Chapter 247 - The Poisoned Apple (2/2)

”He's done nothing but hurt everyone around you, YOURSELF INCLUDED! I know he's been poisoning you! It's in the decanter-” Cam's yelling was cut off.

Ales turned angry eyes on her. ”Camila, it is scotch. I drank too much. It's that simple.” He stood from the bed and wobbled slightly. Grabbing the post he shook his head. ”I'll admit, I may have drunk too much last night... but can you blame me?” He sent her an irritated glare. ”My 'wife' continues to make up useless stories on my own brother no less!” He shook the fog from his head as he pushed himself upright, still leaning heavily against the post. ”What's next, Camila? Will you accuse him of being the one who killed father?”

Cam planted both fists onto her h.i.p.s as she stood on her knees on the bed. ”I wouldn't put it past that snake!”

Ales ran his hand through his hair in growing anger. ”Camila, he wasn't even here that night!” He shook his head as he held his head in his palms. ”Just leave... get out of my room, Camila.”

Cam narrowed her eyes. ”Fine!” She moved off the bed and stomped over to the decanter. ”If you don't believe me that this is poisoned, then I'll simply have to prove it to you.” She grabbed the bottle and pulled the cork from it before lifting it to her lips in rapid movements.

Ales watched in frozen shock as she began to chug the amber liquid. ”Camila, enough!” He moved to pull the bottle away from her, but she'd already begun losing her grip on it. He watched in horror as her knees gave out and her fiery eyes held his as she collapsed onto the floor. The bottle fell beside her but didn't break. He struggled over to her side and fell to his knees before her. He pulled her upper body onto his l.a.p as he cradled her face. ”Camila?! Cam!” He patted her cheeks until her eyes fluttered weakly open.

”Figure out his plan...” Was all she could say before the power of the tonic forced her into slumber.

Months of pain and heartache came crashing down on Ales all at once as all of Cam's many warnings reverberated in his brain. He let out an agonizing, animalistic howl as his bones began to shift and contort. He lifted Cam into his arms and carried her back to his bed with the last bit of control he could muster. He'd barely gotten the door of his room opened before the beast took over completely. His claws ripped through the tapestries and wallpaper lining the hallways as he made his way to Fern's private chambers. To his surprise and the beast's enjoyment, there was a guard posted outside the room. He must have worried something like this may happen. Just as the guard moved to block his entrance, Ales grabbed the man by the throat and shoved him hard into the wall knocking the man out instantly. He kicked the door open, not waiting for his eyes to adjust to the darkness of the room. ”Get up you coward!” He growled against the long canines filling his mouth.

Fern lifted one edge of the sleep mask he wore and eyed his brother tiredly. ”What is it, dear brother? What could possibly have you busting through my doors at this hour?” He glanced around the beast, not showing any signs of worry as he studied his door and what could be seen of the crumpled guard.

”What was in the decanter?!” The beast growled, doing its best to force human words.

Fern pulled the mask down around his neck as he nodded toward a decanter on his own dresser. ”Merely a sleep tonic mixed with scotch. It's been such a stressful time for the both of us, I thought you could use it as well. Now go back to bed, brother, there's much to be done on the morrow.” He lifted the mask and lowered back into his bed.

Ales stalked over to the dresser and lifted the decanter, smashing it against the wall over the head of the bed. ”What was in it! The one you gave me!” He roared.

Fern rolled over with a sigh. ”You really aren't going to let this go, are you? So be it.” He pushed up from his bed and lead the way to his office. He pulled open a drawer and pulled out a tiny vile. Handing it to Ales, he said with an arched brow. ”Do you think we can speak like a.d.u.l.ts now? Or do you insist on staying in that form?” He crossed his arms over his c.h.e.s.t as Ales slowly shifted back as he studied the container.

”What is this?” He asked Fern.

”It's a sleeping aid, as I've said. It's what was used on mother during her last painful days on this earth.” He shrugged. ”I started using it some time ago and thought you'd enjoy it as well...”

He slammed the vile down on the desk. ”Camila is in a coma upstairs as we speak from taking no more than one drink from the bottle! She said she heard you brag to your guards about poisoning me!”

Fern arched a brow and forced out an amused laugh. ”Did she now?” He turned to walk around the desk, placing his hand on Ales's shoulder, he said. ”Little brother, why would I want to poison you? Have I not been doing my best to help you? You cannot rule this kingdom without me and I not without you.” He guided Ales from the office. ”I fear your bride is unwell little brother... And I assure you, it has nothing to do with the tonic she drank tonight... the same tonic you and I both drank...” He pushed him past the doorframe. ”Go back to bed, and we'll discuss how best to deal with her disillusions tomorrow.” He gave Ales a sorrowful frown. ”So much loss and trauma at such a young age... The poor girl may be better sent to a convent. I wouldn't be consummating that marriage just yet, little brother.” He shook his finger back and forth as he shut the office door in Ales's face putting an end to the conversation.

Fern's facade disappeared the second the lock of the office door was secured. ”That nosy little bitch... I should have disposed of her first...” He paced back and forth in the room, before finally walking over to the statue sitting in front of the bookshelf. He pulled back the head of the statue and waited as the bookshelf slid open. He grabbed a torch and stomped angrily down the narrow staircase. ”Get back to work, all of you! We need to step up production!”