Chapter 172. Science Experiment
Maisie
I was starting to think my marriage was an open one, and Memah was an addition none of us asked for.
I didn’t miss those glasses perched on her button nose, or those curious eyes that always seemed to want to peel my skin and look underneath every time she examined me. And I sure as hell didn’t miss that case she always carried around.
This time, there were more vials in there of different shapes, sizes and colors, it looked like we were conducting a science experiment. Adjusting her glasses, she gestured towards the wooden cases. "Daily fertility tonics," she explained in a flat tone. "Her Majesty worries about you and has sent these to strengthen your womb and increase the chances of conception."
I wouldn’t have been surprised if they were all poisoned.
I bet Soren had the same thought because he was frowning, too.
"The golden one is particularly potent," Memah continued. "It heightens ovulation. The crimson is more potent, infused with an aphrodisiac blend. It will make the process–"
"We know what aphrodisiacs are, healer," Soren half-growled. "Get to the point."
I didn’t know what it was, but I thought Soren was in a prissy mood today. Had been all morning. He’d been snapping at everyone–well, except me, but considering every time I asked him what was wrong, he only sulked a "nothing", and went back to glaring at everything. And now, I swore he was staring at my ass whenever I wasn’t looking.
Memah’s lips pursed. "The potency of the treatments also applies to the side effects. You will feel pregnant. Sore, heavy breasts. Constant urination. Intense nausea. Fatigue and sleepiness, amongst other things." She gestured towards another casing filled with blue vials. The blue is to make it somewhat bearable until I return next week–"
"Next week?" Soren echoed and I.
Memah nodded. "I have been given orders to monitor you closely by the end of every week to ensure you are indeed adhering to the Queen’s instructions. And because the treatments change your body and scent, it will be difficult to tell when you are actually pregnant. My presence here is to ensure it is caught early on, so as to prevent the early loss that comes with typical Lycan pregnancy."
And I guessed it would’ve been a terrible time to say, "You know... I’m not sure I want to be a mother yet. I haven’t even navigated through my current life properly. You know, getting used to being a Lycan. Then being a princess. Then being a wife. I swear, it feels like I am being bombarded with so many things at the same time. Taking care of another human being right now..."
I glanced at Soren who was seated on the other side of me on the couch and I swallowed the words.
For some reason, I felt guilty for even thinking that. I knew if I told him I wasn’t ready, he wouldn’t make me do it. It was just... he’d already lost his hold on his throne because he was trying to protect me.
If you wish to prove your loyalty, then continue doing the one thing you appear uniquely qualified for.
The Queen’s words badgered into my mind without permission and soaked into my thoughts. If proving I wasn’t a traitor would help him then... I supposed it was right about the only thing I could do for him.
Warm fingers took mine and I turned to find violet eyes on me. "You do not have to do this if you don’t want to, May."
I peered into his face.
I always thought Soren was the hardest to read or understand of the four. But I was beginning to understand that it was by design. For a boy who spent most of his life hiding his thoughts, fighting to stay alive in a place like the Lycan court, I imagined the simpler things like learning to be vulnerable with other people was difficult for him.
But that was just the surface.
In Mercer’s words, Soren was a beautiful multilayered onion bulb.
I smiled. "I want to."
It didn’t feel like a lie when it tumbled off my lips and Soren’s lips parted softly in surprise. Something in his expression shifted and sharpened with possession and I recalled vaguely that something you didn’t want to tell a Lycan who was into you was that you wanted to have his babies.
Soren looked like he wanted to devour me on the spot.
"Good," Memah said, interrupting us, and she raised the red vial, removing the stopper. "Drink this."
The liquid smelled sickly sweet, like candy that had gone sour and I felt a tinge of nausea in my gut when she brought it close.
I had raised my fingers to the glass when Soren took it out of Memah’s hand and sniffed it.
Memah stiffened and she appeared to look upset for a second. "Surely, Your Highness doesn’t think I am trying to poison the princess."
Soren fixed her with a ruthless stare that would have sent anyone else running. "You say that like you have given me any reason to trust you, healer. Or my aunt." He sniffed again. Cocked his head. And then tipped the entire vial into his mouth, consuming all of its contents.
I gasped. "What are you doing?!"
He shrugged. "She is human. Asking her to drink what should be poison for us is counterintuitive." His sensual lips curled into a pant-melting smile. "Consider me your food taster for the evening."
I rolled my eyes, holding back a laugh.
We waited a couple of minutes–for what, I was unsure. As much as I thought the Queen wanted me dead and wouldn’t hesitate to poison me to achieve that goal, I also knew she wouldn’t try to kill me, not while I was bonded to them.
Soren nodded. "It seems fine–"
His words stuttered off so suddenly, my heart leaped in my chest.
Color spread across his cheeks and he seemed not to be breathing at all.
"Soren? Are you alright?" I asked.
He sucked in a sharp breath and stood abruptly, twisting to the side abruptly. "I–uh–" His fingers curled into fists and I thought I caught a slight tremor in them. The red in his cheeks was spreading down his tanned neck. And the tips of his ears had gone red, too. "I have to–" He cleared his throat. "Get back to work and–"
He took off up the stairs without another word.
I turned my wide stare to Memah. It was the first time I’d ever seen the woman smile and it was an evil, amused one. "I believe His Highness is experiencing the side effects." She handed me another red vial from the wood casing. "Don’t worry. It should wear off in twelve hours. Or more."
And I could’ve sworn her smile dimmed when I downed the contents of the vial.