Chapter 22

Two weeks had slipped by and life in the palace had regained its usual rhythm. My existence with Navine was tranquil and filled with joy. True to his word, he’d been taking me out more, showing me the beauty of the surrounding mountains and revisiting the secret oasis we’d discovered early in our relationship.

I couldn’t deny the contentment that had settled over me. Despite Dominick’s attempts to stir up trouble, we were rising above it.

However, the storm that was brewing wouldn’t be so easily dismissed, especially when the instigator was hell-bent on wreaking havoc.

The day had started off like any other. I’d woken up with Navine, helped him prepare breakfast, and we’d shared a meal before he had to leave. There were crucial meetings taking place among the top-ranking alphas of our lands, and given his status—second only to Lord Jekia—he was required to attend.

I wasn’t overly worried about his absence. I reassured him that I’d be okay, now that I was accustomed to palace life. Plus, I had Nanash for company.

I was confident that everything would be fine—and I looked forward to Navine’s return.

“Stay safe,” I told him as we stood in the courtyard.

“I will. And remember, you can reach out to me if anything happens. I’ll always be there for you,” Navine assured me.

“I know,” I replied, giving him my most reassuring smile. “I’ll be okay, so don’t worry about me. I’ll be right here waiting for you.”

Navine returned my smile and planted a soft kiss on my lips. “I’ll see you when I get back.”

A blush crept up my cheeks as I bid him goodbye and watched him take off. It was amusing how these small displays of affection could still make me blush, considering the intimate nights we’d shared.

I wondered if it would always be like this. If so, it was a sweet thought.

The palace was quiet as I made my way back inside. The warmth enveloping me was comforting. After tidying up the kitchen, I decided to head upstairs and find something to do.

Maybe I’d spend a few hours sewing. I’d been procrastinating on a few dresses I wanted to make, and this seemed like the perfect opportunity.

With that in mind, I headed to the sewing room and spent the next few hours engrossed in my work. I adored the fabrics Navine had gifted me. They were of the highest quality and a dream to work with.

I hoped to finish at least one or two dresses during his absence to surprise him. He always appreciated my creations and often complimented how they looked on me.

Well, maybe it was more about how much I enjoyed hearing him tell me I was beautiful.

I’d just finished sewing a skirt when my stomach grumbled. Glancing at the clock, I realized three hours had passed. Wow, time had flown. It was lunchtime.

Feeling peckish, I set my work aside and headed downstairs. I thought I’d drop by the conservatory and see if Nanash wanted to join me for a meal. I’d prepared small dishes for him before, even though he preferred his meals fresh from the hunt.

“Nanash?” I called out as I entered the conservatory.

His response came after a moment, his voice echoing from the trees.

“I’m about to make lunch. Would you like me to prepare something for you too?” I asked.

“No, thank you. I had a large meal recently, so I’m not hungry,” Nanash replied.

“Oh, so you were hunting last night.”

“Yes, and it was quite successful. I even managed to catch that pesky Troll that’s been knocking on the walls.”

“That’s good,” I said, turning to leave. “Well, I’ll just make something for myself then. I’ll come and visit you in a bit if that’s okay.”

“Please do. It’s been a while since we’ve had a chance to chat, and I always enjoy our conversations,” Nanash agreed.

I loved those moments too. Sitting with Nanash, listening to his tales about the forest and its inhabitants, was always a treat. His stories were filled with creatures I could only dream of seeing, hidden deep within the forest’s heart.

I made my way back through the dining room, heading for the kitchen. Opening the icebox, I scanned the contents for something appetizing. Navine always made sure we had plenty of options.

As I shuffled through the food, my eyes landed on something unfamiliar. Tucked away on the second shelf was a small white box. Intrigued, I pulled it out and lifted the lid.

A sweet aroma wafted out as I opened the box, revealing small pink fruits. I brought them closer, trying to identify them by their scent. They smelled like honeydew, but I was sure they weren’t.

~Maybe I should taste one.~

I placed the box on the counter, picked a fruit, and washed it. The first bite was as sweet as its scent, but I still couldn’t identify it. I wondered if it was an exotic fruit, perhaps a gift from Lord Lyric that Navine forgot to mention.

Deciding to save the rest for Navine, I put the box away. I made myself a salad and a drink, then settled at the small table in the front parlor. As I finished my meal, I noticed a strange sensation. My vision blurred slightly, and my body felt odd.

~Am I exhausted?~ I questioned myself.

I didn’t recall sleeping less the previous night, and I had felt fine until now. I hoped I wasn’t falling ill.

I stood up and moved to the couch, but my vision worsened. My body felt rigid yet fluid, and I collapsed onto the couch. I rolled onto my back, my arm draped over my eyes, struggling to keep them open.

Something was wrong. Could it be the fruit?

I tried to call for Nanash, but no sound came out. My eyelids grew heavy, and I couldn’t resist the pull of sleep. Darkness enveloped me.

My consciousness ebbed and flowed. I felt sensations, heard sounds, but couldn’t identify them. My eyes felt too heavy to open.

“So very beautiful,” the voice was both near and far. Fear gripped me as I heard it. I wanted to flee, but I was paralyzed, helpless.

Time seemed to stretch on endlessly. I felt changes in my body, but could only discern vague sensations on my skin and pressure on my pelvis.

~I don’t want this! I don’t want this! I don’t want this!~

My mind echoed the same words until my body gave out. Darkness swallowed me once more.

I woke up abruptly. I sat up, scanning the dark room, fear prickling my skin. I knew something had happened. I had passed out on the couch, but now I was in a bedroom, not the one I shared with Navine.

I looked down, both relieved and confused to find myself fully clothed. I quickly got out of bed, eager to leave the room.

The palace was dimly lit as I stepped into the hallway, closing the door behind me. The darkness outside the windows confirmed it was night. I leaned against the wall, trying to orient myself.

I thought I was in my room, but I knew I wasn’t. What was happening? Why was I so disoriented?

“Raelina?” The sudden voice made me jump.

I spun around to find Nanash approaching me, a worried look on his face. “What’s wrong? Did something happen?”

I stuttered, struggling to find the right words. I was certain something had happened, but at the same time, it felt like nothing had.

Nanash moved closer, cupping my face in his hands. “You look terrified. Did something try to get in here?”

“No.” I pulled away, wrapping my arms around myself as I backed away. “I can’t stay out here. I have to go.”

“Raelina…!” His voice echoed behind me.

But I ignored him, rushing to the room I shared with Navine. I quickly locked the door behind me, ensuring all the curtains were drawn before sinking to the floor beside the bed. The irrational fear was gnawing at me, and this was the only solution I could think of.

Time seemed to stand still as I sat there. I kept glancing around at the shadows, half-expecting my tormentor to appear. The strangest part was, I didn’t even know who I was afraid of.

It was as if my mind was caught in a tug-of-war between rational and irrational.

The sound of the door opening made me jump. I gasped, retreating into the corner between the bed and the dresser. I had locked that door, hadn’t I? Yes, I was sure I had!

Footsteps hurried into the room, followed by a familiar voice.

“Raelina! Where are you?”

Relief washed over me, but I didn’t move. I recognized that voice anywhere. I was just too scared to come out and go to him.

“Navine,” I called out softly.

In no time, he was there, kneeling in front of me. “What are you doing there? Why are you hiding in our locked room?” His voice was filled with concern as he gently coaxed me out.

“I… Someone…” I struggled to form coherent sentences, clinging to him. His embrace brought me some comfort. “Something happened to me… I know it did… But I…I…”

My body was shaking, the irrational fear consuming me. I didn’t understand it, and at that point, I didn’t care to. All I wanted was to feel safe again.

Navine held me tighter. “It’s all right. There’s nothing here, and I won’t let anything hurt you,” he promised.

“What’s wrong with me, Navine? What’s happening to me?” I whispered.

“I’m not sure yet, but we’ll figure it out,” Navine said, gently lifting me up. “I’m right here, so let’s go downstairs. Nanash is waiting for us, and we can talk to him about this. Maybe he sensed something.”

I didn’t really want to leave the room, but I forced myself to agree. It would be okay. Navine was here with me, and he’d keep me safe. And Nanash was still there too. How could I have doubted him?

~But I don’t have anyone. It’s just me. It’s always been just me.~

Those thoughts invaded my mind as I thought of Nanash. It was as if someone else was speaking, trying to take over me.

Was I going insane?

By now, Navine had carried me out of the room. The palace looked as it always had—warm, inviting, and brightly lit. My mind cleared a bit as I took this in.

This was my home, and Navine was my husband. I was safest here, with him.

Nanash looked up as we entered the front parlor, still looking worried. “Is she okay?” he asked quickly.

“She’ll be okay. I think she’s coming back to her senses, even if she’s still scared,” Navine replied.

He sat down on the couch near Nanash, keeping me in his lap. I slowly looked around, taking in the familiar surroundings. Despite the comfort it brought, unease still lingered in the pit of my stomach.

I couldn’t stop watching the windows, half-expecting someone to be peering in. This wasn’t like me at all. Even after my family died, I’d never been afraid of being stalked.

I felt safe with whoever was taking care of me and wherever I called home. But this irrational fear wouldn’t let go. It was as if I knew something terrible had happened, and it could happen again at any moment.

Nanash inched closer to us, his voice soft and soothing. “Raelina, what’s going on with you? Why are you so scared that you felt the need to barricade yourself in your room?”

I tried to put my fear into words. “I’m not sure. Something happened, but I can’t recall what. I was here, then I woke up there, and I just knew something was going to attack me again. I had to escape.”

“But nothing attacked you. Nothing breached the palace during that time. I’m absolutely certain I would have intercepted them if they had,” Nanash reassured me.

“I know you would have. You have sharp senses, and I’ve given you the power to oversee this entire area. Any threat should’ve been detected by you,” Navine chimed in.

“But it has slipped past him before. Like when I ended up in the forest,” I reminded them.

“That’s because no physical threat entered, and I’ve had Emelio help me fix that with Nanash. Nothing has infiltrated here,” Navine reiterated.

“But I felt it! I’m sure of it!” I protested.

Nanash decided to change his tactic. “I don’t mean to upset you, but could you have fallen asleep and experienced a waking nightmare? You’ve been through a lot when you were younger. Maybe it’s affecting you again without you realizing,” he suggested.

I shook my head vehemently. “No. I didn’t fall asleep and have a nightmare. I felt dizzy and passed out, but I’m sure it wasn’t a nightmare.”

“You passed out? When did this happen?” Navine inquired.

“This afternoon,” I replied, glancing at the nearby table. My plate and glass were still there, evidence that I’d eaten in this room. “I was having lunch, then I suddenly felt weird, and I know I blacked out on this couch. That’s when I felt something happening to me. I swear someone was here. Someone did something to me!”

Nanash and Navine exchanged glances.

“Are you sure you didn’t sense anything entering the palace?” Navine asked again.

“Absolutely nothing, my lord. I wouldn’t lie about that,” Nanash affirmed. He glanced at the table. “Did you eat anything unusual before that? Maybe you had a reaction to some food.”

That’s when I remembered the fruit I’d found. I still didn’t know what it was, but the chilling realization dawned on me that it might have been the cause of all this. Maybe I was having a bad reaction to it.

“I found some fruit in the icebox. I didn’t know what it was, and I was trying to figure it out, so I tasted a little,” I confessed.

“Some fruit?” Nanash looked puzzled. “Did you get any new deliveries here? I thought most of the fruits in this area were out of season.”

“No, I didn’t, and no one has given me any recently,” I replied.

Navine helped me onto the couch and stood up. “You said you found it in the icebox. Did you put it back there?”

“Y-yes,” I quickly grabbed his hand as he started to walk away. “Don’t leave!”

“It’s okay, Raelina,” he comforted me. “I’m just going to check what it was, then I’ll be right back.”

“Why don’t we accompany you? It won’t harm anything, and Raelina could use some comfort right now,” Nanash suggested.

“You’re right,” Navine agreed, helping me to my feet.

We left the parlor together, passing through the foyer and the dining room before finally reaching the kitchen. I stayed close to Nanash as Navine opened the icebox and peered inside.

After a moment, he reached in and pulled out the white box that had contained the fruit.

“That’s it,” I confirmed.

“Strange. I don’t remember putting this in there,” Navine confessed. He placed the box on the counter and removed the lid. The pink pieces of fruit were still inside.

Nanash leaned in for a closer look. “It smells sweet, but I can’t say I’ve seen it before. Any idea what it is?” he asked.

Navine’s body stiffened. “You must be joking.”

“W-what is it?” I dared to ask.

“These are Jubes. They’re a rare fruit that only grows in the southernmost part of these lands, and they’re incredibly hard to get. Not only that, but most people wouldn’t dare eat them because of the effects they can have on one’s soul,” Navine explained.

“What does that mean, exactly? What’s happening to her?” Nanash’s voice was laced with worry, his eyes wide with concern.

“I’m not entirely sure,” Navine admitted, his gaze shifting to me. “I’ve heard tales about this fruit affecting the soul, usually in a negative way. I’ll need to reach out to Jekia and Emelio for more information. How much did you eat?”

“Just one,” I confessed, wrapping my arms around myself as a chill ran down my spine. “I was trying to figure out what it was, so I tasted it and put it back. What’s going to happen to me? Am I going to die?”

“No, no,” Navine was quick to reassure me, pulling me into a comforting embrace. “Everything will be okay. We’ll go to Jekia’s palace in the morning and sort this out. I’m sure Emelio can find a way to counteract the effects, whatever they might be.”

“Why can’t we go now?” I pleaded, my voice barely above a whisper. “Can’t we just get this over with?”

“I wish we could, sweetheart,” Navine said gently, his voice soothing. “But there are things happening right now that prevent us from seeking Emelio’s help. But don’t worry, I’ll make sure you’re okay tonight. I promise this won’t kill you.”

His words caught me off guard. “Is something going on with Lord Jekia and his family?”

“It’s nothing you need to worry about,” Navine assured me. “They’re handling it. Everything will be fine.”

As we spoke, Nanash slithered closer to the counter, his eyes on the box of fruit. “Who could’ve gotten their hands on this? And why go through the trouble of sending it here? You don’t think it was Lord Dominick, do you?”

“I can’t say for sure,” Navine admitted, his arms still wrapped around me. “It wouldn’t be fair to accuse without evidence, even if I suspect him. But I want you to stay alert tonight. I won’t let Raelina out of my sight. If anything seems off, let me know immediately.”

“Of course, my lord,” Nanash agreed without hesitation. “I’ll do everything in my power to ensure our safety.”

I wanted to feel reassured, knowing they’d both be with me. But fear was still gnawing at me. What was going to happen to me? And why would anyone plant such a dangerous fruit here for any of us to eat?

I say any of us, but it was clear that it was meant for me. Navine would’ve recognized it instantly and wouldn’t have touched it. I wished he’d been here when I found it. Then none of this would’ve happened.

But there was nothing more we could do for now. We’d have to wait until morning to see what would come of this.