Chapter 28
Swiftly Kieran grabbed my hand and pulled me up from my seat before swiftly pulling me back down through the dinner tables and into the corridor. I glanced behind me as Brooke and Hollie scrambled to their feet and hurried after us. The last thing I saw of the ballroom was all of the unwanted bedmaidens being swarmed by dozens of ministers and advisors. They were desperate for their pound of flesh, and the women's voices rang out, pleading, desperately crying out for help. I could see and feel that Kieran had become tense. What would the autopsy show? Would the results lead us to the killer? Would we ever find the killer and the person that also wanted me dead?
“It will be okay, you know,” I reassured gently, peering up at Kieran's troubled face. “Everything happens for a reason. I’ll be okay here in the Palace with you.”
“I haven’t told you that I need to go away soon,” Kieran muttered, turning his face away. “As the new Alpha, I have several colonies to go and meet. I have to go out and make them show me their allegiances to our kingdom.”
“When were you going to tell me this? Then let me come with you,” I offered. “I’m safe when you are near. No one will dare hurt me with you around.”
“No!” barked Kieran simply, looking across at me sadly. “It’s too dangerous. I wanted to tell you nearer the time, but I didn’t know how. I have a plan, but I can't be too sure of it just yet. First of all, we need to see who killed your grandmother. Look, we are here, at the hospital wing. Let's see what the doctors have to say!”
Looking back in front of me, I saw the doors to the hospital wing fast approaching. I could feel my heart hammering in my chest, but I wasn’t sure if it was sadness that Kieran would be leaving me, which was news to me or nervous at what the autopsy results could be. Just as we hurried up to the doors, they swung open to reveal a familiar white room, filled with white metal beds, some empty, some not. A man in a long white coat hurried over to us and quickly shook Kieran's hand.
“My lord. Please, if you follow me into my office,” the doctor croaked, glancing nervously at me, Hollie and Brooke. “It will be more private in there. I’m afraid it's not good news.”
Silently, we all trudged down the long room until we reached a smaller room at the end of the larger room. Opening the door, the doctor beckoned us in, and we found ourselves in a small dark room with a long table and several chairs in the middle. An open fireplace at the end of the room was burning brightly, filling the room with much-needed heat and light.
“So? What did you find?” Kieran questioned, getting straight to the point as he sat down in one of the many chairs. “You said it was not good news?”
“No, it's not, I’m afraid,” the doctor replied gravely. “Toxicology results have come back, which suggest that Mrs Smith’s death wasn’t accidental. She had a large volume of Atropa Belladonna in her system. Also, I’d like to point out that Mrs Smith’s vital organs had turned black, which is consistent with Atropa Belladonna poisoning.”
“Atropa Belladonna?” Keiran replied, confused. “English, please, doctor!”
“Wait,” I intervened, looking puzzled while trying to remember something. “Atropa Belladonna you say? Isn’t that Deadly Nightshade?”
“Yes, Ma’am,” the doctor replied, surprised. “How did you know that?”
“When I lived down in the city, I used to help out in an apothecary called Hatties Herbs,” I explained. “Hattie was my grandmother’s best friend. I used to go in her shop at the weekends and help sort and stock all her herbs and plants.”
“Oh, I see,” the doctor smiled, clearly impressed. “I guess you know a little about different herbs and plants then?”
“A little. It wasn’t that long ago that Hattie started to teach me about the plants she stocked,” I continued. “But if I remember rightly, Hattie said that Deadly Nightshade is a controlled plant. It's only stocked in three apothecaries in the whole city.”
“You're right,” the doctor nodded. “deadly Nightshade is controlled due to its toxicity levels. It's not that easy to get hold off.”
“Well, if only three shops stock it in the city, then surely it won't be hard to find out who bought it?” Hollie butted in. “We could go down to the city and visit each shop and find out what they know.”
“No, it's too dangerous,” interrupted Kieran. “If word gets out that Elena is tied to me, then she may get harmed. The note said that they were watching her. I need to keep her safe. She is safe in the Palace.”
“She will have us,” Brooke reassured loudly. “We will protect Elena, don’t worry.”
“I said no!” growled Kieran, glaring over at Brooke angrily. “I don’t want Elena ever stepping back in that god damn city!”
“Hey, listen to me,” I soothed, cupping Kieran's face in my hands and pulling his face towards mine. “I need to find out who did this to my grandmother. And besides, you can't keep me locked up in the Palace forever. I need freedom too. Look, we will go together, and I’ll take Brooke and Hollie. We will get Reginald and the other golden guards to come too. Surely that is enough protection.”
“You're right. I'm sorry,” Kieran apologised, kissing my head gently. “I just love you so much, and I will do anything to prevent you from coming to harm.”
I stood up and leaned up to kiss Kieran thankfully, but the weirdest feeling came over me. The room began to spin and sway into a blur of colours while nausea overcame me. Teetering on the spot, I held out my hands, trying to find something to steady myself, but as the room turned black, I felt my body fall to the floor. The last thing I could remember was a distant voice shouting in panic.
“Look out! Someone grab her! She is going to faint!”