Crown Of Moonlight: The Lycan King's Betrayal

ling in her chest. She hadn't slept, not with the poisoned prince lingering in her thoughts. She paced the small chamber she

ed it to find a young woman with soft, tawny hair and eyes that gleame

," the attendant said briskly. "

summon her so soon. The hallways felt even more labyrinthine in daylight, and the fortress seemed busier. Servan

of dried herbs. The air was thick with the scent of lavender and something sharper, more acrid. A

he said without

as summoned," Lyra rep

ebrow arching slightly. "A healer

the nearest table and began unpacking h

le. "My attendants procured everything you requested and more. If you

at but kept her expression neutr

oison's nature still eluded her, but the faint magical signature it left behind su

n your brother?" she asked, her hand

near the eastern border, close to the witch territories. We've had skirmishes with them

g around a mortar and pestle. "You

dangerous game," Aldric replied.

inding the herbs into a fine paste. Witches were often scapegoats for misfortune, but if

urned to Aldric. "This should help slow the poison's spread while I work to

even paler than before, his breathing shallow. Lyra knelt beside the bed and

his golden eyes opened, unfocused and distant. "The shadows.

ering over his chest. "W

jaw clenching. "He's delirious. P

had felt too real, too urgent. She finished her work i

d to her, his gaze sharp. "How long will

y," Lyra replied. "Perhaps lon

growled, his frustration

meeting his gaze head-on. "N

ak. Then Aldric exhaled sharply, running a hand through his dark hair. "V

h she doubted it w

in the apothecary, searching for any clue that might explain the poison's effects. The fortress

wer. Exhaustion weighed heavily on her, but she forced herself to continu

door. Lyra looked up to see the same young at

the girl said gently, setting t

ugh her appetite was nonexisten

plied. "I'm one of t

e on her tongue. "Tell me, has anyone e

her apron. "There were others, before you. None of them

she kept her expression neutra

g Lyra alone once more. The food remained untouc

ed poison, the King's simmering anger-it all pointed to a deeper threat, one that threatene