The Princess Slave
Chapter 25

Violette POV

“Dear Goddess, Violette! You’re burning up!” Sylvia’s voice was shaky and loud.

“Already? She wasn’t running a fever just a few minutes ago. Alright, Violette. Take this, it’s stronger than the other mixture I gave you.” Ms. Beatrice said. She handed me a cup of hot liquid. I swear to the Moon Goddess the smell of it singed my nose hairs.

I quickly chugged the contents. It burned my throat with a force and made me choke out. Lillian placed her hand on my stomach to console me, but I writhed in pain at her touch. My stomach is on fire.

“What’s wrong?” Ms. Beatrice asked. She lifted up my dress and gasped loudly. Lillian looked and then her face turned white from whatever she was seeing.

“Goddess.. why is she so bruised?” Sylvia asked.

“Bruised? What do you mean?” I asked as I tried to move to see. I fell backward in pain. What is wrong with me?

“Give me a moment.. I think.. I think I might know exactly what this is. I’ve only seen it one other time.” Ms. Beatrice quickly walked out of the room, then returned a few moments later with a book in her hand.

She opened it and flipped through the pages until she came to a stop.

“I know exactly what it is. How did I miss this?” Ms. Beatrice said.

“What?” Lillian asked.

“Her mate is being unfaithful.” Ms. Beatrice’s tone was sad, it made my heart stop beating for a second. W-what? How can this be? I haven’t found my mate. How I could I feel pains of cheating if I’ve never even found my mate?

“Her mate? She hasn’t found her mate..” Sylvia shook her head.

“She has. She’s been in heat several times already. I don’t know how I didn’t put it together.” Beatrice said.

Tears fell down the sides of my face and I quickly wiped them away. I looked up at the ceiling, the light from the window casting faint shadows across it.

“But..” Sylvia began but Ms. Beatrice shook her head.

“I’m sure of it.” She said.

Sylvia looked at me confused.. but I only looked away.

“I don’t know who it is..” I cried.

“That doesn’t make any sense, Princess. You would know if you’d found your mate.. we talked about it every day. We’ve seen other wolves replace their mates and how they would jump into each other’s arms the very instant they saw each other.. there’s no way. No, you have it wrong Ms. Beatrice..” Sylvia said.

“You’re right.. it doesn’t make sense. But it’s the only explanation.” I said sadly. She grabbed my hand and sobbed.

“If she’s bruising like this.. can this kill her? I’ve bathed her for weeks.. this is the first I’m seeing this. Will she die?” Lillian asked the question I’m sure we’ve all been thinking. Loren stood quietly by the doorway, but I could tell he was feeling upset about something. He fiddled with his fingers as he looked at me, his eyes not leaving my stomach for even a second.

“Yes. It can, and eventually will kill her. The more her mate is unfaithful.. the more pain she will feel.” Ms. Beatrice said. I could see tears form in her eyes but they never fell.

“There’s nothing we can do?” Lillian asked. Ms. Beatrice only shook her head.

“Unless her mate stops being physical with other women.. and accepts, mates, and marks her.. there’s nothing. A rejection may work.. but she’d have to know who her mate is to do that.” She said. I put my hands over my face and silently cried. This can’t be real. This can’t be happening.

“How much longer does she have before..” Sylvia asked.

“I can’t say for certain.. but the last female wolf I treated for this.. she only lived for a about 6 months after it started. Her mate refused to mark her and the more he was unfaithful the less time she had. She begged him to reject her but he said no. She tried rejecting him.. but he got angry and wouldn’t accept it.” Ms. Beatrice said.

“But.. that gives her what? 2 months? 3 if we’re lucky?” Lillian asked.

“Yes. If her mate continues at this pace.” Was all Beatrice said. Maybe it won’t be so bad.. maybe, this is how it’s supposed to be. If I die, I’ll be free of my prison. I’ll be with my mother and the moon goddess. Finally at peace.

“I have to bring the news to the king,” Loren said.

“No! Please..” I g*****d out. I tried to push myself up, but my head and collar suddenly felt like cement. Lillian and Sylvia helped me sit up.. the world began to spin around me.

“He needs to know.” Loren rubbed his hands down his face and sighed.

“Please.. he’ll kill me. He already thinks I lied to him.. if he replaces out I’m dying..” tears ran down my face but I wiped them as soon as they came.

“I’m sorry.. I have to.” He said. I growled and jumped off the bed. The little bit of wolfsbane was no match for my angry wolf right now.

He jumped back with wide eyes.

“How is her wolf out? I thought we were giving her wolfsbane.” He looked at Beatrice as if she’d been betraying them.

“I-I have.. been.” She stammered, just as confused as Loren.

“You really believe The Princess of the wolves would be weakened by a little bit of wolfsbane?” I growled in my wolf voice. He looked at me with a shocked expression on his face.

“The King will not appreciate your lies.” He said.

“I haven’t lied. You all just assumed. There wasn’t a single discussion with me about wolfsbane.” I snapped. It was true and they all knew it. They’ve been giving me a low dose. An amount i was taking when I was just 10 years old.

“You are a slave, watch how you speak.” He growled. I could tell I was angering him to the point to where he was close to shifting.

“I am a Princess,” I growled. I pushed out my canines and snapped my teeth in his direction.

“You know what.. because I like you and feel for you.. I’ll give you a week to tell him yourself. Until then, Beatrice will increase your wolfsbane dosage.” He said. I cocked an eyebrow at him.

“A week?” I asked. A week isn’t long enough.. I need time to think. Time to prepare. Would he kill me the second he replaces out?

“Yes. If you don’t tell him by this day next week, I will.” He said. I could tell he was trying to calm us both down.. I knew he felt bad for having to tell the King this news.

“Fine,” I said. I walked back over to the bed but before I could climb on, my vision went fuzzy and I fell to the ground.

Goddess, I’m losing consciousness.