Kapitel 39: COULDN'T CARE LESS

ANEESA POV

My whole body felt as if I was on fire, the kind of agony that seemed to stretch on forever. Then all of a sudden, it stopped, the pain suddenly vanished. A strange calm then settled over me, my body felt as if it was floating into nothingness, sinking deeper and deeper into the void of darkness.

I tried to move, to say something or even call out for help but my limbs weren't my own to command anymore. Panic clawed at my chest and I think I screamed at one point, screamed out loud but no one heard me. They couldn't hear me because I wasn't really here. Voices filtered in and out, some urgent, some faint whispers but they all faded away and I was so sure I was too. Fading away into that dark place when I suddenly heard a voice that stood out of all the voices I've heard.

It sounded familiar but other than that, it was soothing and comforting. The voice had a softness that seemed to wrap around me, pulling me back from the edge.

"Just come back to me please…I can't lose you!" The voice pleaded. It was so vulnerable and filled with pain, so much pain and I just couldn't stand that.

My fingers suddenly twitched, almost like my body was answering that particular voice for no reason. The voice continued to urge me on, begging me to come back and my body was listening to it!

"Come on Aneesa, come back to us…" The voice urged and I felt something soft on my forehead, "Come back to us!"

And just like that I willed my eyes to open, just so I could see the owner of that beautiful voice. Gradually light seeped in, blurry shapes sharpening as I blinked through the fog clouding my vision and there he was.

"Corion!" I breathed out, my voice barely audible to my own ears but I think he heard me because he smiled at me and that was the most beautiful sight to behold before I went back to sleep.

***

Something warm pressed against me and instinctively, I snuggled deeper against it.

One heartbeat, two heartbeats, three heartbeats... A slow rhythm that pulsed beneath my cheek and I realized it wasn't my own but yet, it was oddly comforting. The sound was steady, soothing and I inhaled deeply, breathing in that warm and earth with a hint of spice smell. It smelled really nice and I snuggled deeper into the warmth, letting out a moan.

A low deep groan responded, reverberating through the chest beneath me and I felt a large hand come to rest on my back. It was warm, really warm and I let out another moan.

"Well isn't this comforting?"

A voice said, tone mocking and filled with malice. My eyes immediately snapped open and I was met with Anya and Reagan standing by the foot of the bed. Anya had her arms crossed on her chest, a bitter look on her face as she stared down at us. Reagan's look was one of indifference but there was also something there in that dark gaze of his.

Immediately, I sat up straight from the bed, suddenly realizing that I was in nothing other than a loose linen shirt that fell off my shoulders. I turned to look at who was my companion, only to meet a face with a scar and two piercing green eyes.

"Oh blessed oracle!" I immediately got up from the bed and bowed my head, "My apologizes your highness, I am deeply sorry."

"Oh now you suddenly found your manners?" Anya cooed at me, her voice dripping with disdain.

Shit! I immediately got up drawing the duvet with me even though it wasn't needed since I was putting on a shirt which seemed to smell of Corion. I turned to look at Anya who was dressed in her usual clothing, black leathers instead of the ball gowns that is being required for someone her status to wear. Fuck, I didn't know how I should address her now that I know her real identity and there was also the fact that she was the king's betrothed.

Should I just curtsy or get on my knees and bow? I asked myself.

"I prefer the latter!" Anya stated with a smirk.

I was just about to do that when I heard a low groan come from the bed. It had come from the prince who was busy stretching with a lazy yawn on his face. Frowning I wondered what had brought me into this situation of being cozy with the prince.

"What's this noise about?" Corion drawled out pushing himself up from the bed as he stared at us with an expression that hovered between irritation and indifference. I noticed how messy his hair was, sticking up in every direction and it would have been cute if I wasn't burning with rage.

"You!" I snarled at him suddenly remembering what I'd endured because of him.

Corion merely arched a brow up at me, a look of confusion on his face which only made my blood boil hotter, how dare he pretend not to have any idea.

"I was poisoned, I was poisoned because of you!" I said, my hand reaching out to absentmindedly clutch my chest as if that could hold the hurt radiating from my chest.

Reagan stepped forward, "Calm down Aneesa!" He said his tone, low and it was only then did I realize how fast I was breathing.

I couldn't calm down, not now that I remembered everything that happened. I had almost died, fuck it I think I did die! The memories flooded to me all at once, the pain, the coppery taste of blood that filled my mouth, the desperation as I fought for every breath. I remembered seeing Corion, silently pleading with him as I struggled with the pain, pleading with him to save me as my life drained away but he had just stood there. He fucking stood there as if helping me was beneath him.

The betrayal cut deeper than any poison and that brought tears to my eyes, "You didn't care, you just stood there and watched me die!"

"You are alive are you not? I repaid you by saving your life and pulling you from the clutches of death." Corion responded, his tone almost bored as he stood up from the bed, turning away from me.

A scoff escaped me as I stared at him, "So what do you expect a thank you?"

"Sure would be better than whatever hysterical fit you are displaying now!" He answered without looking at me and I wished I had just kept my big mouth shut and allowed him to drink the poison, we will see who's acting hysterical now.

Reagan heaved in a deep breath, "How about we all just take a deep breath and calm down? Aneesa, Corion saved your life, he was worried about you_" He said while Corion turned to look at him, "We all were!" Reagan amended.

"Yeah, I bet he was." I said glaring at the back of Corion's head, "The craziest thing was that I saved is life with no questions asked, I drank poison for him!"

"Yeah, that has been established but how did you know the wine was poisoned though?" Anya asked looking at me.

My gaze turned to her and I saw her watching me with narrowed gaze which made me confused. It couldn't be that she was suspecting me right? "What are you getting at?"

"No one seemed to know the wine was poisoned, no one suspected it." Anya said her tone accusatory as she continued, "Werewolves are known for their heightened smell which means they have the ability to smell danger from a mile away and that includes poison. Strangely enough, they didn't smell this and no one knew, except you, so what I'm getting at, Aneesa dear, is how you know?"

"Wait a minute, you think I poisoned him?" I asked looking at Anya and Reagan but no one said anything and it was just fucking absurd. "Why the fuck will I drink a wine I poisoned myself?"

Anya shrugged, "Probably to throw off suspicion. Drink just enough to make it look like you were affected, make yourself look like a victim, besides_" She eyed me warily, "It wouldn't be the first time this has happened, multiple times actually."

Now that caught me off guard. My gaze went to Corion who was staring out the window, his arms crossed behind him. Someone had tried to poison him before? I asked suddenly finding myself curious despite the bitterness twisting inside of my chest, I felt a flicker of curiosity. My eyes darted around the room meeting Anya's sharp, suspicious gaze. She wasn't the only one, Reagan was watching me too.

I heaved out a sigh before I responded, "Look, I have no idea how I knew but I saw a vision of Corion dying after he drank the wine and I just acted on instinct. Also, shouldn't you be questioning the maid who was serving the wine? I didn't even get within three feet of the food!"

"The maid is dead." Corion announced without turning to look at me.

"What?" The word slipped out before I could stop it, disbelief tightening in my throat.

"She killed herself before we could interrogate her!" Reagan explained further.

Someone didn't want this to get out! I thought to myself as my mind raced, trying to piece together the twisted fragments of this plot, the dread settling heavy in my chest. "The people who tried to kill you, were they maid servants too?" I asked and their silence was enough response.

A breath whooshed out of me in disbelief, I had no doubt the maids too had killed themselves too when being interrogated. Someone was playing a dangerous game and I had been dragged into it willingly.

"Well, you can trust that I'm not the one who poisoned you." I said again, "Now if I can be excused, I've got things to do."

I've got absolutely nothing to do! But anywhere was busy than staying in this room with them!

"I never said you could leave!" Anya suddenly said in a stern tone as she took a step towards me.

I watched her warily as she approached me, "Why can't I?"

"Because I'm not done with you yet." She said with a wicked gleam in her eye.

Oh I was so done with this! "But I am and I'm leaving!" I arched a brow up at her.

"I know it was you, you poisoned him!" Anya accused and it was almost as if she wanted me to agree with her.

Rage flared inside my chest but I forced myself to breathe through it. Taking a deep breath, I took a step forward towards Anya. "Now listen to me you very well your highness_" I said in a condescending tone, "I just nearly died, I laid on the floor bleeding profusely and for a minute I was sure I would really die. Then I opened my eyes only to be questioned right after, So once again, I will say this. I didn't poison the prince and I'm pretty sure everyone here knows damn well that if I wanted him dead, I wouldn't need a poison to kill him!" I said in a voice that didn't sound like my own and for a minute Anya's gaze widened but before I could decipher it, it was gone.

Satisfied that I got my message passed across, I turned on my heel and left the room, leaving them to figure out the mess by themselves, I just couldn't care less!

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