Page 32

Cadence

A knock at the door pulled me from my misery. I’d burrowed beneath the covers of Ryker’s impossibly comfortable bed, and I was content to stay there.

A second knock sounded, and I released a resigned sigh. The sooner I handled whoever was at the door, the sooner I could return to my pity party.

“Come in.”

I didn’t bother getting out of bed. If their visit was so urgent, they could deal with my current bedraggled state.

The door creaked open, revealing a woman I’d never seen before. She was tall and slender, with pale skin and even paler hair, which she had pulled back into a tight braid. Her clothing was simple, her dress a muted shade of green. It was the kind of practical attire that marked her as a servant of the palace.

She moved further into the room with soft steps and practiced grace. In her hands, she carried a small silver tray with a glass vial resting in the center.

“Good morning, My Lady,” she greeted. “My name is Odette, and I have come to deliver your daily fertility tonic.”

Her sweet, reassuring tone contrasted sharply with her alert gaze, making me uneasy. I kept my eyes fixed on her as she lowered the tray to the nightstand.

“Scarlette is usually the one who brings me my treatment.”

Odette straightened and gave me an encouraging smile. “I am the Matron of the healers who work within the palace. Normally, I’d have another healer or maid bring your tonic, but I like to check in on my patients myself now and then.”

She picked up the glass vial and offered it to me. Her eyes flicked over me with a hint of something I couldn’t quite place.

I shifted my position on the bed so that I was upright and leaning against the headboard.

“Thank you,” I said as I took the small bottle.

I studied the amber liquid inside it before removing the stopper. A familiar herbal scent wafted from it, but it did little to appease my suspicions.

I wouldn’t put it past Celeste to try to poison me at the first opportunity. But Odette didn’t know I was a healer, capable of identifying countless toxins even in my sleep.

Deciding this was the perfect time to see if Celeste was so bold, I feigned ignorance and played along.

“Should I look for anything specific?”

“Hmm?”

“You said you checked in to monitor the treatment’s progress. Should I watch for any particular symptoms?”

“Oh no, nothing like that,” Odette said, quick to reassure me. “Occasionally, some women experience unpleasant side effects such as headaches or stomach troubles, that type of thing. Fertility treatments also require great attention to detail to ensure the best outcome, so I prefer to monitor the dosage. That way, if any adjustments are required, I can action them to avoid unintended consequences.”

All true.

That didn’t mean this dose wasn’t laced with something sinister, however.

I lifted the vial to my nose and inhaled deeply. There was nothing unusual about the various aromas, so I took a tentative sip. The bitter, earthy taste slid over my tongue, and I tried in vain not to grimace. While the tonic tasted the same, it was more potent than usual.

I drew upon my magic and sent it delving into every corner of my body. When I detected nothing amiss, I released a relieved breath.

My gaze lingered on Odette, and I studied her as I spoke.

“It’s stronger than my normal dose.”

Odette’s expression remained neutral, but her eyes held an intensity that left me feeling exposed.

“Bodies are ever-changing, and they often build up a tolerance for any medicines we rely on regularly,” she supplied. “It is necessary to increase the dosage from time to time to maintain effectiveness.”

Another truth.

The bitterness settled unpleasantly in my stomach, and I downed the rest of the tonic before I could talk myself out of taking it. I set the vial down on the silver tray and returned my attention to Odette.

“How was that?” she asked.

“Fine, I suppose.”

“No complaints then,” she said with a slight grin.

“I’m not sure I would go that far,” I mumbled, the bitter taste still coating my tongue.

She barked out a laugh but quickly sobered. “It’s important, especially for someone in your position, that everything remains… balanced.”

She flashed me an apologetic smile, and I wondered just what she thought I was doing in Ryker’s chambers.

Did she think I was his courtesan?

I nodded, not wanting to voice my question aloud. It wasn’t her fault that Ryker had kept my presence here a mystery, and I didn’t want to appear rude or ungrateful. Instead, I waded into safer waters.

“Is it a common practice then?”

Odette knitted her brows.

“Adjusting the ingredients, I mean.”

The healer seemed relieved when I clarified my line of questioning, and, for some unknown reason, that observation had dread swirling to life within me.

“Oh, yes,” she beamed. “Every woman’s constitution is different, so the blend must be tailored accordingly.”

Once again, her words rang true.

Odette leaned forward and placed her hand on my knee in a comforting gesture.

“My Lady, your wellbeing is paramount. I assure you, I craft each dose with care, but if there’s anything I should know...” she trailed off, unsure what else to say.

Something in her tone made my insides plummet, but I forced a polite smile. “I’m fine, truly. My stomach is just a little unsettled from the higher dosage. I’m sure I’ll get used to it.”

Odette’s gaze lingered on me for a moment longer than necessary before she straightened and nodded.

“Of course, My Lady.”

She moved to collect the silver tray and empty vial, her fingers brushing the glass with something akin to reverence.

“I’ll leave you to get on with your day.”

I watched as Odette turned, her movements almost eerie in their rigidity, a complete contrast to the poise she had displayed upon entering. She strode for the door, but as she reached for the handle, she paused and cast a glance back in my direction.

“If you feel anything… unusual… do not hesitate to summon me. I will always make myself available for your needs.”

An involuntary shiver raced down my spine, but I forced myself to ignore it.

“Thank you. I’ll keep that in mind.”

With a final dip of her chin, Odette slipped out of Ryker’s chambers, the door closing softly behind her.

I exhaled slowly, surprised that I felt even tenser than before. Odette’s parting words echoed inside my head, and there was an undercurrent that lingered, a warning perhaps, that I couldn’t put my finger on. Her appearance, so close after my confrontation with Celeste, seemed orchestrated. Her demeanor had been polite, but tense.

Yet, everything she said was true.

Had my distrust grown so strong that I now saw enemies where none existed?

I shivered as I dismissed the notion. I glanced back toward the door, half expecting Odette to reappear. She had seemed so invested, so watchful, as she attended to me.

I shook my head to dispel my lingering doubts. The woman was only trying to help.

Even as the thought formed, I couldn’t shake the feeling that I was missing something crucial.