Chapter 82 82
Venessa’s POV
“Tell me you two will be staying a while,” the King said, his gaze shifting between us.
Denzel glanced at me before answering.
“Two days, Your Majesty,” he replied quietly extending our stay by an extra day beyond what we had originally planned. The King nodded in approval.
“I’m glad you finally cut ties with that creep,” he added, and Denzel let out a short laugh.
While their conversation continued, my attention drifted elsewhere. I studied the King carefully, my eyes lingering on him longer than courtesy allowed. Nyla’s vision pressed at the back of my mind, and I wondered why him? Why would fate show him to her?
Then I saw it.
Faint markings beneath his skin. Subtle. Easy to miss. But I knew them.
Poison.
My breath stilled as understanding settled heavily in my chest. That was why Nyla had seen him. He wasn’t meant to die not like this. He needed help. My help.
Ask him what’s wrong, I mind-linked Denzel.
He turned to me at once, frowning slightly before facing the King again.
“What’s the matter, Denzel?” the King asked, noticing the shift.
“My wife is a healer,” Denzel said carefully. “She’s… curious about your condition. Please don’t take offense, Your Majesty.”
The King laughed, the sound breaking into a cough.
“Not at all, Denz. Not at all,” he said, then looked directly at me.
“They claim I have a degenerative brain disease. Say I’ll only worsen with time. I’m merely holding on until they locate my heir.”
Denzel’s brow furrowed.
“An heir? But Queen Rochelle has no children.”
“That’s true,” the King said quietly. “But I believe I have one somewhere out there.”
He fell silent then, as though caught in a memory too painful to voice.
After a moment, he waved it off.
“Regardless, Luna Venessa, there’s nothing herbs can do for me now. My physician has me on medication to manage the symptoms.”
Without hesitation, I reached for his hands, my fingers brushing his skin as I searched for confirmation of what I already suspected.
“May I examine you, Your Majesty?” I asked.
He smiled warmly and shook his head.
“Not at all, young lady. Not at all.”
I stood.
“Take off his shirt,” I told Denzel.
If not for my wolf’s heightened sight, I might have doubted myself or held back. But something deeper urged me forward. Fate had placed me here for a reason.
Out of everyone who had died… I was the one sent back.
My knowledge had saved Rayon. It had saved Denzel.
And now, it would save the Lycan King.
I examined him thoroughly his hands, eyes, mouth, tongue, and back. I listened to his breathing. Checked his nails. The signs were faint, masked deliberately.
Whoever was poisoning him was careful. Methodical.
They were killing him slowly letting him suffer while ensuring no sudden death would raise suspicion. The medication he took dulled the symptoms just enough to hide the truth.
“May I speak freely, Your Majesty?” I asked.
He nodded, wincing slightly as he pulled his shirt back on.
“I don’t believe you have a brain disease,” I said calmly. “I don’t know how your physician reached that conclusion, but that is not what’s happening here.”
Denzel stiffened.
“Then what is it?”
“I could be wrong,” I said honestly, “but you show all the signs. I’ll need your blood tested to be certain and if I’m right, that test can’t be done here. It must be done in our lab.”
Denzel was growing restless, but I didn’t stop.
“You’re being poisoned, Your Majesty,” I said. “Atropa belladonna Deadly Nightshade. It’s being administered slowly. The medication you’re on suppresses the symptoms so no one notices.”
The room went utterly still.
“If I’m correct,” I continued, “then your entire medical and care staff have been compromised. You need to leave this place. Come with us to the Blood Moon Pack so I can treat you but your stay must remain secret. Whoever is behind this is powerful. They may even target Denzel to reach you.”
The King stared at me, stunned.
I couldn’t tell whether he believed me but I needed him to.
“Are you serious?” Denzel asked.
I nodded once. Firmly.
The King exhaled.
“Let’s say you’re right. How long would this treatment take?”
“Two weeks to purge the poison. One month for full recovery,” I said. “You’re an Alpha it may take less time.”
He turned to Denzel slowly.
“Fate has smiled on you, Denz. Healers are rare. I had one once… many years ago.”
His voice trailed off.
I knew who he meant.
My mother.
But I said nothing.
“I have nothing to lose,” the King finally said. “I’m willing to try your treatment.”
Relief warmed my chest, and I smiled.
“I’ll take your advice,” he continued. “I won’t tell anyone where I’m going. Rochelle won’t like it she worries too much but I’ll stand firm. She’ll benefit in the end.”
Then he straightened, resolve hardening in his eyes.
“Let’s not wait two days. We leave tonight. This is the first hopeful news I’ve had since this began. Everyone’s been waiting for me to die especially Fabian.” His lips curved faintly.
“It would be nice to live. To find my heir. That would be… very nice.”
As he and Denzel drifted into lighter conversation, I sank back into my seat my heart pounding.
Fate had spoken.
And this time, I was listening.