“I’ll tell you, but you cannot speak of it to anyone. If you do, I’ll deny it,” Mirael warned.
Another wave of nausea rolled through me, and I sank my head down into the toilet, letting my body convulse. “For all that’s Divine, just tell me.”
The healer leaned in, her body wafting of herbs and spices. “If you breathe a word, it will cost someone’s life.”
She waited several more minutes as my stomach convulsed; I was sure it would haul itself out of me if the illness continued much longer. “It’s the damned fish, isn’t it?” My words were choked.
“No”—she paused—“you were poisoned.”
“What the fuck?” I breathed through another wave of nausea.
“But as far as everyone else is concerned, you felt ill all day, and it finally caught up with you.” She leaned in so close her breath blew across my ear, causing a shiver. “Someone gave youa vomit-inducing solution. And based on the time that’s passed, I would say you’d consumed it nearly an hour ago. Which means it was put in your food or drink at the start. But I’ll not have Draven or his staff blamed for the?—”
“Ipecac,” I muttered through the next spasm, recalling the little vial Jaspar had given me to weaken King Sutton. I’d last seen the amber liquid in my bag, but I hadn’t verified its location in quite some time.
“Yes,” she said hesitantly. “I knew it the moment my magic hit your belly. We use it in patients who’ve been given foods they cannot have, such as your friend with the citrus.”
Not only had Allura dealt with the consequences of the tea, but she’d had to endure the torture I was living through too.
The silver-haired woman narrowed her eyes at me. “How didyouknow it was ipecac?”
32
RYDER
Entertaining a dozen guests after a ruined dinner was a task I shouldn’t have needed to deal with. If Audryn thought she could throw a fit over a piece of fish and make a scene so large without consequences—she would see just how bad things could get. I would have Draven prepare her fish for breakfast, lunch, and dinner for the rest of her life until she learned her lesson.
I threw open the kitchen door to see exactly what was taking so long. My eyes narrowed on the healer and the chef huddled in the corner. One should’ve been tending to my future betrothed while the other finished preparing our new meal. Instead, they were likely flirting. They might’ve thought their relationship was held in secret; but the entire castle knew of the affair.
“Your Highness.” Draven jolted, his face marked with concern. “The chicken will be out soon.”
“Perhaps Mirael is slowing the progress and is the cause of my hungry guests?” I lifted an eyebrow in her direction. “Do you not have tasks to tend to?”
“Your Highness, I was retrieving tea for Audryn.” She selected a nearby mug and lifted the kettle from the fire.
“What’s her prognosis?” I asked, knowing her behavior was nothing but theatrics.
Mirael placed mint leaves in the mug for steeping and poured the steaming water over them. “She was ill earlier today, but did not want to disappoint you by missing dinner. So, the lady pushed herself. And, well, you saw the consequences which followed.”
“Legitimately ill?” I couldn't hide the surprise in my voice.
“Yes, I felt the ache in her stomach.” Mirael’s voice wobbled, and if I hadn’t known her as well as I did, I wouldn’t have caught the lie. “Perhaps the heat of the day was too much, or maybe sickness from busying herself more than she is used to.”
“Pregnancy?” I asked, forgetting we were in the midst of a full kitchen.
“I felt no babe.” Mirael looked around and leaned in. “Though perhaps it is too soon to know for certain.”
I hummed to myself as I considered. Would it be such a bad thing if she were to become pregnant before we married?
“Your Highness?” The healer interrupted my thoughts. “Are there questions plaguing you?”
“No,” I replied flatly. I didn’t need to know the specifics of Audryn’s illness.
Mirael nodded. “Very well. You should know, I have ordered her to quarantine in her room for a few days to recover.”
I waved a dismissive hand and went to leave.
“Dinner will be served in five minutes,” Draven called out as he tossed sliced carrots in oil and herbs. “Apologies for the delay.”
