Chapter 191 First Death Attempt: The Poison Attack

Chapter 191 First Death Attempt: The Poison Attack
Chapter 191

RAVENNA

We approached the cart, and something felt wrong. Not dangerous-wrong. Just… off. There were no kids around…not a single one.

I looked around slowly, my stomach tightening. We were in the middle of the highway, surrounded by just a few scattered settlements in the distance. Of course there wouldn't be many children out here. But still, who sets up an ice cream cart on a lonely road with no buyers?

What was the point?

Why was he even here?

The man greeted us warmly as we got closer, his voice cheerful and friendly. He had a cowboy hat pulled low over his head, shadowing his face, and a mask covering the lower half.

A mask? In this heat.

I stared at him for a second longer than I should have. Who the hell wore a mask in weather like this? Did he want to suffocate himself?

I pushed the thought aside. People dressed strangely all the time. It wasn't my business.

But the unease lingered.

"What kind of flavours do you have?" I asked, forcing a smile.

He listed them off cheerfully, his hands moving as he gestured to the cart. "Strawberry, vanilla, milk, chocolate, mint, caramel—"

"I'll have vanilla and strawberry mixed," I interrupted, my smile widening despite the strange feeling gnawing at my gut.

Darius leaned in beside me. "Chocolate and milk for me."

The man nodded enthusiastically and grabbed a plate from his bag, beginning to scoop the ice cream with practiced efficiency.

I turned to Darius, raising an eyebrow. "How did you even know I wanted ice cream?"

He grinned, that stupid, beautiful grin that made my chest warm. "I just guessed. Besides, you've always loved ice cream and chocolate."

I laughed despite myself. "You're starting to study me like a book. I don't like it."

He chuckled, his eyes crinkling at the corners. "Stop being silly. I’m the only one with the right to study you like a book."

I turned back to the man, impatient now. "Are you not done yet?"

"Just packaging the second one," he replied, his tone still bright.

Something about his voice felt rehearsed. He handed us a nylon bag, and we paid him quickly.

"Happy eating," he said, smiling beneath the mask.

We returned to the car and settled in, the bags of ice cream sitting between us.

I couldn't wait. I ripped open my container immediately, eager to dig in but the smell hit me first.

It’s wrong at first and then off. Bitter beneath the artificial sweetness, like something rotting hidden under sugar.

My stomach dropped.

Darius was already opening his, the spoon halfway to his mouth—

I slapped it out of his hand so hard the plate went flying, ice cream splattering across the dashboard.

His head snapped toward me, his eyes wide with shock. "What the hell, Raven? Why did you do that?"

"Scent it," I choked out, my voice shaking. "Scent the ice cream."

He frowned, clearly confused, but leaned down and brought his face closer to the mess on the dashboard.

He inhaled.

"There's nothing wrong with it," he said slowly.

I grabbed his plate from where it had landed and brought it to my nose, my hands trembling.

The scent was faint. You wouldn’t scent anything because it’s hidden under layers of chocolate and milk but it was there. I held up mine next and breathed it in again.

The bitter smell was stronger in mine. I felt my heart pounded against my chest so hard that I thought I’d combust.

"The ice cream is poisoned," I whispered as if I couldn't believe it myself

Darius went completely still.

"What?"

"Mine has belladonna," I continued, my voice breaking slightly. "Yours has something else. I think it's… aconite."

His face was drained of colour.cHe grabbed my plate with shaking hands and brought it to his nose, inhaling deeply.

He coughed violently and pulled back, his eyes watering. "Fuck. You're right. That's belladonna."

He looked at me, and I saw the exact moment the reality of it hit him.

We had almost died right here in this car from fucking ice cream.

"We need to get that man," I said, my voice hard now, anger replacing the fear. "We need to question him."

Darius nodded immediately, his jaw tight. "Let's go."

We rushed out of the car and ran back to the spot where the cart had been but the man was gone, like he’d never been there at all. We looked around frantically, my heart pounding so hard I could hear it in my ears.

"Where is he?" I gasped, spinning in a circle. "He was just here!"

Darius grabbed my arm gently. "Search the area. He couldn't have gone far."

We searched the bush nearby, pushing through branches and undergrowth, and all we found was the cart abandoned.

I yanked open the cart doors and checked the other containers of ice cream carefully, my hands still shaking. They all smelled normal.

I turned to Darius, my stomach twisting into knots. "This isn't normal. A man with a cart of ice cream appears in the middle of nowhere, intentionally waiting for us. He poisons our specific plates and leaves the rest untouched."

Darius's jaw clenched so hard I heard his teeth grind. "I'm hearing something. Some kind of noise. Check the bush."

We moved deeper into the trees, and that's when we found him. There’s a man tied to a tree, his face bruised and bloodied, his clothes torn and dirty. We rushed forward and untied him as quickly as we could.

The moment the ropes fell away, he started cursing, his voice hoarse and furious. "That bastard! That bloody bastard!"

I crouched down in front of him, my hands still trembling. "Are you the ice cream seller?"

He nodded, still breathing hard, his chest heaving. "Yes. I was about to cross the road to go to the settlement to make my sales when this man in a suit appeared out of nowhere."

"What did he want?" Darius asked, his voice sharp.

The man shook his head, his expression twisting with disgust. "He wanted me to poison some kids coming my way. Said he was sure they'd stop for ice cream. I refused."

He paused, his voice breaking slightly. "The next thing I knew, he beat me, dragged me here and tied me to this bloody tree and took my cart."

I felt sick.

Darius leaned forward, his voice tight. "Can you describe the man?"

The seller nodded. "About five foot four, he’s lean build, short black hair, wicked smile, sharp jaw, strikingly handsome and hazel eyes."

Darius's entire body went rigid.

I saw the recognition flash across his face.

"Thank you," Darius said quietly. "I'm sorry for what he did to you."

He paused, his voice dropping lower. "We were the kids he was going to poison."

The man's eyes widened in horror, his face going pale. "Are you alright? Did you—"

"We detected the scent," I assured him quickly, my voice shaking. "We didn't eat it."

Relief washed over his face.

We helped him up and showed him his cart, promising him it hadn't been tampered with beyond the two poisoned plates.

We gave him money—more than the ice cream had cost—and told him to be safe.

"Be careful," he warned us as we turned to leave, his voice thick with emotion. "Whoever that man was, he wanted you dead."

We returned to the car in silence.

The air between us felt heavy and suffocating.

I turned to Darius, my voice quiet. "Do you know that man? The one he described?"

Darius's jaw was tight, his hands gripping the steering wheel so hard his knuckles were white.

"His description matches one of my father's rivals."

I stared at him, disbelief and anger warring in my chest. "So your father's rival just decided to kill his rival's son and mate? Just like that?"

Darius sighed heavily, his shoulders sagging. "I'm confused too. But I think this has something to do with me accepting you as my mate."

"That's it?" My voice rose, sharp and bitter. "They're targeting our lives because of that? Because you chose me?"

"Raven, calm down—"

"Don't tell me to calm down!" I snapped, my voice breaking.

He reached for my hand, but I pulled away, turning to stare out the window.

We drove back to the academy in tense silence. I grabbed my bags from the car as soon as we got to the car, and we went back to my room.

Sam wasn't there. The room looked dusty, neglected, like no one had been here in days.

Darius looked around slowly. "I'll help you clean it up."

"Don't worry about it," I muttered, dropping the bags on the bed.

He grabbed my hands gently, forcing me to look at him. "It's okay to be angry. We were poisoned, almost died but we didn't. We're still here."

I yanked my hands away, my chest heaving. "You almost ate yours!"

My voice cracked, and tears burned at the corners of my eyes.

"Anything could have happened to you!" I continued, my voice rising, shaking with fear and fury. "Do you not understand what it means for our lives to be tied together? If you die, I die! We don't get to survive without each other!"

Darius stepped forward, his expression pained. "I know. I promise now that the threat is real, I'll be careful. I'll scent everything before I eat it. I swear."

"Promise me," I whispered, my voice breaking completely now, tears spilling down my cheeks. "Because I don't want to lose you. I just started having the best part of my life, and I can't—I can't afford to lose you."

My voice shattered on the last word.

Darius crossed his heart, his eyes locked on mine. "I promise."

I fell into his arms, and he held me tightly, his hand stroking my hair, his other arm wrapped around my waist like he was afraid I might disappear.

We started cleaning the room together in silence.

After a while, Darius spoke quietly. "You can be dramatic sometimes."

I turned to him, my jaw tight. "Do you want me to stop caring whether you live or die?"

He blinked. "What? No. I’m just saying you’re dramatic. Do you want me to release some of the fumes for you?

“Ni, I’m fine.” I flashed him a smile.

He sighed and stared at me. "Was I too hard on you? The first time we… you know."

I stared at me, completely lost. "What are you talking about?"

He looked away, his cheeks burning. "The sex. Was it okay? Did you like it?"

I stepped closer, my voice soft. "It was perfect. Everything I've ever wanted.” I swallowed hard not knowing how to reject his advances without making him feel bad.. "Because there's a lot going on that you don't know about. It’s eating me up inside. And I'm scared I'll lose control next time."

His expression shifted immediately to concern, his hand cupping my face. "Raven, what's wrong? Talk to me."

"I'm fine," I lied.

"You're not," he said firmly. "Tell me what Torren said."

I shook my head, pulling away. "No."

"We're mates," Darius pressed, his voice rising slightly now. "We shouldn't keep secrets from each other."

"I'm not keeping secrets," I snapped back.

"You are," he countered, stepping closer. "And it's hurting us."

Anger flared hot and sudden in my chest. "I didn't even tell my father! Doesn't that tell you I want to keep this to myself?"

"There's a difference between your father and me," Darius replied, his voice hard now.

"There isn't!" I yelled, my voice cracking. "Stop pestering me about this!"

I took a shaky breath, my hands trembling. "Get out. Go be with Dorian and fucking leave me alone."

Darius's eyes widened, shock and hurt flashing across his face. "Why? I want to be here with you."

"You're being a pain in my ass," I said, my voice cold and sharp. "Leave or I'll throw you out myself."

The hurt in his eyes deepened. He looked like I had struck him.

He nodded slowly, his voice quiet. "Call me if you need me."

He walked to the door, his steps slow, hesitant.

He paused at the doorway and looked back at me, his eyes searching mine like he was hoping I'd take it back.

I looked away. "Just leave."

He left.

The door closed quietly behind him. I stood there for a long moment, staring at the closed door, my chest heaving.

Then I collapsed onto the bed and I sobbed.

I didn't want to hurt him but I didn't understand what was wrong with me. Why I had lashed out like that. Why I couldn't just tell him the truth.

I hoped he wouldn't hate me.

“You're going to be fine,” Moonlight whispered gently in my mind.

But I wasn't sure I believed her.