Chapter 158 - 0158
Lorelei POV
After instructing the guards to carefully move Skye to my room, I spent the rest of the day sitting beside her bed, quietly watching over her while she slept.
It felt strange seeing our roles reversed.
She had always been the one taking care of me, making sure I ate, reminding me to rest, and fussing over every little scratch or fever. Now, for the first time, I was the one looking after her.
The thought brought a faint, bittersweet smile to my lips as I gently brushed a few loose strands of hair away from her face.
Once I made sure she was tucked comfortably beneath the warm blankets, I let out a soft sigh and headed for the door. I wanted to ask Paul to remind the head healer about Skye’s prescription.
The moment I stepped into the hallway, however, my vision suddenly blurred.
The floor seemed to tilt beneath my feet.
My knees gave out without warning, and I stumbled forward.
Before I could hit the ground, Paul reacted instantly. He caught me by both arms, steadying me before I collapsed.
"Are you okay, Miss?" he asked, his brows drawing together in alarm. "Do you feel sick? Should I call the healer?"
The sheer panic on his face almost made me laugh.
A small chuckle escaped my lips, though it sounded weak and breathless even to my own ears.
"I’m fine," I murmured.
Gently pulling myself free from his grip, I leaned my shoulder against the wall, hoping the cool surface would help steady the dizziness.
"You don’t look fine at all," Paul said, his frown deepening. "I heard you skipped breakfast. Did you miss lunch too?"
I gave him a small, guilty shake of my head.
Almost immediately, my stomach let out a loud, unmistakable growl, causing heat to rush to my face.
I wanted the floor to open up and swallow me whole.
The truth was, I was starving.
Now that the overwhelming panic had finally begun to fade and my thoughts were settling, the hunger I’d ignored all day came crashing over me at once.
But after everything that had happened to Skye, the thought of putting another bite of food into my mouth filled me with dread.
I couldn’t stop thinking about the poison.
Every meal now felt like a trap waiting to be sprung.
What if the next plate placed in front of me was laced with that same deadly toxin? The thought alone was enough to make my appetite disappear all over again.
I had gotten lucky that the milk on my breakfast tray hadn’t been poisoned, even if it had tasted a little strange.
But luck wasn’t something I could count on twice.
And with Skye lying unconscious, who else in this massive, hostile estate could I trust with my life?
Maya?
Please.
Of course, I was grateful for everything she had done so far. If it hadn’t been for her, Skye might actually have died.
But that was where my gratitude ended.
"I’ll go to the kitchen myself and have them prepare something fresh for you," Paul said, already turning on his heel.
Panic shot through me, and I instinctively reached out to grab his arm, stopping him before he could take another step.
"No!" I blurted, my voice trembling. "I... I’m not hungry, Paul. Really. I’m just exhausted. Please don’t trouble yourself."
Paul paused and looked at me. His expression softened as he saw straight through my weak excuse.
"Hawke and Chelsea’s screams have been echoing from the cells all the way through the lower halls," he said quietly, his voice calm but firm. "Every maid and guard in this estate knows exactly why they’re locked up. I can assure you, no one here would be foolish enough to follow in their footsteps now."
His words were meant to reassure me.
They should have.
But the fear lodged deep inside my chest refused to loosen its grip.
Paranoia had wrapped itself around me so tightly that I couldn’t tell where reason ended and fear began.
"I can’t stand by and watch you starve yourself, Miss," Paul continued gently. "Trust me. I’ll stay in the kitchen myself and watch the cook prepare every part of your meal with my own eyes."
Realizing he wasn’t going to give up, and lacking the energy to argue any further, I finally gave him a small, reluctant nod.
A short while later, a firm knock echoed through my bedroom.
When I opened the door, Paul was standing outside, pushing a polished food cart into the room.
With a small flourish, he lifted the gleaming dome covering the tray, letting the rich aroma of freshly cooked food immediately fill the air.
Steaming dishes, each more tempting than the last, were arranged neatly before me, and despite everything, my mouth watered at the sight.
Yet I couldn’t bring myself to take a single step forward.
I simply stood there, my expression blank, my feet rooted to the floor.
Paul watched me for a long moment before giving a small, understanding nod. He must have realized exactly why I couldn’t bring myself to touch the food.
"If it’ll give you some peace of mind, Miss, I can taste every dish first," he offered calmly. "If any of it has been poisoned, the healer can examine me immediately and prepare an antidote before the poison has a chance to affect you."
I stared at him, completely stunned.
"You... you really weren’t joking when you said you’d give your life to protect me, were you?"
Paul straightened instinctively, his posture as composed as ever.
"I’ve worked for the Alpha long enough to know better than to make promises I can’t keep," he replied without a trace of hesitation. "If I say I’ll protect you, then I will."
I looked back at the beautifully plated steak sitting on the trolley. It looked perfectly cooked, tender, and smelled incredible.
Yet all I could see was poison.
"And what if there isn’t an antidote?" I asked quietly. "Or what if the poison works so fast that we both end up dead before anyone can do anything? Then what?"
For the first time, Paul looked genuinely caught off guard.
He blinked at me for a second before lowering his head with a sheepish smile.
"Well... if that happens, I’d already be dead," he admitted. "At least I wouldn’t have to worry about the Alpha torturing me for failing to protect you."