Chapter 100


    Chapter 100 Pray for Erika


    CA SSANDRA


    When I got to work that day, Becky was already hard at work. She was surrounded by a stack of books,


    along with a long line of vials and bottles. Her eyes were so focused on her work that she hadn’t even


    noticed my arrival.


    “Becky?” I prompted her when she didn’t say anything. “Becky, is everything alright?”


    My assistant finally looked up at the sound of her name, and her dark eyes grew wide.


    “Sorry, Ca ssy,” she said. “I didn’t even hear you.”


    “It’s okay,” I assured her, and I approached her desk. “What’s going on?”


    “I found something strange about the venoms,” she exined, and she gestured at a few of the vials.


    “The ones that we couldn’t identify? I’ve been running tests all morning. Even though they’re all very


    different, their chemical structures are simr. If my hypothesis is correct, it seems like they were all


    produced. ording to the chemical structures of Udosyn.”


    “Does that mean that the other kinds of poisons were recreated using the base of Udosyn?” I


    wondered.


    Becky nodded. “It seems like it.”


    I stood there for a moment and considered what this meant. Did this mean that we could find the cure


    to the poisons if we studied further in this direction and recreated the cure to Udosyn?


    The moment the thought crossed my mind, I asked Becky, and she gave a thoughtful nod.


    “That’s theoretically possible,” she agreed.


    It took a second for the idea to set in, and once it did, my assistant and I exchanged excited smiles.


    This was the first win we’d had in a while. I didn’t want to get too thrilled, but I couldn’t help it.


    “Compared to Udosyn, these other poisons don’t have such a rigorous structure,” Becky continued as


    she smiled. “So what you’re thinking might actually be possible! We can study further and see if we can


    recreate the cures.”


    We wasted no time and got to work right away.


    As we threw ourselves into the research, I couldn’t help but smile. This new information brought light to


    our studies. We were in such great moods that Becky didn’t evenin about Lancel’s presence.


    in seem a


    Usually, she said that Lancel made the but she didn’t quip at the Alpha King’s guard for once. In fact,


    she said just the opposite.


    “Maybe Lancel brought us back some luck,” she joked, and the two of us shared augh. I nced


    over at Lance, who remained as serious and stoic as always. He didn’t have much for a sense of


    humor. He was always so focused and disciplined that I wondered if he everughed at all.


    As we continued working, I thought of Asher. The Alpha King was the first person that I wanted to share


    this development with. We’d been working so long and hard to solve this mystery, and we were finally


    inching closer to some answers.


    I hoped he would be proud of us, especially Becky. Making such an important discovery and working


    on a case like this would surely be enough to promote her to the position of a full-time royal healer.


    Sure, my assistant was young, but she was incredibly intelligent and hard-working. Her scientific mind


    would be a valuable asset to the pce, and I would make sure to tell Asher that the next time I saw


    him.


    Suddenly, I found myself missing him. Our night of passion had meant more to me than I’d expected,


    and even though I knew the logistics would be nearly impossible, I wanted to be with him again.


    No one had ever made me feel the same bliss that Asher had.


    I had no idea what to do about Adalyn. As much as I wanted to pretend that Asher wasn’t married, I


    couldn’t deny her existence. I wasn’t sure what kind of future was in store for any of us, but I knew no


    matter what, things would get.


    messy.


    I forced myself to return to my studies. I could think about all of thister. For now, I needed to focus on


    the venoms.


    Just as I threw myself back into my research, theboratory doors flew open and Finnick ran in.


    Thankfully, Lancel stopped the boy before he could run head-first into the tables full of dangerous


    chemicals and concoctions. I cast my protective eyewear aside and ran over to my son.


    Lancel released his grip and stepped aside so we could speak.


    “Thank you,” I said, and then I turned to Finnick. “Finnick? What’s going on? What are you doing here?”


    Much to my surprise, Finnick’s lovely gray eyes were full of tears. I was taken aback. Finnick didn’t cry


    all that often. He was always so serious, like his father, but as he stood before me, he copsed into s


    obs. I swept him into my arms at once and held him close.


    “Finnick, what’s wrong?” I asked as Finnick’s body shook beneath my touch.Exclusive ? content by N(?)ve/l/Drama.Org.


    He began to speak, but he was crying so hard that the words didn’te out right.


    “Honey, you need to breathe,” I said softly as I stroked his hair. “Come on, take a deep breath with me.”


    Finnick nodded and then I demonstrated a deep inhale. He copied me, and after a few rounds of deep


    breathing, he managed to calm down.


    “Mommy,” he whispered. “Oh, Mommy. They caught Aunt Erika. And they took her away.”


    My heart dropped in my chest and my lips parted in surprise.


    “Who?” I asked as I began to panic. “Finnick, who took Erika away?”


    He sniffled and his lower lip trembled. “Prince Marco’s mother and his grandmother. They came to the


    room and caught Aunt Erika. They said she was guilty.”


    1.


    My eyes widened in shock and my heart began to race. Anger swelled within


    Margaret and Adalyn.


    They’de after Erika, and they’d conveniently done it when I was away at work. Their cowardice


    knew no bounds.


    Though I was enraged, I managed to present a calm front to Finnick. I carefully sat him down on the


    ground and continued to soothe him until he stopped crying. Once he was more rxed, I turned to


    Lancel.


    “Could you look after Finnick?” I asked, and much to my surprise, he didn’t object. He nodded his head


    and then nced at the door. Though he didn’t say a word, I knew what he was trying to say, and I was


    grateful that he cared.


    Becky ran over to us and gently touched my arm.


    “Go, Ca ssandra,” she urged me. “We’ll handle everything here. Don’t worry about us. I’ll help look after


    Finnick.”


    “Thank you,” I said, and then I looked down at my son. “Finnick, stay here, okay? I’ll be back as soon


    as I can.”


    Finnick nodded and wiped his eyes. “Okay, Mommy.”


    I kissed the top of his head and then turned and rushed out of theboratory,


    and toward my chamber. As I thought of Margaret and her wickedness, my anger returned to me. She


    wouldn’t get away with this.


    For the first time in a long time, I said a small prayer under my breath to the


    Moon Goddess.


    “Please let Erika be alright.”