Kieran's POV
They thought I poisoned Caius.
The guards threw me into Theron's study. He stood by the fireplace, his back radiating cold fury.
"Your Highness, I didn't—"
"Quiet." He turned, and his eyes could've killed me on the spot. "Sir Caius is dying. Poisoned with a toxin targeting his torture wounds. Wounds only you knew about."
My stomach dropped. "I swear I didn't do this!"
"Lysander had servants who owed him favors. Easy enough to arrange." He walked toward me like death itself. "Is this your revenge? Pretend to submit while killing us?"
"No! Why would I? You'd execute me!"
"Maybe you don't care." He grabbed my chin roughly. "Maybe this whole transformation is fake."
Everything I'd built—the submission, the tiny bit of trust—was crumbling.
The System blazed: [CRITICAL: If Sir Caius dies, all male leads will execute you. Survival: 0%.]
"Please," I begged. "Let me see him. Let me help."
Theron stared at me, searching. Finally: "One chance. If you're lying, I kill you myself."
He dragged me to the medical wing. Caius lay on a bed, gray-skinned, sweating, barely breathing. Old scars had reopened across his chest and arms, bleeding slowly.
Daelon stood guard, crimson eyes tracking me. Evren leaned against the wall, magic crackling at his fingertips, ready to strike.
"You brought him here?" Daelon snarled. "He did this!"
"I didn't!" I rushed to Caius's bedside. Up close, he looked worse—face twisted in pain even unconscious.
My heart shattered. He'd already suffered so much because of Lysander. Now someone was using that suffering to kill him.
"The poison targets old wounds," a healer explained. "Whoever designed it knew exactly where he was weakest."
I closed my eyes, diving into Lysander's sick memories. The torture records. Six months of systematic pain. Lysander taking notes on which wounds hurt most, healed slowest, broke Caius's spirit.
I wanted to vomit. But I forced myself to search.
There—a conversation with Dr. Henrik Voss, Lysander's physician. The doctor had documented everything "for future reference."
"Dr. Voss," I gasped. "Lysander's old physician. He has torture records. He could've designed this poison."
Theron's eyes narrowed. "Voss retired six months ago."
"Or claimed to," Evren said thoughtfully. "Convenient timing."
"Find him," Theron commanded. Guards rushed out.
I turned to Caius, feeling helpless. "Can I do anything?"
"Unless you can extract poison, no," the healer snapped.
The System chimed: [OPTIONAL QUEST: Blood Bonding ritual—absorb poison into your body. Death chance: 67%. Reward if successful: +40% devotion from all leads, proof of transformation.]
Sixty-seven percent death chance. Terrible odds.
But if Caius died, I'd be executed anyway. And he didn't deserve to die like this.
"There's a ritual," I said quietly. "Blood Bonding. Transfers poison between people."
Every head turned.
"That's forbidden magic," Evren said, eyes widening. "The person absorbing usually dies."
"I know." I looked at Caius. "But it might save him."
"You'd take his poison?" Daelon asked incredulously. "Possibly die for him?"
"Yes."
Theron grabbed my arm, spinning me. "Why? Why risk your life for someone you tortured?"
"Because it's right! He doesn't deserve to die! Maybe if I die saving him instead of being his murderer, it'll prove I've changed!"
Silence crashed through the room.
"The ritual needs a mage," Evren said slowly, studying me. "I could do it. But you understand you'll probably die?"
"I understand. Do it anyway."
Theron's grip tightened painfully. "I forbid this. You're my prisoner. I decide when you die."
"Then decide I die saving someone instead of being executed like a coward!" I pleaded. "Let me do one good thing!"
His golden eyes searched mine—war raging behind them. "If you die, I'll never know if you were real."
"Then I'll have to survive." I tried to smile.
He released me. "Do it. Evren, perform the ritual."
Evren moved to the bedside, magic gathering. "Strip and lie beside him. This will hurt."
I pulled off my shirt with shaking hands and climbed onto the bed next to Caius. "I'm sorry," I whispered. "For everything."
Evren placed glowing hands on both our chests. "Don't break connection or you both die."
Magic slammed into me. I screamed as pain exploded through every nerve. My blood felt like fire, acid eating through veins.
The poison transferred—leaving Caius, entering me. It targeted every weakness, every old injury. My scars burned. Wounds reopened.
"Halfway there!" Evren commanded.
Halfway and I already wanted to die. Worse than the truck. Worse than anything.
But I couldn't stop. Caius needed this.
I held on, screaming, while poison flooded my system.
"Done!" Evren's hands lifted.
I collapsed, gasping. Everything hurt. Vision blurred. Tasted blood.
Beside me, Caius's breathing steadied. Color returned. Wounds closing.
"He's stabilizing!" a healer exclaimed.
"And Lysander?" Theron sounded far away.
"The poison's killing him," Evren said clinically. "Ten minutes to find an antidote or he's dead."
I couldn't speak. Poison shutting down my body. Lungs burning. Heart stuttering.
The System flashed: [Critical condition...]
Through failing vision, I saw all three standing over me. For the first time, no hatred in their eyes.
"Don't you dare die," Theron said fiercely, grabbing my hand. "I didn't give permission."
"Find something!" Daelon shouted.
"There's one option," Evren said suddenly. "Experimental universal antidote spell. Never tested on humans."
"Do it," Theron commanded.
"It might kill him faster—"
"He's already dying!"
Evren's hands glowed violet. Pressed to my chest. Power surged through my dying body.
More pain. So much I couldn't scream.
Then—nothing.
Black.
At least I saved one person.
I woke to arguing voices.
"—spell was too unstable—"
"—but it worked—"
"—doesn't mean he'll wake—"
I forced my eyes open. White ceiling. Still alive somehow.
All four male leads crowded around my bed. They went silent when they saw me.
"You're awake," Theron breathed.
"Is Caius okay?" I croaked.
"Fine. Completely recovered." Daelon's eyes were unreadable. "You almost died saving him."
"Worth it."
"Why?" Evren demanded. "Why risk your life for someone you tortured?"
A guard burst in before I could answer.
"Your Highness! We found Dr. Voss! He confessed! He's been working for Duke Harrington—the same duke who paid Lysander to destroy your family! Harrington wants Lysander dead to eliminate the only witness! He orchestrated the poisoning!" The guard's face went pale. "And he's not done. Assassins are coming to the palace. Right now. Dozens of them. They're here to finish what the poison started!"