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Healer Rhea's POV

There were many nights when Rhea had wanted to stay in bed, to forget her tasks and responsibilities and just allow the world to spin on its own without leaving the warmth of the covers.

But things were not so simple.

It started with a few voices shouting off in the distance, which she passed off as training—Given that the courtyards were just below one of her many windows. And since Romulus didn't stir or sound alarmed, there was no point to ruin their comfortable position.

Though it was the ravished pounding on the door that had once again tempted the choice between responding or ignoring. That choice was soon made for her as a mixture of guards and Enforcers had come forward and started to barrel through her entire room.

Through blurry vision and a headache taking up the better half of the back of her head, she watched as these males had taken to turning over every piece of furniture—Ripping her documents off the desk and sorting through them.

"H—hey!" Her voice slurred as she tried to sit up and stop them. They were private plans, ones that she had shared in the company of only her males and Romulus.

But even she wasn't a fool to write the important things and leave them in plain sight.

With her sudden movements, the males surrounding her had started to withdraw their search and subdue Rhea—Knocking her back down into the cushion where she caught another glimpse of Romulus.

And still the male didn't awaken.

"Romulus—Rom!" She tried to shout, but it was hidden behind her inability to use her tongue and speak. Even as her arms were bound with tight chains.
Yet all she could fathom was the fact that they were stripping her away from the King.

The King, who in fact, looked sickly pale—Her mind was racing a million thoughts a second, but she couldn't think of any possible reason as to why he was looking so frail.

Rhea could hardly use her legs, even so, she attempted to fight—For them to see reason. Yet the wolves did no such thing, as they were operating on a one-track mind.

Leading her straight to the cold dungeons, not even clothing her the long distance down to save her dignity or modesty.

Her cries grew hoarse, and the tears she wept were going unanswered. It felt as though there was a constant replay of the warmth she and Romulus shared to the blaring intrusion of wolves gathering and taking her away.

For what?

What had happened? 

What had gone wrong?

Even now, she could hardly move a muscle—Even with the rats scurrying about the cobblestone floor beside her. She could feel the etchings of what she hoped would be dirt and not the former.

Whatever was happening, had some relation to how she was feeling. But thinking further seemed impossible—And though the chill she was experiencing was not a comfort, all she could find mercy in is closing her eyes.

Hoping that rest would offer some sort of tranquil peace to escape to.

* * *

Time felt like an illusion, but Rhea knew better. There had been a small celled vent at the corner of the room. And as far as she could tell, the light shining inside had not disappeared—Unless she had slept for the entirety of the first day.

But that was beyond her capable function right now, not when her hair was filthy and slicked with what she could only assume would be puke.

Good.
That meant her body was trying to expel whatever was in her system. The issue is, she was due for another dose of Lillian's tonic. Already having missed the morning bottle, it was a countdown for when her wound would start to get the message that nothing was stopping from causing her immense pain.

As if she wasn't already feeling heartbroken enough—Where was Romulus?

What had happened?

These questions were going well unanswered, and soon, she was left in the darkness with nothing more than a prayer. Yet even that was faulty, she had missed another ceremony, but the goddess didn't seem to notice her the first time.

Whether it was a built-upon concept, Rhea truly could not fathom things, not when the last bit of light had long faded and she couldn't hide away from the rats who were curious of her scent.

It helped, for a while anyway, that she smelled so heavily of the Alpha—Yet that was slowly degrading the longer she sat in the risen cot. Her eyes marked the outline of where she believed the door to be.

She needed Clive, Ray—Anyone, to come and explain what has happened.

When the door had finally managed to open, it didn't register with Rhea at first. Not until the smell of torches had started to fill in the musky scent of things she didn't want to think about.

But the smoke began to choke her as she took a gaze to the last face she wanted to see. There, in such a terrifying outline stood Mithwell, a grin so very prominent on his face stood between her and the answers.

Between her foggy gaze and thoughts, she laughed. "I don't think you're who I'd pick for a lifeline." Was all Rhea could gather as a snippy retort, but that had a near impasse towards the Council member.

"No. Perpetrators do not deserve a lifeline. What they deserve, is an execution." And Rhea all but smiled as she leaned further against the cell bars to the side of her head, something no wolf could manage. "Oh? I am?"

"What business do you have laying with the King?!" He roared, slamming his hands onto the bars, but Rhea held back her laughter as the silver stung him for his outburst. "What business do you have asking?"

"Considering I am your only lifeline—"
"I'm not that desperate." Not yet anyway.

Rhea had watched as Mithwill had ordered the guards away, which was more horrifying than anything she could have dreamed up.
Thinking of pack hierarchy, it would usually be the Alpha—Followed by the Beta and Delta, in this case, the Royal pair.

Elias and Lyall were more than likely busy, but she hoped and pleaded inside her head at the mere idea that they weren't planning the very execution that Mithwill mentioned.

But of course, the bastard was thinking of more than just his head.

"You have a favor, if you want to use it remember...To get you out of this cell and—"
"And what? You can't prove a damned thing!"
"No? So the poison running through the King's veins is what? Miscommunication?" Rhea frowned, trying to replay the flash images of what she could remember Romulus looking like, but she couldn't.

Not clearly, anyway.

"As a Healer, you have experience with many combinations and connections. But what does a female like yourself do with Animon?" The word, it felt familiar as she repeated it for a moment.

Then sighed out loud. "It's for my injury, arsehole."
"Your injury? The burns are old, they don't need treatment."
"No. But my immortal wound does." She beckoned, and the male squinted towards the gash in her side. One that was already irritated and inflamed from the time spent here.

Rhea was already feeling the dimness of an infection.

"I have a bi-weekly dosage to allow me to function at a fraction of the capacity I used to be. It's why I use a cane, dumbarse. Now get me out of this cell!"
"Why? Between the King being poisoned and the biggest thorn in my side silenced, I believe this is a fairly better idea than getting my daughter to marry the King."
"Your daughter needs professional help. Perhaps starting with a tutor." The male had only bellowed in laughter, but the way he wasn't all too shocked over the King's position left Rhea suspicious.

"You did it, didn't you...? As you said, 'two thorns at once.'" While it wasn't verbal confirmation, the male grinned widely and turned towards the entrance. Yet the motion of him tugging at his crotch had nearly made Rhea gag once more.

"Can I not tempt you to think of an alternative?"

"I'd rather be eaten by rats."
"Smelling of the Alpha cum, you are far too picky for the courts—"

"He'll kill you when he wakes. And whether I am here to witness it or up above, I cannot wait to send you straight to where you belong you worthless piece of hyde!" She shouted, and the male had all but strutted out of the room, slamming the door shut while Rhea was left to be consumed by the darkness once more.

Leaving her to wonder in what state Romulus was fighting.

She hadn't known that Animon was dangerous to wolves in any realm, but it started to make sense. It was taken from a rather similar species of wolfsbane—And that was deadly.

A startled bit of rage and fear had suddenly taken hold of her as she scrambled to her unsteady feet and started to bang on the solid silver door. "Let me out! Let me out! I can help! Please!" She shouted, wondering if there was anyone nearby to hear her desperation.

Mithwell was long gone, but using up her favor was worthless, not when she couldn't be present for his compelling argument.
Not that he would, given that she was categorized as a thorn.

No, Rhea was desperate for anyone else to hear her.
A guard had to come eventually, right?
Wouldn't Elias or Lyall understand the gravity of this?

Nobody besides them and her males knew of her true identity, why would she forgo Romulus' kindness?

Unless they believed the rumor as well—And there was no way of knowing, not when she hardly could understand the panic that sent her down here.

Rhea had slammed her fists against the door until they were red and raw with pain, but nothing hurt worse than the idea of Romulus being in incapable hands as the dumbarses in the infirmary—They wouldn't know where to begin.

It still made her heavily ill at the mere thought that Mithwell knew what the very substance within the first given hours—It had to be hours, right?

No, it would take longer to even remotely understand what was used here. Even now, she wouldn't know how to manage an antidote—Not without testing, building upon countless notes and trials.

But she could start somewhere, couldn't she?

Her banging had yet to subside, but her mumbles had pushed to a possible formula to reproduce. If they didn't want to let her out, let her help in some way—Anyway—To fix this for what it truly is.

A planned assassination attempt.

______

Date: 07/16/23

Time: 9:37

Words: 1824

Author's Note:

The next few chapters involving Rhea's POV aren't rated R, but they are showing her at her lowest and there a few degrading mentions that I am not sure if I'm keeping in just yet, but I thought a warning was better than just updating without a word.
Next chapter, a surprise POV!