Page 36 of Dark Prince's Captive

“Poison,” Kian announces gravely.

The look of rage that comes over Aruan’s face is scary, but it’s nothing compared to the crack that appears in the thick stone wall at the front, running from the top right down to the bottom.

Screams and exclamations of terror rise from the audience.

Before I have time to process what’s happening, Aruan scoops me up into his arms and carries me swiftly to the exit.

Shocked whispers reach my ears as he makes his way with long strides along the aisle, and there’s one sentence I make out:

“Someone tried to poison Aruan’s mate.”

Chapter10

Aruan

My only thought is to protect my mate.

Someone tried to kill her.

Fury wells up inside me, but I push it down because her dress is drenched in the poison.I need to get that off her skin.

I growl an instruction to the guards who stand on either side of the doors to the Great Hall as I fly across the threshold with Elsie in my arms.“Keep the guests locked inside.”

Every person will be questioned.I will find the bastard who tried to assassinate her.Poison has been used to eliminate rivals for as long as Zerra has existed.It’s the weapon of cowards and corrupt people who lack honor and pride.

“Aruan,” Elsie says, pushing on my chest.Her blue-green eyes are wide with alarm.“You drank it.You drank a whole goblet full of it.”

Her concern for my welfare warms my chest.If urgent measures weren’t required, I’d bask in her care, but I have to make sure she’s safe.

“Aruan,” she repeats, sounding close to hysterical.“Are you listening to me?You need to put me down.Call Vitai.He can fix this, right?”

Not even Vitai can fully reverse the effect of a powerful poison.Once it’s been ingested, it quickly devours flesh and blood, too fast for a healer to intervene before the onset of death.

I don’t have time to explain, but the need to reassure my mate demands that I set her worry at ease.

My reply is gruff.“If there’d been poison in my goblet, I’d be dead already.”

A gasp falls from her lips, and a dragon can maul to me a pulp if I don’t feel her fear as if it were my own.

The minute I’m outside the hall, I lower Elsie to her feet.I don’t pause to think.I act fast, gripping the neckline of her dress and ripping the garment down the middle.I’m deaf to her shriek as the fabric pools around her ankles and she stands there naked.

My body reacts to hers naturally.Even in such dire circumstances, I get hard at the sight of her pale skin and small, perky breasts.The aphrodisiac rushes through my blood, amplifying everything until I’m about to combust, but those are only physical needs.They won’t dictate my actions or influence my decisions as long as Elsie’s life is in danger.

Locking my hands around her tiny waist, I drag her closer.She utters a yelp and tries to push me away, but she’s no match for my strength.

I study her breasts.They’re not wet from the juice.To be sure, I lean in and sniff her skin.

“Hey,” she cries out.“What are you doing?”

The only smell that clings to her is the intoxicating fragrance of dragon flower blossoms.There’s no trace of the cloyingly sweet scent of poison.

Beating her fists on my shoulders, she shouts, “Let go!”

“Keep still,” I say with warning.

Whatever she hears in my voice, which sounds more animalistic than human, makes her obey.

Good girl.

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