Raven's Soul. Volume 2 - стр. 20

– Yes. It was intact. I didn't know and I shouldn't have acted like a beast. But the wine and anger took away my mind. It's my fault, and I'm not going to look for false reasons to clear my name of this disgrace," I admitted, bowing my head in shame.

– Don't ever do that to your wife again, under any circumstances. She forgave you once, though she shouldn't have… If you do it again, she'll turn into the one you hate so much, my son… A demoness. – Mother closed the door behind her, and I was alone with my thoughts.

Why would she bring that up? Why did she suddenly decide to bring it up? Had she been concerned about the incident for a long time and now that we were talking about Sylvia, she wanted to give me a motherly instruction? There was nothing wrong with that, but I would prefer to put that low act behind me.

At the moment, I was burdened with other thoughts: right now, my wife was sourcing the ingredients for an antidote to save my life at the risk of her own, and I dared to doubt her sincerity. How low I have fallen. After what I did to her and her people, another woman would have just let me die. What keeps Sylvia close to a man like me? Or does it? Could it be that she is already far from Kaldwind and melting in the arms of a handsome healer?

"Just don't think about it, Derek. Think of the good things. Worry makes your hair fall out and your bones break" – A familiar lazy voice suddenly sounded in my mind, making me smile. Well, the big cat was right: why suffer and kill myself with jealousy when I don't know anything yet?

My body felt incredibly tired, and I hurried to the bed. My legs were groggy as if I were drunk, the floor floated beneath my feet, and the surrounding objects lost their shape. It was the effect of the poison, and I was familiar with this strange condition, and more than once. Fortunately, I managed to get to the bed, and falling on the featherbed, I fell into darkness.

I woke up to what seemed to me to be someone standing over my bed, watching me intently. Rising up on my elbows, I looked around the room carefully, but saw no one. I didn't notice any suspicious objects or any changes either. Sitting down on the edge of the bed, I rubbed my temples with my fingers, glanced out the window, and was unpleasantly surprised to find that it was already dark. I'd never fallen asleep during the day before; the poison spreading through my body must be stealing a lot of my strength and vitality. Something must be done about it, because if this continues, everyone will notice that the king is sick. That's when all coups usually happen. I'd hate to be slaughtered in my sleep in my own bed.

There was a knock at the door, and I quickly grabbed a book on battle tactics from the bedside table to pretend I was engrossed in its contents. I couldn't let rumors of my illness spread throughout the palace.

– Come in! – I commanded.

Andrada appeared at the door a few seconds later, and I felt relieved. She was holding a tray with a small jar of some unknown liquid and a tiny silver casket. She must have found a way to slow the effects of the poison, as promised. Andrada came over to me and sat down on the edge of the bed, placing the tray on her lap.