Breena met the King’s gaze, her expression completely smooth and her voice composed.
“I do not want Dodoi dead, Your Highness.
It is simply a misunderstanding.” Dronti’s sharp grey eyes narrowed, his jaw clenching slightly.
“Clear up the misunderstanding by explaining then.
And do not dare lie to me, unless you wish to see a side of me you will not survive.” Breena swallowed hard, a sudden chill running down her spine.
Her heart skipped a beat, but she forced her hands to remain steady at her sides.
“I was attacked by a jaguar—which I assumed was a common wild cat—one afternoon while gathering herbs in the Black Forest.
I attempted to defend myself, but I was obviously outmatched and suffered a scratch across my back.
However, it was a completely different animal.
It looked nothing like your pet.” Dronti’s posture relaxed slightly, though his tone remained dangerously soft.
“Well, then you must be remarkably fortunate it was not Dodoi.” Detecting the subtle, sinister edge in his voice, Breena tilted her head.
“How fortunate, Your Highness?” Dronti turned smoothly on his heel toward the door, speaking over his shoulder.
“Because it would be a tragic waste to have my newly appointed healer perish so quickly—long before my condition is cured.
You must survive to see me secure my heir.” A spike of anxiety flared in Breena’s chest.
She could not stop the question from escaping her lips: “What do you mean by that?
Why would I die if it had been Dodoi?” Dronti paused near the threshold, resting one hand on the doorframe.
“Because Dodoi’s claws are laced with a lethal toxin.
The poison acts as a slow killer.” Breena’s heart nearly leaped out of her chest.
In an instant, the scattered puzzle pieces of her life over the past few weeks fell into place.
It explained the mysterious, recurring bouts of physical weakness that had plagued her, the frequent hospital visits that yielded no clear diagnosis, and why her herbal concoctions provided only temporary relief before the excruciating fatigue returned.
If Dronti was telling the truth, it was Dodoi’s venom quietly circulating within her bloodstream all along.
Noticing her sudden rigidity, Dronti turned back completely, his sharp gaze dissecting her pale face.
“Why are you so unnerved by this?
If you were not scratched by Dodoi, you have nothing to fear.” Breena braced herself, forcing a faint, polite smile as she folded her hands together.
“I am not unnerved, Your Highness—merely curious.
Did you artificially modify the beast’s claws, considering jaguar claws do not naturally possess venom?” “I did,” Dronti answered casually, crossing his arms.
“It serves as a formidable line of defense.
The moment Dodoi’s claws break an attacker’s skin, the venom rapidly debilitates their nervous system, rendering them helpless.” That was why she had collapsed so quickly that afternoon in the forest.
Her mind raced further back, recalling the mysterious black wolf that had repeatedly appeared out of nowhere to defend her whenever she was cornered by rogues during her time in her former pack.
That same wolf had intervened during the jaguar attack, taking great care to dodge Dodoi’s sharp claws.
The savior clearly possessed intimate knowledge of the beast’s deadly nature—meaning they were either close to Dronti or intimately familiar with his park.
Who could that wolf possibly be?
she wondered silently.
Breena drew a quiet breath, offering a smooth compliment to mask her inner turmoil.
“As expected of a King, you are exceedingly calculating.” Dronti scoffed softly, his hand turning the door handle.
“You have yet to witness just how ruthless I can be toward those who plot against me.
I suggest you ensure you never fall into that category.” With that final warning, he stepped out and pulled the door shut.
The moment the lock clicked, Breena let out a long, shuddering breath she hadn’t realized she was holding.
She pressed a hand against her chest, her pulse hammering wildly.
Her life was actively ticking away, and if Dronti possessed an antidote, she had to find a way to steal it.
She cursed her earlier lie; by adamantly denying that Dodoi was her attacker, she had stripped herself of any legitimate reason to request treatment from him.
She needed a new strategy to secure the cure.
As she stood lost in frantic thought, the door clicked open again.
Dr.
Rulph entered the room, carrying his medical briefcase in hand.
He offered a short, professional bow.
“Ma’am, the King has instructed me to perform a comprehensive medical screening and blood analysis on you immediately.” Breena’s eyes widened in alarm.
“What?
Why?
There is absolutely no need for that.” She knew with terrifying certainty that Dronti was using this medical check to detect the poison in her system.
If he discovered the truth now, her entire cover story would shatter.
Dr.
Rulph offered an apologetic smile, unbuckling his kit on the side table.
“I apologize for the suddenness, ma’am, but the protocol must be carried out.
The King is exceptionally strict regarding security, and he requires everyone in his immediate circle to undergo thorough health evaluations.
You know…
just in case…” “In case of intimacy?” Breena finished sharply, her tone rising.
“Well, that will not be occurring.
Furthermore, why did he only order this right now?
I refuse to submit to any tests.” “What exactly do you have to hide?” Dronti’s deep voice cut through the air as he pushed the door wide open, stepping into the room with an intimidating presence.
“I was under the impression you were completely clean.” Breena spun around to face him, her cheeks flushing with a mixture of anger and panic.
“I am clean, Your Highness!
But I am not submitting to unnecessary procedures.
If your concern pertains to communicable diseases, rest assured—I have none, and I have no intention of entering your bed!” Dronti closed the distance between them, his towering frame casting a shadow over her.
“Intimacy between us remains an unpredictable aspect,” he stated coldly, his pale grey eyes locking onto hers.
“And there is no harm in a standard medical screening—unless, of course, you are concealing something you desperately wish to keep hidden.” “Why demand this now?” Breena argued, her hands clenching into fists at her sides.
“You were more than willing to have sex with me earlier without demanding a medical check up!
Are you suddenly harboring suspicions about me?” “How could I not be suspicious?” Dronti countered smoothly, his jaw set in an unyielding line.
Turning his head toward the physician, he issued a sharp command: “Rulph, draw her blood and perform the scanning immediately.”