Chapter 12 What kind of poison?
River
Pain lances through my arm, a sharp reminder of just how close I came to losing everything. I grit my teeth, forcing myself to focus on Dust, her face a swirl of worry and determination, but the throbbing in my shoulder draws my attention away. The blood seeps through my shirt, a crimson blossom that stains the fabric and sends a chill racing down my spine. This isn’t just a cut..: it’s something worse, but I can't let her know.
“River!” Dust’s voice trembles as she kneels beside me, her fingers trembling as they hover above my injured arm. I want to reassure her, to tell her I’m fine, but the words stick in my throat. I can’t betray the truth even if it means hiding my pain.
“Aiden,” I call out, my voice strained but firm, as I try to keep my focus on the situation at hand. He’s nearby, keeping an eye on the subdued attacker, but I need to know. “Your cut, was it the knife?”
He hesitates, eyes darting to the writhing figure on the ground. “I’m not completely sure, River. I think it was something else. It felt different from silver, I think something else nicked me.”
A wave of relief washes over me, it seems he is not in danger. But if it wasn’t just silver, and I am sure it wasn’t, then what the hell was it?
I grit my teeth against the pain, as we get to the clinic, feeling the heat of Dust’s concern wash over me like a balm, even as I know I shouldn’t let her see my vulnerability. “Dust,” I manage, my voice hoarse. “Stay close to me.”
As the doctor arrives, I feel a flutter of anxiety that is kinda foreign to me. Dust takes my uninjured hand, her grip warm and reassuring. It’s a small gesture, but it stirs something deep within me. No one has cared for me like this before… like I’m more than just a warrior, more than an Alpha.
“Hold still,” the doctor instructs, his voice calm and steady, but the glint of concern in his eyes makes my heart race. He examines the wound with expert precision, his brow furrowing as he prods around the cut. “This is deep, River. I’ll need to clean it up properly.”
I nod, trying to suppress the fear that gnaws at me. “Is it bad?”
“Bad enough,” he replies, not sugarcoating it. “There is something in here, it is eating through your flesh… I’ll have to cut away the damaged tissue to stop it. This is going to hurt. I can sedate the area but the wait would ,ran it spread more.”
Dust squeezes my hand tighter, her eyes wide with worry. “River, please don’t…”
“It’s okay, just cut” I tell him, forcing a smile that feels more like a grimace when I turn back to Dust. “I’ll be fine. Just stay with me.”
The doctor’s hands move quickly, expertly slicing away the skin around the wound. The pain is sharp, a white-hot blaze that sends waves of nausea rolling through me. I grit my teeth, refusing to cry out, not wanting to frighten Dust any more than she already is.
“River,” she whispers, her voice breaking, and I can’t help but look into her eyes. They’re filled with fear, and it pulls at my heartstrings. “You’re going to be okay, right?”
“Yes,” I murmur, though I can feel the cold sweat gathering at my brow as the doctor continues his work. “Just a scratch, remember?”
I can see the doubt in her expression, the way her lip trembles. But I can’t afford to let her see how bad this is. I need to be strong.
The doctor finishes cutting away the damaged tissue, and I’m panting, trying to keep my breathing steady. “What was on the knife?” I ask, the question burning on my tongue.
He glances at me, his face a mask of concentration. “I’m not sure yet. But I can tell you this much: whatever it was, it’s a potent poison. Something that could kill an Alpha, or even a lycan.”
I feel a chill creep down my spine. The realization hits me like a punch to the gut. This wasn’t just an attack… it was an assassination attempt. Someone wanted Dust dead.
“River,” Dust says, her voice trembling as she leans closer. “What if… what if it’s really bad? What if you…”
“Dust,” I interrupt, forcing myself to meet her gaze. “I’m not going anywhere. Doc has cleaned it… it will heal.”
But the truth is, I’m scared. Scared for myself, terrified for her. If this poison is as potent as the doctor suggests, then I need to act fast, we can’t risk this happening again.
The doctor finishes stitching the wound, her hands steady despite the gravity of the situation. “You’ll have a scar,” he informs me matter-of-factly, cleaning up her instruments.
“Great,” I mutter, but deep down, the idea of a scar feels trivial compared to the darker thoughts that loom in the back of my mind.
Dust brushes her fingers against my cheek, pulling my attention back to her. “You’re going to be okay,” she insists, her voice steady but filled with emotion.
I nod, searching for the strength to reassure her. “I promise,” I say, and for a moment, I almost believe it. But as I watch the doctor gather his things, I can’t shake the feeling that this is just the beginning. Someone out there is hunting us, and they won’t stop until they succeed.
As the doctor leaves, I take a deep breath, gritting my teeth against the pain that still lingers. I need to find out who did this, and I need to protect Dust at all costs.
But for now, all I can do is focus on the girl holding my hand. Her warmth seeps into me, a flicker of hope amidst the darkness threatening to engulf us both. “You’re my reason to fight,” I whisper, my heart pounding with renewed determination.
But suddenly something hits me, “Dust, do you have any idea what he meant with ‘death to the princess’?”