Page 32 of A Monarch's Fall

It hadn’t even crossed my mind that he might try to poison me.

“I don’t drink alcohol,” I explained.

Selene wasn’t there to refuse the drink on my behalf, but I knew that she wouldn’t approve.

“Really?” he asked.

I didn’t respond. He shrugged and set the glass down on the coffee table.

“Please take a seat.” He turned back to the drinks cabinet and fridge, “I can offer you sparkling water, a cold-pressed orange juice, or a canned iced espresso. Which would you prefer?” he asked.

“Coffee,” I answered. I was tired and felt I needed all my focus when dealing with Arvid.

He opened the fridge, pulled out a small black can with silver lettering, and offered it to me.

I accepted the can and popped it open. The smell of coffee was instant, and I salivated at the smell alone.

How long had it been since I had had a coffee?

Too long.

I sat down in the nearest armchair and took a sip of the iced espresso. It was good.

“Not as good as fresh, is it?” he said, and sipped his glass of wine.

“It’s fine. What do you want to talk to me about? Who wants to keep me under lock and key? Why am I here?” I asked, the questions leaving me quickly.

“One at a time,” he said with a grin, placing his glass on a coaster on the coffee table.

I took a few large gulps from the can, finishing the drink. I hadn’t realised how thirsty I was.

“Another?” he asked, standing from his chair.

I nodded. And he walked back to the fridge and handed me another can before sitting again.

“Espresso is normally consumed in small sips,” he commented.

“Normally, I don’t wake up, not knowing where I am or how long I’ve been unconscious for,” I replied.

He smiled and retook his glass, lifting it towards me.

“Five days,” he said.

“Five days what?” I asked.

“You were picked up from House Ardens five days ago. You’ve been under a mixture of heavy sedatives and Syngeneia magic since then to keep you asleep and allow your accelerated healing to begin, which is quite impressive for a non-pureblood like you. You were in a dire state, I would say. But look at you now, all it took was some forced rest, and you're nearly as good as new,” Arvid said, looking pointedly at my brace boot. “Nearly,” he reiterated.

I had been separated from Selene for five days.

“What do you know of Selene?” I asked. “Is she okay?”

Five days were surely long enough that if anything had happened to her, the news would have reached the whole kingdom by now.

“Word is that she was a victim of venom poisoning and is currently recovering in the Borealis Castle at her father’s command,” he told me.

Venom poisoning could be fatal. How did anyone get close enough to her to bite?

It had to be another pureblood.