>>>>>>

It had been more than an hour since Akira and Beth switched the blood-stained bed with a clean one. They did the same with the blankets. After that, both of them quickly rushed over to the main palace. As they took the long staircase, Beth couldn’t stop glancing down at the spot where Thalia had fallen. No one could survive such a height; the ground was littered with stones.

Straining her eyes, she spotted a body lying in a pool of blood, and her heart raced in her chest, but she quickened her pace.

No one must catch them there, or they would be the first suspects in Thalia's death—if she was even dead.

Beth washed the dishes while Akira set the drinks onto the tray.

Akira balanced the tray on the oak table, placing the goblets and wine jars inside, her hands trembling slightly. The goblets made a faint clink every time her hand shook. She kept reassuring herself to breathe and act normally.

Each deep exhale brought back the haunting image of blood all over the bed, and she couldn’t stop thinking about the switched sheets they had replaced.

What if the girls got caught? Everyone would think they were the suspects.

They’d kill them? No. Beth said they’d give them to the feral king.

Just then, a maid walked in, and Akira hurried to fill the trays. She quickly forced a smile, lowering her gaze to avoid eye contact, afraid that one glance might give her away while she handed over the tray.

Behind her, Beth stood at the sink, staring blankly at the water. She had forgotten she was supposed to wash the dishes. Her fingers moved, scrubbing the same spot on a plate over and over again.

The echo of Thalia’s body hitting the stones replayed in her mind.

She could still see the pool of blood around Thalia's body.

Suddenly, a loud crack cut through the silence—it was Beth's plate. It slipped from her wet hands, smashing against the floor. The shards skittered around the kitchen.

The noise grabbed everyone's attention, and Madam Estelle and Lyra raised their heads in sync.

Beth flinched, her chest rising and falling too quickly. She was scared.

Her hands wouldn’t stop shaking, even as she pressed them to her apron, trying to hide the tremor.

Madam Estelle stared at her, eyeing her up and down. She didn’t yell or demand that Beth be whipped. It was one of her favorites, so she would let it slide just this once.

“Are you okay?” Madam Estelle asked, surprisingly calm.

Beth nodded. “Yes, I am. I got a little carried away; it was a mistake.”

Madam Estelle let out a long sigh. “Seems you’re too tired from serving Prince Dominus and his cohorts yesterday.” She said emphatically. “You know what? Why not take a little rest and call Thalia to come continue?”

“I sent her to call you; didn’t you see her?” Lyra asked, butting in.

A cold chill ran down Beth's spine. She narrowed her gaze, shaking her head in denial. “No, I didn’t see her. She never came to me.”

“Okay, that’s fine. Go have some rest, as Madam Estelle said.” Lyra added before turning to Akira. “And you, Nia, go give the little prince his wine.”

Akira paused, her brows drawing together in confusion. Lyra didn’t usually prepare Rex’s wine; why did she care today?

It sounded suspicious, but she obeyed. She grabbed the tray and headed straight to Rex's room.

.

.

Inside Rex's room, he was seated in a chair, staring into thin air, his hands hanging lazily over the armrest.

Then, the door burst open, and two guards staggered in, dragging another guard with them. All three were in dented armor and helmets. The man’s knees scraped against the stone floor as they shoved him into the room.

“P-p-p-please,” the man gasped, his words breaking into ragged breaths. “Please forgive me, my lord. I… I didn’t know it was yours… the wine. I swear I didn’t know you still wanted it, please.”

Rex's lips curled into a mock smile. “Yes, yes, yes, I know you’re sorry… of course I know you’re sorry.” His voice was low and laced with venom.

The creak of the door grabbed Rex's attention, and when he turned, he saw Akira with the tray of wine.

Seeing the commotion in the room, she quietly passed by and dropped the wine on the table.

Once Rex saw the wine Akira brought in, his lips curled into a wicked smile.

“Why beg? I have some fresh wine for you here.” Rex let out a low chuckle, which surprised Akira. She had thought he wanted to punish the man, but the sweetness of his voice and his attempt to pour wine for him left her confused.

Rex poured the wine slowly into the goblet. The man’s head jerked up to Rex. “No… no, please, my lord. I’m not thirsty; I don't want wine.”

Rex paused, narrowing his gaze at the man and faking a frown. “Oh my goodness, why? Why don’t you want wine? You stole my wine before, and now I’m offering you royal wine, and you want to refuse?”

“My lord, I don’t want it. I’m not thirsty. I just had some with them outside the pack house.”

“I insist.” Rex filled the goblet almost to the brim. “This is an order. Drink to the fullest.”

Akira stood, her gaze darting between Rex and the man on his knees. Her brows furrowed in confusion about what was really happening and why a guard would refuse a royal drink. Royal drinks were seen as a token of appreciation from the royals.

“Where’s the wolfbane?” Rex’s smile vanished as he asked the other guard, and Akira’s eyes widened in shock.

The guard dipped his hand into his pocket and handed over a corked bottle of wolfbane.

The man growled immediately, his eyes going wide with fear.

“Hold him!” came Rex’s order as he forced the cork open and poured the wolfbane directly into the wine.

The man struggled, realizing what Rex was mixing, but the two guards clamped their hands down on his shoulders and arms, pinning him down.

Next, his muscles bulged, his neck corded with strain, and a low guttural growl escaped his chest. His wolf was fighting to come out; claws sprouted from his fingertips, ripping through the leather straps at his wrists, and patches of wolf fur began to appear along his arms.

Akira watched in awe, a lump forming in her throat. She could barely move or speak.

“Woah,” Rex drawled, taking the drink and striding forward. “Look at that—the little thief is getting brave.”

The man snarled, his teeth sharpening into fangs, but the guards forced his head up, holding him tightly.

With that, Rex stepped closer, gripping the man’s throat firmly and forcing the drink down. The man gagged and coughed.

The wine slid down his throat, and he choked, wheezing as his eyes bulged, his body convulsing.

Akira’s legs wobbled, her knees feeling too fragile to support her. Meanwhile, Rex stepped back, arms folded, watching as a slow laugh began to form on his lips. It started quietly, then grew louder as the man struggled. He clawed at his neck, his claws tearing into his skin as if trying to rip out the drink.

Rex only laughed harder. “Oh, this is funny…” he said, turning to Akira. “What do you think, Nia?”

Akira collapsed to the floor, watching as the man stiffened gradually.