Chapter 37: CHAPTER 37

Sera

The dining table was silent. Everyone was present, except for Dante and Althea.

Casian sat down at his throne today, and as much as that made me feel alone, the knowledge I had gathered today still made me smile as I scooped my meal into my mouth, my mind racing.

Vervain hurt them.

They were not the untouchable monsters. Somehow, I had found out that vampires had two weaknesses.

“Sera,” Lucain’s voice cut through my musings. I glanced up at him. “Can you please tell us what happened to Dante, seeing he cannot speak to anyone right now?”

Everyone paused and looked at me.

“Well,” I placed my spoon gently down into my bowl. “He came to my room earlier, I guess to inspect the damage in the vanity table like everyone else. We were speaking and suddenly, he groaned and collapsed to the floor in pain.”

Caspian shook his head. “Vampires do not just fall in pain, Sera, especially not kings,” he panned, confused.

Lucian eyes just bored into me, no expression behind them.

“Well it doesn't look good for you,Sera,” Lady Viora chipped in. “You were the last person he spoke to and suddenly, he is in the infirmary, needing treatment.”

Sly bitch. “If I had anything to do with it, I'm sure the king would have already sent guards after me, besides,” I turned to the fool, “I would not be surprised if this is not the act of a poison. Perhaps, Lady Viora, you know something about it, seeing it is your favourite pastime.”

Viora’s face turned red. “You silly—”

“What kind of poison can take down a vampire?” I ignored her, turning my attention back to Lucian. “i thought you guys were practically gods, immune to everything,” I tilted my head.

The King's jaw tightened, as the dining hall doors opened. An exhausted Althea walked in silence, slipping into the seat beside me.

“How is he?” Caspian asked her immediately.

“He is fine,” she waved, “he has requested that the matter be confidential, but he is stable and back to normal now.”

That quickly? I pushed my plate forward and stood. “I think I would like to go see him, after all, he got sick in my room.”

“He's resting in the south wing infirmary,” Althea said, absentmindedly dishing some food for herself.

I bowed down, leaving the dining hall. The weight of the two men’s stares were heavy on my back, but I didn't look back. I walked to the south wing quickly, my mind racing. He knew what the vervain would do, yet he still drank it.

I paused suddenly. Dante’s chamber doors, the ones that had guards usually stationed in front of it, was empty now. Probably because he was in the infirmary, but this was an opportunity I couldn't miss. I glanced around, making sure the hallway was empty and then I moved quickly, opening the door and slipping into his room.

Everything was exactly how it was last time, gold and shiny. I ignored all of it and began searching the walls. He said he would ask a guard to bring more for me, that meant he must have a stash of the plant, or the extract.

Whichever one, I would find it.

And I could bet my right tit the other kings had no idea he had vervain, which was why he was keeping his condition confidential. All I needed was a single clue, one that would lead me to where they were.

I opened his closet, throwing the clothes to the side as I searched the bottoms and the walls for some safe space. My hand touched a leather bound thing, and I pulled them out. It was a small book, the same diary I had held the last time that he snatched away from me.

Too bad, I thought, slipping it into my pants. I pulled my shirt out, using it as I continued searching.

There was art hanging everywhere, but now, I could see brushes too. Dante was not just clearly a collector, he painted too.

I opened a small door and half finished canvases stared back at me. I closed it back, killing the urge to look though it. Now wasn't the time, no, I had to find what I came here for.

“Ugh,” I groaned, standing and circling the room. I had searched everywhere, and there was nothing. Nothing at all looked out of place. Where had I not searched?

His bed. What would he hide there? I walked to it and ventured down, looking underneath it. It was empty, like I already expected.

“Maybe I should just give up,” I muttered beneath my breath, grabbing the bed rest and pulling myself up.

The bed shifted slightly, and I stared at the space. That space. I put my head in-between it, trying to squint and peer but it was too dark no matter how much I tried.

Fuck it, just leave.

I turned around. “Holy Goddess,” I screamed, clutching my chest.

Lucian stood behind me, a deep frown in his face. “What are you doing in Dante’s room, Sera?”

Shit, how long has he been standing there? “I could easily ask you the same question,” I said, pushing my hair away from my face. I tried to step around him, but he grabbed my wrist, pulling me closer to him.

I looked up at his towering form, my heart racing. His eyes are dead, his face dark and for the first time, I remember that this was how he looked before he killed Wren.

“I don't know what kind of game you are playing,” he growled, "but remember you are just a catalyst here. Remember your place,entering any of our chambers without permission s crossing a big line.”

His hands tightened around my wrist and my lips trembled. “Explain yourself,Sera, or I will report you to Dante so he can deal with you.”

Irritation bubbled under my skin. “Fine by me,” I hissed,pulling my hand away from his grip. “I would rather answer to Dange, than to you.”

I pushed past him, walking away from the room. “Oh, and King Lucian,” I sneered, “don’t forget that even a king entering another King's room without permission is suspicious too. Especially after the owner of the room just got mysteriously sick.”

I left him standing there, not looking back.