Chapter 165 Secret Relationship
Mira worked carefully as she leaned over the wooden bed where Darius lay motionless. The room carried the scent of herbs and crushed leaves that filled the healer’s chambers. Shelves lined the walls from floor to ceiling with jars and bowls containing different mixtures. The light from several lanterns flickered softly across the room while Mira focused on her work.
Darius remained unconscious as she pressed a cloth soaked in dark liquid against one of the wounds on his arm.
Her assistant stood beside the table while holding another bowl filled with steaming herbs.
“Pass me the needle,” Mira said quietly.
The assistant handed it to her without hesitation.
Mira examined the marks on Darius’s skin again before inserting the thin instrument carefully beneath the surface.
A small amount of dark liquid seeped out as she worked.
Lucia had left earlier after making sure Darius had been carried safely into the healer’s chambers. Fernando and Rowan had remained outside discussing their next steps while Mira began treating the poison.
Her assistant looked down at Darius.
“Do you think he will survive?”
Mira did not look up from her work.
“That depends on how much poison entered his system.”
The assistant frowned slightly.
“The puppet viral is not easy to remove.”
Mira nodded.
“I know.”
She continued pressing the cloth against the wound while carefully drawing out more of the infected liquid.
A faint groan escaped from Darius’s throat.
Mira paused for a moment.
The assistant leaned closer.
“Did you hear that?”
Darius’s fingers twitched slightly against the blanket.
Mira looked at his face carefully.
His breathing had become steadier during the past few minutes.
Another quiet groan left his lips.
The assistant looked surprised.
“He is waking up.”
Darius’s eyelids slowly opened as his vision struggled to adjust to the light.
For a moment his eyes moved across the ceiling without focus.
Then they shifted toward Mira.
She watched him carefully.
“You should remain still.”
Darius blinked several times before his gaze finally sharpened.
His lips parted slightly as he drew in a slow breath.
“Mira?”
His voice sounded weak.
Mira nodded.
“Yes.”
Darius’s eyes moved toward the assistant standing nearby.
His gaze lingered there for a moment.
Then he lifted one hand slightly from the bed.
The movement looked subtle but Mira noticed the small gesture he directed toward her assistant.
She frowned.
“What are you doing?”
Darius’s eyes remained fixed on her assistant.
The woman looked confused.
Mira straightened slightly.
“You should leave for a moment,” she told her assistant.
The assistant hesitated.
“Are you certain?”
Mira nodded once.
“Yes.”
The assistant placed the bowl back on the table before walking toward the door.
She stepped outside quietly and closed it behind her.
The room became silent.
Mira turned her attention back to Darius.
“What stunt are you pulling?”
Her voice carried clear irritation.
Darius looked at her calmly despite the weakness in his body.
“You understood the signal quickly.”
Mira crossed her arms.
“I am a healer not a fool.”
She leaned closer.
“Why were you mind linking me like that?”
Darius did not answer immediately.
Mira continued speaking.
“You made Fernando suspicious of me.”
Darius gave a faint smile.
“That was never my intention.”
Mira’s expression hardened.
“Then explain yourself.”
Darius shifted slightly on the bed while trying to sit up.
Pain flashed briefly across his face as his muscles protested the movement.
Mira placed a hand on his shoulder.
“You should not move too much.”
Darius ignored the warning.
“There was no other way to speak with you alone.”
Mira studied him carefully.
“And what could be so important that you needed to risk suspicion?”
Darius looked directly into her eyes.
“I have found a way to heal your daughter.”
The words caused Mira to stiffen instantly.
Her eyes narrowed.
“What did you say?”
Darius spoke slowly.
“I can help cure her condition.”
Mira remained silent for a moment while studying his face carefully.
“You expect me to believe that?”
Darius shrugged weakly.
“You have been searching for a cure for years.”
Mira’s voice turned colder.
“How do you know that?”
Darius looked calm.
“Because I pay attention.”
Mira took a step back while crossing her arms again.
“My daughter’s illness is not something that can be cured easily.”
Darius nodded.
“I know.”
Mira’s eyes remained fixed on him.
“Then how exactly do you plan to heal her?”
Darius hesitated briefly before answering.
“That information comes with a condition.”
Mira let out a short breath.
“I knew there would be a condition.”
Darius leaned back slightly against the pillow.
“I need your assistance.”
Mira frowned.
“With what?”
Darius held her gaze steadily.
“With my plans.”
Mira shook her head slowly.
“You must be joking.”
Darius remained calm.
“If you help me then I will give you the cure.”
Mira’s expression hardened further.
“Are you working for Maleek?”
Darius immediately shook his head.
“No.”
Mira studied him carefully.
“Then why would you ask me to betray Fernando?”
Darius raised an eyebrow.
“Who said anything about betrayal?”
Mira’s voice carried anger.
“You are clearly involved in something dangerous.”
Darius sighed softly.
“My father is alive.”
Mira blinked.
“What?”
Darius repeated calmly.
“My father lives.”
Mira stared at him.
“That is impossible.”
Darius gave a faint smile.
“Yet it is true.”
Mira took another step back.
“And what does that have to do with Maleek?”
Darius answered quietly.
“We are using Maleek to get what we want.”
Mira’s eyes widened slightly.
“You are manipulating him?”
Darius nodded.
“Maleek believes he is in control but the truth is very different.”
Mira shook her head slowly.
“I refuse to become part of whatever scheme you are planning.”
Darius watched her carefully.
“You would rather watch your daughter suffer?”
Mira’s voice rose slightly.
“I will find a cure for her myself.”
Darius let out a quiet laugh.
“You have been trying for years.”
Mira’s hands tightened slightly at her sides.
“And I will continue trying.”
Darius shrugged.
“That is your choice.”
Mira turned slightly toward the table while trying to control her anger.
“You came into this room poisoned and barely alive and now you think you can threaten me?”
Darius’s expression remained calm.
“I am not threatening you.”
Mira looked back at him.
“Then what are you doing?”
Darius’s voice grew softer.
“I am offering you a chance to save your daughter.”
Mira glared at him.
“You expect me to believe that you suddenly care about her?”
Darius shook his head.
“This has nothing to do with compassion.”
Mira frowned.
“Then why help her?”
Darius answered quietly.
“Because I need you.”
Mira remained silent for a moment.
Darius continued speaking.
“If you refuse then I will not blame you.”
Mira narrowed her eyes.
“What does that mean?”
Darius smiled faintly.
“It means that whatever happens next will not be my fault.”
Mira felt a chill run through her.
“What are you talking about?”
Darius’s voice carried an unsettling calm.
“If your daughter is captured and turned into a puppet then you should not blame me.”
Mira’s eyes widened with shock.
“You would not dare.”
Darius looked at her steadily.
“My father knows where the healer houses are located.”
Mira’s breath caught slightly.
Darius continued speaking.
“If anything happens to me then he will raid those places.”
Mira’s voice trembled slightly.
“You are lying.”
Darius shrugged.
“You can believe whatever you want.”
Mira stepped closer to the bed.
“You would condemn innocent healers?”
Darius nodded slightly.
“He will turn them into puppets.”
The room fell silent.
Mira stared at him with disbelief.
Darius slowly lowered his head back onto the pillow.
“You have time to think about my offer.”
Mira’s hands trembled slightly at her sides.
“You are cruel.”
Darius closed his eyes.
“I am practical.”
Mira remained standing beside the bed while watching him.
“Do not expect my answer to be yes.”
Darius did not respond.
His breathing slowly steadied as he relaxed against the mattress.
Moments later he lay completely still as if he had fallen asleep.
Mira continued staring at him while anger and worry battled inside her mind.
Outside the room the assistant stood quietly in the hallway while holding a small tray.
Footsteps approached from the far end of the corridor.
Gilat appeared moments later as he walked past the healer’s chambers.
He noticed the assistant standing outside the door.
Gilat slowed his pace.
“Is something wrong?”
The assistant looked up at him and smiled politely.
“Oh nothing serious.”
Gilat glanced toward the closed door.
“Why are you standing out here?”
The assistant shrugged lightly.
“It seems Mira and Darius are having a private conversation.”
Gilat raised an eyebrow.
“A private conversation?”
The assistant nodded while lowering her voice slightly.
“Well it looks like they are in a secret relationship.”