Page 167 of Plug and Drain

“It’s not poisonous,” Arken said gently.

“I figured that,” Susie replied.

“I would offer to test it for you, but I’m afraid I’m allergic to strawberries.”

She lifted a questioning eyebrow.

“The flavour. You’ll see.”

Susie lifted the vial. The white liquid was viscous and velvety, and sparkled as she brought it to her lips. It tasted sweet, like strawberries.

“It has magical properties,” Arken explained as she drank it all, “but even so, it will take approximately five minutes to take effect. Can you wait?”

He was referring to the bathroom.

Susie’s cheeks burnt as she passed him the empty vial. Could she wait five minutes before he moved her?

No. No, she could not. She was seconds away from urinating on the floor.

She shook her head slowly and stared bitterly at a black door. It was so close, and yet so far in her incapacitated condition.

Arken drew a steadying breath, as if he needed to brace himself before he picked her up. “I’m sorry.”

Sorry for what?

That it was going to hurt? Or was he sorry for other things?

He picked her up gently and efficiently, like she weighed nothing, his hands on either side of her beneath her arms.

Susie winced, but the pain was tolerable as Arken carried her carefully across the room. He did not try to scoop her up in his arms—that would have ended in disaster. He held her as if she was standing, which kept her spine straight, her feet dangling, and her furry tail hanging limp, the voluminous tip grazing her bare ankles.

It was a strange way to carry someone, and she begrudgingly appreciated the strength it required to carry her like that with outstretched arms.

To Susie’s surprise, Arken did not carry her towards the black door, but to a white one behind a large mahogany desk.

“Not the black door?” she asked.

“No. That leads to my office.”

“I thought this was your office,” she questioned, beginning to turn her head to glance back at the bed before stopping herself. It was better she moved her spine as little as possible.

“This room is where I work. It is a secret room I had made early into my tenure to give me a private space. The black door leads to my official office. The other side of the black door is disguised to blend with the wall. I believe you once questioned if I knew the location of my office.”

“I was joking.”

“I know.” Arken continued taking small, steady steps towards the white door, edging around the desk. “I must ask you never to venture through the black door. Not while you’re in my care.”

“How long will that be?” she asked, stifling a cry as pain jolted down her legs.

“Until you are fully recovered.”

“You could just take me to the sick bay.”

“Out of the question. I cannot guarantee your safety there. Not now that Henrikk…” He trailed off.

“We should talk about what happened,” Susie said.

“We will. But…here we are,” Arken changed the subject with forced cheeriness as they reached the white door.