Chapter 81 The Poisoned Apple
Lyra took another bite of the apple, chewing slowly.
It tasted normal, crisp and sweet.
She leaned against the counter, staring ahead as her thoughts ran wild. Ryker was out there somewhere in the forest, no doubt hunting a man who wanted her dead.
Dax was guarding Rex. The entire pack was on edge. And she was standing here, eating fruit like the world hadn’t just gone upside down after Samson escaped that prison cell.
“This is all because of me,” she murmured brokenly as she looked at her packed bags.
“I can’t stay,” she told herself again.
She tossed the core of the apple aside and moved quickly upstairs. This time, she didn’t hesitate. She grabbed only what she needed, which were two changes of clothes, a jacket, boots, and her wallet.
She didn’t need much; she just needed something to help her survive in the wild until she could find a way into another town and then locate the Blood King.
Maybe the vampire town could help her if they knew she was a half-breed and looking for the Blood King. Maybe his name would bring some kind of immunity to her. She couldn’t believe she was counting on that.
Never would she have imagined wanting the Blood King on her side.
Hissing, she slung the bag over her shoulder and grabbed her keys from the dresser.
Her hand paused on the door handle as she listened to the voices outside.
There was nothing. No footsteps, no voices.
The Alpha Quarters were unusually quiet. Most warriors were already out searching the pack borders along with Ryker.
It was a perfect time for her to disappear before anyone found out.
Lyra eased the door open and peeked outside, scanning the corridor carefully before stepping out. Her heart hammered as she moved swiftly toward the stairs and down.
She was almost at the garage when a voice stopped her cold.
“Are you going somewhere, Luna?”
Lyra spun around.
A woman stood a few feet away. She was middle-aged and wearing the dark uniform of the household staff. Lyra recognized her vaguely. She often worked shifts around the Alpha Quarters.
“Yes,” she muttered as the woman looked at her expectantly.
“Well, where are you off to?” she insisted. “It’s not very safe.”
Lyra nodded and cooked a lie quickly. “Ryker asked me to join him in the search.”
The woman frowned. “That’s strange. I thought I heard him say you were to stay inside until that bastard is found.”
Lyra’s pulse jumped, but she forced a small, casual shrug. “He changed his mind. Said I shouldn’t be cooped up while everyone else is out there.”
The woman studied her for a moment too long. Her eyes moved to the bag on Lyra’s shoulder, then back to her face.
“Well,” she said slowly, “if the Alpha said so.”
Lyra didn’t wait for more questions. She nodded once and hurried past her toward the garage.
The woman’s stare burned into her back, but she didn’t turn back.
“She can ask questions later,” she grumbled under her breath. “I have to go right now.”
Inside the garage, Lyra exhaled shakily and rushed to her bike. She yanked the cover off and started the engine.
She slung the backpack across her back and swung a leg over the bike just as she heard the engine rumble.
But suddenly, a sharp pain exploded in her stomach.
Lyra gasped, clutching her abdomen as she cried out. “Ah—!”
She sucked in a breath, blinking hard.
“It’s just nerves,” she muttered, shaking her head. “Just shock.”
She reached for her helmet, pulled it on with trembling hands, and settled herself again.
But the world began to feel blurry, and soon she could barely stand the pain.
She grunted in pain and doubled over on the bike. “What—”
She barely had time to react before her strength vanished, and she toppled sideways, hitting the concrete hard as the bike skidded and crashed beside her with a clang.
Pain flared up her side as she panted on the floor, breathless.
“Luna!” someone shouted.
Hands grabbed her shoulders, turning her gently. The woman from earlier knelt beside her, panic written all over her face. “Are you alright? What happened?”
Lyra groaned, her head swimming. “I think… I think I’m still in shock,” she said weakly. “I don’t feel right. I can’t ride.”
The woman’s expression softened instantly. “Of course you can’t. You’ve been through too much today.”
She helped Lyra sit up, steadying her. “You should go back inside. Get some rest. That’s what you need.”
Lyra nodded, too dizzy to argue. “Yeah. You’re right.”
The woman guided her carefully back toward the house, one arm firmly around her waist. Lyra leaned into the support, her body suddenly heavy and uncooperative.
At the door, Lyra forced a small smile. “I’ll just sleep it off.”
“That’s best,” the woman said kindly. “I’ll let the others know you’re resting.”
Lyra nodded again and stepped inside.
The door closed behind her.
The moment the latch clicked, Lyra sagged against the wall, gasping. Her chest felt tight, her breaths shallow and uneven.
Something was wrong. Very wrong.
Her vision swam as she stumbled toward the dining table.
“What’s happening to me?” she cried out, clutching her stomach.
She reached for the glass of water sitting there, her hands shaking violently.
The glass slipped, and she barely caught it before it landed on the floor.
And then she saw the apple crust on the table.
Her heart skipped.
“No…” she whispered.
Her mind raced back to the maid who came earlier.
“The Alpha instructed that I should bring you food.”
She’d eaten the apple without thinking.
As if on cue, Dax’s words echoed in her head like a bell.
“We think Samson had insider help. Maybe a kitchen staff or a guard.”
She gasped.
“Oh gods…”
The realization slammed into her and her eyes widened.
“It’s the maid,” Lyra rasped. “She just poisoned me.”
The glass of water fell from her hand, shattering loudly against the floor. Water splashed everywhere as the glass shards scattered across the tiles.
Lyra dropped to her knees, coughing as dizziness overwhelmed her.
She tried to push herself up, but her palm slid over broken glass.
“Ah!” she cried out as she sliced her hand on the shards.
Blood trickled out quickly, and she panicked.
“No, no, no—” she whimpered, scrambling clumsily, cutting herself again as she struggled to stand.
Her legs barely held her weight.
Dax. I need Dax.
She staggered toward the door, her vision narrowing as she headed there. But she couldn’t get very far; the room spun violently.
And just as she reached for the handle, a hand clamped over her head.
Lyra screamed and stumbled, but the sound was cut off as she was shoved hard to the floor.
Her body hit the floor painfully, the breath knocked clean out of her.
A voice growled from behind her. “You little vampire whore!”