en

into the dark volcanic rock of the northern mountains, its colossal walls bearing deep, jagged gouges from centuries of

self as Mr. Price, the castle steward, waited by the frozen steps alongside two nervous servants. Hi

formidable seat of military glory, the fortress no

ked, pulling my woolen cloa

murmur. "Lord Carlisle... is in a critical state, my

of the main keep, stopping at the m

o me. It was a vile, nauseating cocktail of dried blood, festering flesh, stale lin

nded quietly, keeping my voice

pped

vet drapes. In the center of the vast room, resting upon a massive four-poste

d. Boyce

in this state of severe emaciation, his features were strikingly sculpted, with high cheekbones, a sha

wrought upon his b

his chest down to his abdomen. The wound was severely infected-blackened necrotic tissue lined the edges, oozing f

gust. Instead, my blood ran cold

s medical malpractice the instant I saw it. This wasn't merely the aftermath of a catastr

ysiological indicators: shallow, erratic respirations, cyanotic nail beds in

there was an unmistakable foreign toxin suppressing his ce

Widow'

s. It was completely colorless and odorless, systematically destroying neura

im micro-doses for months, making sure

e. This was a calculated

t the motionles

d by our families, judged as worthless by a co

passive shield against House Reynolds. I was going to surgically excise every inch of ro

ad buried a dead beast, I would

rway where Mr. Price sto

l be staying in

. it is unfit for a noble bride. The smell alone is toxic!

onward, his life, his room, and his medical care belong entirely to me. Now, listen carefully: bring me the cleanest boiled li

sibly stunned by the

d, bowing low. "

turned back to the bed and gently pulled

ers lightly testing his faint pulse. "Your executioners