Chapter 89 DEADLY SCENT
“Archie—” Sara called out again but Adam had gone absent minded, fuzzy headed from the scent that had slipped into his nose quietly, warm and herbal, almost comforting… but had instantly blurred his vision, the world tilting sideways as a sharp, dizzy pressure slammed behind his eyes. The hall swayed. The colors dulled. Voices stretched and warped as if spoken underwater. Adam opened his mouth to speak, to ask what was wrong, but the words tangled in his throat.
Then blood poured freely from his nose, hot and unstoppable, splashing against the stone floor. Adam staggered back a step, clutching his face, his fingers instantly slick.
“Adam!” Kael’s voice cut through the noise, sharp and panicked.
Adam tried to answer. “I—I think—” His knees buckled.
Kael was there in a second, catching him before he hit the ground. “Get away from him,” Kael roared, his voice echoing violently through the hall. “Now!”
Guards rushed forward without hesitation.
Sara froze, the tray slipping from her hands. The bowl shattered on the floor, soup spilling and steaming between them. She stared at Adam in Kael’s arms, horror draining the color from her face.
“Archie—” she whispered.
“Restrain her,” Kael ordered coldly. “Now.”
Adam shook his head weakly, blood still spilling down his chin. “No… Kael… don’t—”
His voice faded. The floor rushed up to meet him as darkness swallowed everything whole.
Kael did not let panic get the better part of him. He adjusted Adam in his arms, blood soaking into his clothes, Adam’s body limp and frighteningly light. Kael’s heart pounded so hard it hurt. He moved fast, ignoring everything except the weight of his mate in his arms.
“Check him,” he barked as doors were thrown open. “Now!”
The physician rushed forward, eyes widening at the sight. “Lay him down— carefully.”
Kael placed Adam onto the bed with hands that shook despite his strength. He brushed blood from Adam’s face, his jaw clenched so tight it ached.
“Don’t you dare die,” Kael muttered under his breath. “Don’t you dare.”
“He won't. Calm down, Alpha.”
The physician worked quickly, checking Adam’s pulse, his breathing, wiping away blood.
“This isn’t the regular illness progression,” she said grimly. “This isn’t fainting.”
Kael looked up sharply. “What is it?”
She hesitated for only a moment. “Poison.”
The word hit Kael like a blunt force. His fear turned molten.
\---
Sara was dragged into the cell. Iron bars slammed shut behind her. The space was cold, damp, and unforgiving. She sank to her knees the moment the guards released her from the violent grip, shaking violently. But before she could cry about her situation, they forced her ankles into a shackle.
Kael entered moments later.
The air changed instantly.
“Tell me what you put in that soup,” Kael demanded, his voice low and lethal.
Sara looked up at him, eyes red and wet. “Nothing,” she sobbed. “I swear it—nothing, my lord.”
“Do not lie to me,” Kael snapped. “It'll be best for you to just tell the truth.”
She crawled forward until the chains stopped her. “I would never—never—harm him. He’s my son.”
Kael laughed sharply, without humor. “Then explain why he’s bleeding.”
“I don’t know!” she cried. “I only made soup. Normal soup. No herbs, no powders—just water, grain, salt. I thought he looked dull yesterday. I thought maybe his stomach needed soothing.”
Kael stepped closer.
The pressure hit her like a wall.
Kael's Alpha pheromones flooded the cell, crushing, suffocating, invisible hands squeezing the breath from her lungs. Sara gasped, clutching her chest, coughing violently. Blood splattered onto the stone.
“Tell me the truth,” Kael demanded. “Now.”
She shook her head desperately. “There is nothing else to tell!”
Her body trembled under the force, tears streaming down her face. “Please… please believe me. I carried him. I sang to him. I nurtured him. I would rather tear out my own heart than hurt my child.”
Kael’s eyes searched her face ruthlessly, looking for cracks, for deception.
There was none.
Only terror, and grief.
“I made it because I wanted to bond with him,” she whispered hoarsely. “Because he doesn’t remember me, and I thought… I thought maybe familiar warmth would help.”
She looked up at him through tears. “Please. I beg you. I am innocent.”
The pressure eased abruptly.
Kael turned away, jaw tight, chest heaving. “Keep her locked,” he ordered, and left without looking back.
Sara’s sobs echoed after him.
_______
Adam woke up choking.
His body jerked violently, a sharp hiccup tearing from his chest, then another, and another. His eyes flew open, panic flashing through them.
“Easy,” the physician said quickly, helping him sit up. “Breathe.”
Adam couldn’t speak. His body convulsed again, a violent spasm ripping through him as he bent forward instinctively.
The physician grabbed a bowl and placed it beneath his face just in time.
Kael hovered helplessly at his side. “What do I do?”
“Hit his back,” the physician said firmly. “Hard.”
Kael raised his hand— and hesitated. He then hit lightly, once, twice…
“Harder,” she snapped.
Kael hit again, still restrained, still careful.
“Move,” the physician said sharply.
She hit Adam’s back herself, hard enough to echo.
Kael reacted instantly, grabbing her wrist. “Enough—”
But it was already done.
Adam convulsed violently, coughing, gagging… and then something thick and dark splattered into the bowl.
A heavy clump of blood.
Silence fell for a moment.
Adam sagged forward, gasping weakly.
Kael stared at the bowl, horror freezing his veins.