Lienna.
I woke up, feeling groggy and disoriented, my body feeling like it had been submerged in a pool of water for hours. Blinking my eyelids, I glanced at the light streaming into the room from the windows, my mind strangely blank. What the hell happened? The memories of the previous day were hazy, like a dream that had slipped through my fingers. I tried to move, but the telltale soreness from between my thighs told me something had happened.
Panic flared in me like a wildfire, and I rushed into a seating position, running my hands all over my body as if searching for answers. I didn’t feel sticky, but there was no denying that I had done something, the strange soreness in my body was a clear indication of that.
I racked my head, looking through my memories to see if I could remember exactly what happened, but my mind was a complete blank. Just as I was about to lose my mind in frustration, the door to my room opened, and Adonis walked in. I froze, my gaze getting locked with his, my heart racing with anticipation and fear.
Getting a hold of myself, I hastily lowered my head, mumbling a greeting while Adonis walked into the room. The air was thick with tension, a shiver running down my spine as Adonis stood at the edge of the bed.
“How do you feel?” He asked, his voice low and gruff. I swallowed, managing to take a peek at him.
“Better then I have in a while.” I muttered honestly, my voice barely above whisper. Adonis cocked his head to the side, a brow raised.
“Your body doesn’t hurt? ” He pressed and I grew confused.
“Not in anyway, your majesty.” I answered. Why is he asking me that. He nodded and we fell silent once more.
Mortification washed over me as I took in Adonis’ calm demeanor, his eyes gleaming with a knowing light. I felt like I’d been punched in the gut, my mind racing with the implications of what had happened. I tried to speak, but my voice caught in my throat.
I swallowed hard, trying to find my voice. ” If I may ask, your majesty. D-did anything happen to me the night before?” I stammered, my eyes never leaving his.
Adonis walked closer, his movements fluid and graceful. “You don’t remember?” he asked, his eyebrow raised.
I shook my head, feeling a wave of panic wash over me. “N-no, I don’t remember anything.” There was a void where a memory should have been and no matter how I tried, I couldn’t seem to places a finger on it.
Adonis stopped in front of me, his eyes locked on mine. For a moment, it looked like he wouldn’t respond until he eventually spoke up. “You sought me out last night. In your delirium,” he said, his voice low and husky.
My face burned with embarrassment as I realized what had happened. I had slept with Adonis. The soreness between my thighs was proof of that.
“Oh heavens,” I whispered, covering my face with my hands.
A corner of Adonis lips quirked up but it didn’t quite form a smile as he responded. “It was needed. You were in a lot of pain last night. I’m surprised you don’t remember.” He said but I only grew more embarrassed. Why would I do something like that?
I realized I had said that out loud when Adonis made to answer, his lips parting to respond to my question. But before he could utter a word, a soldier announced the presence of the other shifter Kings, his voice booming through the room. “Their Majesties, King Caspian and King Hermes, have arrived.”
The doors opened, and Caspian and Hermes walked in, fully dressed in their ceremonial attires, their faces stoic and imposing. The air in the room seemed to thicken, and I could feel the weight of their presence. Once they were in the room, I greeted them with a bow, trying to hide my nervousness. They both responded with a curt nod, their eyes scanning the room before settling on me. A brief silence settled, and I could feel the tension building.
It was awkward having all three shifter Kings in the room, their powerful auras clashing and mingling. I tried my best to look unaffected, but my heart was racing, and my palms were sweating. Caspian was the first to speak, his deep voice breaking the silence. “How are you feeling now?” he asked, his eyes narrowing slightly as he studied me.
My cheeks grew warm as I fiddled with my fingers, trying to come up with a response. “Better…” I muttered, my voice barely above a whisper.
Caspian’s expression remained stoic, but I could sense a hint of satisfaction in his voice. “Then, it must have worked,” he murmured, his eyes flicking to Adonis before returning to me.
My cheeks grew hotter as I realized that whatever had happened between me and Adonis wasn’t a secret after all.
“The healer is on his way to check up on you, but before that happens, we need to speak with you,” Caspian continued, his eyes locked on mine with an intensity that made my heart skip a beat. I nodded, my hands balling into fists as my heart raced.
“It’s about Veronica,” he said, his voice firm but controlled. “Turns out, you were right about her. She was the one behind my poisoning and tried to frame you for it.”
I felt a wave of relief crash over me, followed by a sense of vindication. Finally, I was proven right! But I still needed to know more. “H-how did you find out?” I asked, cautious, my mind racing with questions.
Caspian leaned forward, his eyes narrowing slightly. “Well, after your display of power on the day of your execution, she suffered from nasty burns. That can only happen if you dabble into dark magic, because they don’t tally with the moon goddess powers. She also has been committing a lot of atrocities that we had been unaware of,” he explained, his voice calm yet firm.
The other shifter Kings looked furious, their faces twisted in anger, probably because of the way Veronica played and took advantage of them. Adonis’ eyes seemed to burn with a fierce intensity, while Hermes’ face was set in a cold, hard mask.
I swallowed hard, my mind reeling with the implications. “Um… Where is she now?” I asked, my voice barely above a whisper.
“She’s being held in the dungeon, awaiting trial as we need to know more about her plans and her accomplices.” He said and I nodded. “One thing is for sure, she is not going scot free.” He said, his gaze boring into mine.
My joy knew no bounds, but now wasn’t the time to express it. “I’m glad the truth is finally out,” I mumbled, staring at my fingers, trying to contain my emotions.
Caspian’s expression softened, and he nodded. “We apologize for wrongly accusing you and not doing our own investigation. We’ll make sure that such a thing doesn’t repeat itself again. Focus on your recovery for now, and if there’s anything you need, please do not hesitate to ask.”
I felt a lump form in my throat as I processed their apology. It meant a lot to me, especially coming from the Kings themselves. “Of course, thank you, your majesty,” I said, bowing my head, my heart fluttering with joy and gratitude.
Just then, a knock came on the door, and when it opened, the Royal healer had already arrived, carrying a large bag of medical supplies. “Ah, perfect timing,” Caspian said. “We’ll be taking our leave now. We’ll see you much later.”
With that, the three Kings turned to leave, their ceremonial attire rustling as they moved. I watched them go, feeling a sense of relief wash over me. It was finally over. The truth was out, and I was vindicated.
Laying back down, I let out a sigh as a wave of exhaustion rolled over me. Well, that was nerve-wracking, I thought, closing my eyes. But at least it’s over now. I can finally focus on my recovery.
The healer approached me, a kind smile on his face. “Let’s take a look at you, shall we?” he said, beginning his examination.
I nodded, feeling a sense of calm wash over me. I was in good hands now. The Kings had apologized, and the healer was here to help me recover. Things were finally looking up.