Page 86 of Dueling the Suitors

“No,” he interjected immediately. “No, we are not.”

“Rowan…” She turned to him, tears blurring her vision. She blinked them away and saw the anger in Rowan’s damp and blazing eyes as he looked at Cyrus.

“No.” He shook his head. “He’snotdying, not if I can help it.” He turned his gaze on Astoria. “I’m going to search the records of the physicians across the empire, find the best one, and bring them to him.”

With that, he turned and stormed out of the room.

The next morning, Clara brought in the medicine and left after checking on Cyrus. Astoria pulled out the herbs from her pocket, and with her heart pounding like hoof beats, sprinkled two pinches into the cup. She stirred the contents with a spoon.

Skylar and Spyrah watched anxiously at the table, not even blinking. After a full minute of stirring, it happened.

Small, dark specks began to form over the medicine. It spread so fast that when Astoria blinked, the entire contents had turned into a sickening shade of black.

She staggered back in shock, and a wail tore from her chest.

17

The Desperate Heart

“Rowan!” Astoria cried, running through the hallways. “Rowan!”

A frantic-looking male servant crossed her path. “Your Majesty! What is wrong? What is the matter?”

“Where is Rowan?” she demanded.

“I haven’t seen him this—”

“Astoria?”

Rowan stood at the end of the hallway. When she turned to him, something like panic crossed his face, and he sprinted towards her. “What is it?”

“Poison!” Her voice shook. “He is being poisoned!”

The servant gasped at the top of his lungs. He took off immediately, probably to spread the news.

“What?” Rowan demanded, grabbing her by the shoulders. “But the Mage healer—”

“She told me she is certain Cyrus is being poisoned, that whoever was doing it refrained from adding poison to yesterday’s medicine when we requested it—that the person learned about her arrival and realized it was going to be tested. She gave me the herbs to try again today, and I… I mixed it and the medicine turned black…”

Rowan looked thunderstruck. For a long moment, he could only blink. Then, a stormy look entered his eyes. “Who delivered the cup this morning?”

“Clara, of course. She’s been the one—oh, no…” Her eyes widened as something flickered in his. She shook her head violently. “You’re not saying… No, no, no!”

Rowan didn’t answer her. “Guards!” he barked over his shoulder. Two men appeared at the end of the hallway. “Tell the captain he’s under strict orders to keep the palace under lockdown. No one leaves or enters until I give permission. The Emperor’s life is in danger.”

The men went very still in shock before they snapped out of it and bolted away.

“Tell me you’re not seriously thinking the woman who took Cyrus under her wing like a mother is the one poisoning him!” Astoria admonished him sharply. “That is utterly ridiculous. Not evenmyfather would do that to me.”

“Look, I’m not saying itisher. I don’t know who would evenwantto do such a thing—but it sure is someone from the inside.” He dropped his hands from her. “Right now, we have the right to suspect anyone, but we will be careful in accusing them without proof.”

Astoria looked around to make sure the place was safe for their conversation. “It’s probably one of the staff. But I don’t understandwhy. For heaven’s sake, Cyrus made these people’s lives better!”

“Not everyone has the same opinion, Astoria.” Rowan raised an eyebrow pointedly.

She froze. “The rebels?” A bell rang in her head. The rebels. The notes.

Were they connected?

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