Chapter 104: What Is The Meaning Of This?

Liam's POV

"What do you mean it's not Kiara?"

My voice came out sharper than I intended. Fiona fixed her gaze on me and I felt the frustration rising before I could manage it.

"This is my mate and I don't need to be told otherwise," I snapped. "She is lying in that bed and she needs to be treated, not analyzed. Whatever you thought you felt–"

"My Alpha." Fiona bowed her head. "Forgive me. Please give us one moment."

I stopped.

The three of them pulled together at the foot of the bed, their heads bent low, their voices dropping below hearing. I watched them. My hands clenched at my sides and I tried to remember why I had agreed to this.

I looked at Kiara.

She was paler than she had been this morning. The burning heat I had felt in her forehead was still there, I could see it in the flush climbing her neck.

The witches separated and came back.

"My Alpha." Flora stepped forward. "I must apologize for my sister's confusion. She mistook your mate for Lady Tiara. The resemblance, in this state especially, caused a momentary–"

"They look nothing alike," Mrs. Fernworth said sharply from her corner of the room. "Lady Kiara is more beautiful and more refined than Tiara on her best day. Even lying there, anyone with eyes could see the difference."

A few people suppressed smiles, including Samuel, who turned carefully toward the wall.

I almost smiled too.

For some reason I couldn't explain, I didn't believe them at all, but I didn't press it further. Whatever they had actually felt when Fiona touched her, I would find out eventually. Right now I needed Kiara awake.

"Can you start treating her already?" I asked.

Flora nodded. "We will need everyone out of the room." She paused, choosing her words carefully. "Including you, my Alpha."

"I can't do that."

She looked at me.

"I'm not leaving," I said simply.

"My Alpha, we need to remove her clothing for the treatment to work properly. The application of the herbs requires–"

"Go on. She's my mate, so there's no point hiding anything. Apply whatever you need. I'm staying."

Fauna stepped forward. "Please, my Alpha, it would be more appropriate–"

"I said no." I looked at all three of them. "This is my mate. I don't care about what is appropriate. I am not leaving this room."

The witches exchanged a look. Then Flora exhaled and seemed to make a decision.

"Very well," she said.

They moved efficiently after that, producing small vials and cloth bundles from the bags they'd brought, setting them out along the table. Fauna directed Mrs. Fernworth to close the windows while Fiona began lighting candles, placing them at specific points around the bed.

Then they began to disrobe Kiara.

I turned slightly away and gave her what privacy I could while Flora worked. I focused on the candle nearest me, the way the flame moved, the shadows it threw on the ceiling.

"She will be fine," Flora said behind me. Her voice was quieter now. "Whatever is happening to her, it has not gone past the point of returning. She is still holding on."

I said nothing.

"She is stronger than she looks," Fauna added. "Considerably."

"I know," I said.

A sharp knock at the door drew everyone's attention. It annoyed me, who could possibly be knocking like that right now.

I turned. Mrs. Fernworth was already moving to check, her voice dropping to a whisper at the door.

I watched her back.

She returned and closed the door behind her. Her expression was unreadable and clearly carrying bad news.

"Speak," I said.

"Lord Harlan is here, my Alpha," she said. "He's in the receiving room. He's requesting to see you."

I didn't remember inviting Harlan over. And whatever had brought him here was not going to be good.

I looked at Flora. "I need to attend to something urgently. I'll be back."

"No problem."

I looked at Mrs. Fernworth. "Stay here and watch them closely. If anything changes, send for me immediately."

"On my life," she said.

I leaned over Kiara for a moment and pressed my hand briefly to her hair before walking to the door.

I took the long route to the receiving room.

Not because I needed the time, I knew exactly what composure I was going to walk in wearing but because walking helped me think. By the time I reached the door I had my face arranged and my mind settled, and I pushed it open.

Harlan stood in the center of the room.

Behind him stood a guard, not a palace guard, not anyone I recognized… built like someone who had been assembled specifically for intimidation, with the stillness of a man who had done terrible things and found them unremarkable.

Harlan's face looked deeply unsettled.

I smiled despite that.

"This is unexpected," I said pleasantly. "What brings you here at this hour?"

Harlan's expression hardened further. He stepped forward and bowed.

He tilted his head. "I've been feeling watched lately, my Alpha. A peculiar sensation. Eyes where they shouldn't be. Shadows in places that should be empty."

I kept the smile on my face. "The palace has many staff. People move–"

"Not like this," he said pleasantly.

He turned and looked at his guard, giving them a signal with his eyes. The guards moved immediately.

They stepped forward and dropped Cam's body on the floor. It landed with a heavy thud.

I froze as I looked at Cam. It was unbelievable. Unbearable. I was furious.

His face was beaten past recognition.

I looked at him for a long moment.

Then I looked at Harlan.

"What is the meaning of this?" I asked, my voice deliberately gentle, holding myself together by sheer force.