Page 174 of Ruthless Kings of Havoc

Then there’s this new trending topic of Zander apparently being gay, which is why no one thinks he’s in competition with Ares or Matteo.

Where did it come from? I don’t fucking know.

All I know is Zander fucking loves it.

Just thinking about that man makes me want to smirk, but I can’t.

Actually… I can’t move.

It takes me a few seconds to realize I can’t move my body. My eyes are still open, yet my body won’t cooperate at all.

What the fuck?

I immediately begin to panic, realizing my sense of smell is off as well. It’s blocked, but then again, I did have the nosebleed…

Fuck.

If I can’t feel anything, how am I going to know if I’m not breathing?

Panic riddles me as I begin to realize I’m in some major shit. I try to think of whether I ate something or maybe I’m about to have a seizure, but I don’t feel any warning signs.

I took my medicine. The fight didn’t hit any vital organs or my head. The only thing I did was drink…

Water.

The water bottle from Ishya.

Dread immediately takes over me, but I can’t believe Ishya would do that.

Yes, she’s a Maiden from Deviant Lords. Yes, we may have to compete with one another sooner or later, but this moment gives no purpose for us to do wrong to one another. It makes absolutely no sense.

Think, Eva. If Ishya is innocent, could it be Sia?

I’ve been doing fight club with the other two Maidens the last few weeks after classes and that’s given me a better understanding of both of them.

Despite us still barely knowing one another, there’s something in my gut telling me Sia wouldn’t go to that extent. She has a list of people she despises. She’s on a war path to help her survive and do what needs to be done to preserve her royal line, but drugging and killing someone without a hidden motive?

If it’s not her, either… who?

A feeling of impending doom begins to rush through me, and I don’t know whether to panic or cry. My vision is getting blurry by the second as the pressure in my chest grows and grows. I have to be choking—no, suffocating—because a metallic taste is filling my mouth. My ears feel like they’re ringing now, and I can’t focus on anything.

Matteo is away.

Zander is training with Coach Hennessy.

Ares has a shoot and won’t know anything until the evening when he shows up at the library, and I’m not around.

Shit…

The fear of suddenly being here alone and potentially dying scares me.

I don’t want to die alone.

Something comes in my line of vision before I’m forced to sit up, causing what I think is a coughing fit. My ears feel clogged, but I can hear my own cough and splutters. Something pokes into my neck, and a frigid liquid follows.

It’s as if someone took water from the freezer and only melted it enough that it would be a texture that could be injected. Whatever it is sends immediate chills through me.

My skin prickles to life, making me feel the excruciating pain in my chest.

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