it. Everything you need to know is on the leaflet.”
He said it like that should be enough, like belief alone could erase the assumption behind his words, and I stood there holding the bag, fully aware that he had not truly taken back what he implied.
Not wanting to drag the matter any further than I already had, I held my tongue and refused to say another word. Instead, I reached into the paper bag and carefully brought out the bottle of perfume tucked inside it, along with the leaflet that contained the instructions for its use. The weight of the glass bottle felt heavier than it should have in my hand, as if it already carried consequences I had not yet fully grasped. But did I care? Nope.
I took my time reading through the leaflet, my eyes moving slowly over each line, determined not to miss a single detail. It was only after I reached the end that an uneasy realization settled in my chest. Something was wrong. What I was holding was nothing like what I had been expecting, and certainly not what we had discussed.
“Wait. This one is meant to make him pass out,” I said sharply. “I thought we agreed on the one that would make him sleep with me.” I lifted my gaze and fixed it on Dagan, who had been watching me the entire time. He stood there silently, his expression unreadable, as though he had been waiting for this exact moment.
“Well, that one is no longer feasible, so it is scrapped,” he replied flatly.
“Why is that?” I asked, genuine confusion creeping into my voice because this was not part of the original plan we had laid out so carefully.
“Because it requires magic to prepare that particular blend, and Kael is immune to magic,” he explained. “That automatically means it would not work on him. So this is our only option for now.” His explanation, rather than calming me, only fueled the growing frustration clawing at my insides.
I lifted a hand to my forehead, shut my eyes tightly, and clenched my jaw as I tried to steady myself. I took a slow breath, hoping it would cool the anger simmering beneath my skin, but it did absolutely nothing. The irritation refused to fade, pressing harder instead.
“How exactly do I get him to sleep with me if he passes out?” I demanded through gritted teeth. My hand dropped back to my side, curling into a tight fist as my patience wore dangerously thin.
“Dammit, Brenda,” he snapped. “Use your head. In the few minutes before he passes out, he will do anything you say. Get him to instruct his guards to let you into his quarters. Spend the night with him. You don't actually have to sleep with him for him to believe that you did.” He spoke as though it were obvious, laying out the solution to the problem I had been forced into. “Gosh, do I have to do everything myself?” he added, and that remark struck a nerve all over again.
“Hey, don't insult me,” I shot back. “I asked a simple question. Besides, this was not what we agreed on, so don't blame me for being confused.”
Without waiting for his response, I turned around and headed toward the door, already exhausted by his arrogance and dismissive attitude.
“This is not the end of the plan,” his voice called out just as I reached the door. “Don’t forget that there are still other things we will have to do before everything is settled.”
I stepped out into the corridor and made my way back to my room, my thoughts racing. As much as I knew I needed him for this to work, I also knew I could never trust him completely. That was exactly why I had my own plans firmly in place. If he ever tried to betray me, I would already be ten steps ahead, ready to protect myself and finish what I had started on my own terms.