Chapter 90 GUILT
Adam coughed once more, a weak, wet sound, then sagged forward. The bowl trembled in the physician’s hands, thick blood smeared along its rim.
“Adam,” the physician said firmly. She moved into his line of sight and raised three fingers. “Look at me. How many fingers am I holding up?”
Adam blinked slowly. His eyes were unfocused at first, then steadied. He stared at her hand.
“Three,” he said hoarsely.
The physician exhaled. “Good. Stay with me.”
Kael was already kneeling in front of him, one hand hovering near Adam’s knee, the other clenched into a fist like he was afraid to touch him and afraid not to. “Adam,” he said, voice low and tight. “Can you breathe fine?”
Adam nodded faintly. He swallowed, throat working. His gaze dropped to the bowl. To the clotted blood inside it.
“Huh,” he said quietly.
The room went still.
“That’s… new.”
“Adam,” Kael warned, his voice breaking just a little. “This isn’t the time—”
“So my condition is getting worse every day,” Adam said, not looking at him. His tone was eerily calm, almost thoughtful. “That’s what this means, right? Nosebleeds, fainting, vomiting, now this.” He lifted his eyes slowly to Kael’s face. “Why is there no cure for this? Am I going to die?”
The question landed like a blade.
“No,” Kael said immediately. “No. You’re not.”
Adam stared at him. “But it seems like it.”
Kael’s jaw tightened. “You were poisoned.”
The word hung heavy between them.
Adam blinked, confused.
“…What?”
“You were poisoned,” Kael repeated, more carefully this time. “That’s what this was. That’s why it escalated so suddenly.”
Adam let out a short, breathless laugh that scraped his throat. “That makes no sense.”
The physician stepped in. “Adam, please—”
“No,” Adam said, cutting her off, still staring at Kael. “Explain it to me. Slowly. Because I didn’t eat anything aside from—” He paused, then shook his head. “No. Even then, no.”
“It's from whatever Sara had in that bowl.” Kael's tone was laced with controlled anger and Adam could feel it.
“You don’t get poisoned by breathing in steam. That’s not how poisoning works.”
“In this case, it is,” Kael said tightly. “The concoction was inhaled. It entered your blood through—”
“Stop,” Adam snapped. His calm cracked, sharp and sudden. “You’re reaching. Both of you are reaching.”
Kael took a breath. “Sara—”
“Don’t.”
“She poisoned you.” Kael said. “And she won't tell the truth.”
“You locked her up,” Adam said suddenly.
Kael faltered. “Adam—”
“You locked her up,” Adam repeated, louder now. “Didn’t you?”
Kael looked away.
The silence was enough answer.
Adam laughed again, this time sharp and disbelieving. “You’re joking. You have to be joking.”
“She refused to admit it,” Kael said. “Even when questioned.”
“Questioned,” Adam echoed. “What does that mean? You asked her?”
Kael hesitated. “I interrogated her.”
Adam’s eyes darkened. “Interrogated. With what, Kael?”
Kael didn’t answer.
Adam’s voice rose. “Did you threaten her? I thought you offered her sanctuary, why did you quickly become a threat to her over something so slight.”
“She is the prime suspect,” Kael snapped back. “My mate was bleeding out and there is nothing minimal about that.”
“Minimal?” Adam shot back. “You think I called this minimal? I’m saying you don’t get to torture a grieving woman because you panicked.”
“Watch your words.”
“No,” Adam said, pushing himself upright despite the physician’s hands. “You watch yours. You’re accusing her of trying to kill me because I had a nosebleed. I’ve had nosebleeds before. I’ve blacked out before. It's become a series of events at this point, this could be just another episode, and you know that.”
“This was different,” Kael insisted. “The blood—”
“And you inhaled it too,” Adam cut in. “You were right next to me, you breathed the same air. Why didn’t you collapse if it was poison?”
Kael opened his mouth but nothing came out.
The physician spoke quickly. “Adam, poison can affect individuals differently. Especially with your condition—”
“Or,” Adam shot back, “it could have been an allergic reaction. Or stress. Or whatever the hell is already wrong with me getting worse, like it always does. That doesn’t make her guilty.”
Kael’s shoulders sagged. “You’re not thinking clearly.”
“No,” Adam said, voice trembling now. “You’re not thinking like a person. You’re thinking like an Alpha.”
Kael swallowed hard.
“I did what I had to do,” Kael said quietly. “I will always choose you first.”
“And I’m telling you you’re wrong,” Adam snapped. “You were cruel. You were paranoid. You hurt someone who didn’t deserve it.”
Kael’s breath hitched. “Adam…”
“Do you know what it’s like,” Adam continued, voice rising, “to be blamed for things you don’t understand? To have your body betray you and then be told you’re dangerous because of it? And you did that to her. You did that.”
Kael inhaled shakily, “I’m sorry,” he said, the word tearing out of him. Head bowed. “I’m sorry. I panicked. I was wrong. Please—please calm down. Don’t stress yourself. I’ll fix it.”
Adam stared at him. “Fix it how?”
“I’ll release her,” Kael said quickly. “I promise.”
Adam’s breath caught. “Release her?”
Kael nodded. “She’ll be freed. I swear it.”
Adam’s face twisted in disbelief. “You still have her locked up? Kael— Jesus Christ, what is wrong with you?!”
Kael reached for him instinctively. “Adam, please—”
“Do it now,” Adam said sharply. “Not later. Now.”
The physician stepped forward. “Adam, you shouldn’t—”
“Now,” Adam repeated.
Kael closed his eyes. Every instinct screamed at him. Every warning howled in his blood.
He nodded. “All right.”
He stood and turned toward the door.
Adam swung his legs off the bed.
“Adam,” the physician warned. “You need to lie back down.”
“I’m not staying here,” Adam said. He pushed himself upright, swaying.
Kael turned sharply. “What are you doing?”
“I’m coming with you.”
“No,” Kael said, moving back toward him. “You’re not.”
Adam took a step forward anyway.
Kael reached out and grabbed his hand. “Please. Let me handle this.”
Adam yanked his hand free. “Don’t touch me.”
The words hit harder than any blow.
Kael froze.
They walked in silence.
The dungeon quarter was cold and dim, carved deep into the stone. Adam had never been here before. He hadn’t known it existed. Chains hung from the walls. Old iron doors lined the corridor.
A guard bowed quickly and unlocked a cell.
The door creaked open.
Sara was sitting on the floor.
She looked up.
“Archie?” she whispered.
Adam ran to her.
“I’m sorry,” he said, dropping to his knees, wrapping his arms around her. “I’m so sorry. I didn’t know. I swear I didn’t know.”
Sara gasped and clutched him tightly, sobbing into his shoulder. “You’re alive,” she cried. “Thank the Moon, you’re alive.”
“I’m fine,” Adam said, though his voice shook. “I promise. I’m fine.”
She pulled back just enough to cup his face, tears streaming. “I knew it. I knew I didn’t hurt you.”
“I believe you,” Adam said without hesitation.
“I believe you.”
She pressed her forehead to his. “I would never harm you. Never.”
“I know,” he whispered.
Behind them, Kael stood in the doorway.
He said nothing but he felt guilty.