Chapter 47 Conspirator
❀ Maeve ❀
Like a bad dream, the matrons surrounded me like wraiths around the damned.
I was pulled further into the red-glowed house, the heat from the stove making me sweat instantly.
Smoke hung thick in the air, tickling my nose and making me lightheaded.
Of course the matrons were also the healers. These three weird women with pearls around their throats and soot underneath their nails.
“I don’t want any trouble.” I infused confidence into my tone.
They’d begun to circle me like vultures. My vision pulsed with the heat and my heart thundered.
“Says trouble,” one woman sneered, the others cackled.
“Such rage…” mused another.
“An echo…” said yet another.
I felt like screaming. “An echo of what?”
When they didn’t respond, I took a step back, then paused. They were between me and the door.
“Look, I only came for some medicine. A birth-control tea or whatever form you make it in.”
Suddenly, the heavy atmosphere dropped.
Light streamed in from a window being opened by one of them. I looked at the spot she’d been and back to the window. How had she moved so fast?
“A tea, you say?” Even her voice had changed. “Well, you should have said so earlier. Come.”
Pulled once again, she led me to a clean, gleaming bone counter.
She grabbed my hand and made a show of studying my veins. “Have you been sexually active? How long do you want it for?”
I swallowed, thrown off. What had changed?
One minute they’d gone all witchy on me. The next, we were talking business like normal.
I’d better go with it, get what I came for, and leave.
“Y-yes, I have.” I muttered, biting my tongue before I added 'with two men'. My face heated.
She kneaded my arm up to my shoulder, brows drawn, humming as she checked me.
“You’re not with child. With all the frolicking you’ve been doing, you made the right decision coming for a drug.”
I nodded, then froze. A cold prickle slid down my spine. How did she know that?
She’d turned away from me, sorting through bottles and purses on a shelf.
My gaze strayed to the other two women, who now sat at a low table, playing cards and paying no mind to me at all.
Such strange women.
“Aha!” I turned at her exclamation. “This’ll do. One capful after every session with your men. Make sure to hydrate more than you usually do. It’s strong.”
Collecting the small brown pouch, I opened the drawstring to see a small bottle filled with thick brown sludge.
“Thank you,” I told her, worrying my lip as I said my next words. “You can charge this to the alpha, or the prince… the fortress. I’m the…”
“Princess consort,” she finished for me, an amused smile on her lips. “Pleasure to serve you.”
I nodded as I secured the medicine in my dress pocket, turning to leave. “Thank you.”
“You might want something for that rage,” the woman at the counter spoke up.
The urge to run out of the strange cottage ate at me, but curiosity burned hotter.
“Rage?” I turned to her. “I don’t know what you mean.”
“Of course you do. You get so very angry, it’s unhealthy.”
Was she insane?
I shook the thought off and gave her a patronizing smile instead. My very instinct within screamed at me to run.
“No, I don’t need anything else. Thank you.”
The other two had paused in their game, watching me with an uncanny gaze.
Ignoring them, I pushed open the door, bursting out into the scorching bright light of day.
The sun feel like a rescue rope.
I breathed a relieved sigh when I saw Ashar was still waiting for me.
“All done?” He straightened from the wall he’d been leaning against.
“Yes. Got it.”
I joined him on the ground off the porch of the Matrons. With one last look back, I followed Ashar.
He walked me back to the fortress, to the great oak doors of Bastian’s chambers.
As he pushed them open for me, he looked like he was going to say something but thought against it.
I would’ve asked, but the wave of exhaustion that had built on the walk back threatened to floor me.
He settled on a slight bow when I thanked him, and left.
My limbs were lead, my head a heated balloon. My legs dragged as I shed my dress and walked to the large feathered bed.
Bastian wouldn’t be back until past sundown, and we had much to discuss. Such as any new information regarding my mother and the overall state of District 1.
My mind wandered to Nikolai. The gem hadn’t pulsed since last night when he’d watched me and Bastian.
As my lids slid closed, I wondered if he’d liked what he saw. If one day, he’d indulge me by joining in.
Probably not.
But would it hurt to try?
❀ ❀ ❀ ❀ ❀
Shuffling roused me.
My eyes snapped open, and I turned in the direction of the noise.
The sunset cast orange rays across the stone floor, catching Tammy in its light.
She lugged a basket of laundry across the room, back bowed, face set with determination.
“What are you doing?” I demanded as I raised my upper body from the bed.
She stumbled, then righted herself. “Oh, princess. You’re awake.”
I stretched while holding back a yawn.
The nap had cleared the haze from earlier, and I suspected the smoke-filled cottage of the matrons had had everything to do with it.
Tammy dropped the basket on the floor and moved closer to the bed. She’d washed, her hair and skin clean, clothes changed and draping on her lanky body.
Her eyes shone with eagerness.
“I was bringing back the laundry. Should I get your dinner from the kitchens, or will you dine with the alpha tonight?”
The alpha? He rarely dined with others, preferring to eat in his chambers much like I and Bastian.
I could use this opportunity to talk to him about the prisoners from Blackbridge.
I swung my feet to the floor. “Has the prince returned?”
“No. But you look pale and tired. Dinner will perk you right up…”
I swung my gaze to her, brows drawn, wondering why exactly she was playing maid instead of recovering.
She dropped to her knees, staring at the floor. “I-I’m sorry princess, I spoke out of line…”
She’d misunderstood my look.
“Tammy. I’m not angry.” Softening my voice, I reached for her hand. “I’m wondering why you’re up and about instead of resting? You had such a fright today. Did Eiden put you up to this?”
“No! It’s not her fault. I insisted.” Shy, she didn’t meet my eyes. “You saved my life. I just wanted to be of use and serve you.”
I smiled. She didn’t know I’d rather have her as a friend than just an overworked maid.
“It’s fine. I’d do it again. I plan to talk to the alpha and have him see reason. He needs to understand that being rogue is not a crime. It’s not like you were planning pack domination with ferals.”
It was almost imperceptible, but Tammy froze.
Then she attempted to cover it up with a shrug. A chill swept through me, every instinct sharpening.
Despite my good intentions, this was a stranger I’d let into my home, my personal wing.
In Blackbridge, it was a dog-eat-dog world. Might made right, and anyone could betray you for the slightest cut of meat.
“Tammy. Why were you arrested?” I asked cautiously.
I instinctively sniffed her again. Human. But that didn’t mean she was completely harmless.
Her hand still clasped in mine, she looked up to meet my gaze.
What I saw shocked me.
It was the glaze of desperation bordering insanity.
My claws straightened, my body tensing for any surprise.
She swallowed, eyes glassy.
The soflty—
“I was arrested for conspiring with ferals.”