Someone wanted me dead ? I didn't drink it . 55 vouchers Instead , I stared at the swirling surface of the tea , heart hammering , and suddenly , everything around me felt too still . Too quiet . I set the cup down slowly , carefully , as if it might explode . Then I turned toward the door , mind racing . Who was that girl ? Where was the regular maid who had helped me before ? And why was she wearing Cassian's crest ? Did he want me dead after all ? No , that can't be . That's impossible . He had seen my ability . Does he find it useless after all ? However , before I could process everything , the door opened again , and the girl walked in . " My Lady ... I apologize, " She gave me a shallow bow . " I forgot ... but the young lord also wanted me to give you something , " she said with an innocent smile as she locked the door behind her . " The Lord wanted you to have this too ," she said , voice as sweet as honey . Her fingers slipped into the pocket of her apron . And I didn't see the blade until it gleamed . Something primal kicked in . I stumbled back just as steel arced through the air where my throat had been . The slash missed by inches , but not by accident . She wasn't rushing . She was playing . I crashed against the couch , breath slamming out of me . " What are you doing ?! " I gasped . Her smile twisted . " Finishing what should've been done before you signed ." Then she lunged , The knife came at me again , this time aimed low . She was aiming for my gut. I pivoted just enough to feel the fabric of my tunic tear , a hot sting flashing across my side , I cried out , grabbed the nearest thing , a small stool , and flung it at her . It hit her shoulder , enough to stagger her but not stop her . She hissed , more beast than girl , and came again . Faster . Like a wolf without a scent to track , just a single command : kill . I dove toward the edge of the table . My hand closed around the silver tray she brought in , and I swung it with all the force I could muster . It smacked her temple with a metallic crack . She 11:03 Wed , Sep 10 Chapter 9 stumbled sideways , but only for a heartbeat . : Where are the guards ? I wonder . What about the servants ? Then she roared . 81 55 vouchers The sound made my skin crawl . This was not the sound of a servant omega ! This was not the sound a girl could make ! She wasn't normal . " Help ! " I tried to scream as I ducked another blow and rolled toward the far wall , breathing hard . Pain pulsed from my side , wet warmth soaking through the fabric . She had cut me deep . But I'd trained for this . I didn't have a wolf , but I had spent years in the pack's shadow rings , forced to keep up with my peers . Learning to fight wasn't optional when you were surrounded by predators . She slashed again , this time down my forearm . I blocked with my elbow , but the knife still grazed me . Another burn . Another wound . I kicked her square in the stomach , and she reeled back but not far . I tried to run . She grabbed a fistful of my hair and yanked me back , forcing me to the ground . I twisted and drove my elbow into her ribs . She snarled , then raked the blade across my shoulder . Blood splattered the floor . She paused , panting , waiting for me to crumple . But I didn't . Because the gash , like the others , was already sealing . Her eyes widened , just for a second . " You ... " My healing . She hadn't expected that . She came at me harder , more desperate , the knife flashing again and again . My arms , my thighs , my stomach , cut after cut bloomed red . But each time , the wounds began to knit together . Slower than usual , but still enough to keep me alive . " Why won't you die ? " she shrieked , her face twisted with fury , eyes wide with something beyond hatred , fear . She wasn't just trying to kill me anymore . She needed to . Because she'd seen it . The wounds and the blood and the impossible way they closed . She had seen my secret . 11:03 Wed , Sep 10 Chapter 9 81 E55 vouchers " You're a witch , " she spat , voice trembling now . " An abomination . That's what you are ." She raised the blade again with a scream and lunged . I threw myself sideways , but not fast enough , her knife plunged into my side and hit something vital . I felt the burn , the split of skin , the crack of something deep , but I didn't die . Not even close . I gasped , choked , and writhed , the agony blinding . But even as she yanked the knife out , already , I felt the slow pulse of my body pulling itself back together . The searing pain dulled to a throb , and blood that should've spilled endlessly began to clot . " No , " she whispered , stepping back like she'd just seen me rise from the grave . " No , no , no- this wasn't supposed to happen ! " She turned toward the door as if to flee . As if to tell someone . I couldn't let her . She knew my secret and I couldn't just let her leave ! I couldn't risk it . My limbs shook as I scrambled to my feet , vision swimming . My body was healing , but it still hurt . My muscles screamed with every breath . Still , I grabbed the fallen silver tray again and flung it at her back . It clanged against her shoulder . She staggered and whirled around , blade flashing , fury reignited . " I'll carve that magic out of you , " she hissed . " I'll gut you until you're too broken to heal . " She pounced again , slashing wildly . I ducked , blocked , twisted , anything to avoid the blade . I wasn't faster . I wasn't stronger . And I sure as hell didn't fight like a warrior . I fought like someone who didn't want to die . Blood sprayed my arms , my thighs , my stomach . My shoulder split open again . A gash opened over my collarbone . My vision darkened at the edges , but my body refused to fall . She screamed in frustration . " Why won't you just die already ?! " " Because I can't , " I spat , surging forward and tackled her . We hit the ground with a sickening thud . The knife clattered across the floor . I landed on top of her , both of us gasping , chests heaving as our limbs tangled in a desperate fight for dominance . Her hands clawed for my throat , fingers curling with viciousness . I 11:03 Wed , Sep 10 Chapter 9 81 E55 vouchers twisted away , reaching blindly for the blade she had dropped , but she wasn't done , she raked her fingers across my face , aiming for my eyes . I cried out and lashed back with my elbow , catching her square in the jaw . Pain shot up my arm , but I didn't stop . I grabbed the front of her apron , fingers twisting into the fabric , and slammed the back of her head against the floor . Once . Twice until I couldn't count anymore . It created a sickening sound . Bone against stone . For a moment , her grip faltered , hands falling to the side in a daze . I didn't wait . I scrambled away from her , slipping and skidding through the thick smear of blood coating the floor , some of it mine , some of it hers , I couldn't tell anymore . My hand finally found the knife . Still wet with blood . I turned . She was already moving again . Somehow , impossibly , she was back on her feet , eyes wide with fury , teeth bared like a feral animal . She lunged at me one final time , arms outstretched , shrieking . I didn't think . I just reacted . With a scream of my own , I thrust the knife upward , both hands gripping the hilt as I drove the blade into her chest . Her body collided with mine , the weight of her crashing into me with brutal force . Then- Her breath caught in her throat , a strange , broken sound that barely made it out . Then nothing . She collapsed on top of me , heavy and lifeless . Her face fell to the side , cheek pressed to my shoulder , blood soaking through both our clothes as silence reclaimed the room . And just like that ... it was over . I lay there , gasping beneath her , the knife still lodged between us , my arms trembling under her weight . My body screamed , raw and battered . But alive . Somewhere nearby , the tea cup still sat , untouched . The only thing more deadly than what had been inside it ... was me . 11:03 Wed , Sep 10 Chapter 9 : : And now , I had a body and blood on my hands . 81 55 vouchers As if summoned by the chaos , the window creaked open with a sudden gust of cold air . I flinched and spun around , heart still thundering , blood - slick hands clenched and ready to defend myself again . But it wasn't another attacker . It was Cassian . He stepped inside , and for one dizzying second , the sight of him , tall , steady , alive , made my knees nearly give out . Relief crashed into me like a wave , too fast , too hard , too much . My fingers loosened around the knife , and that's when I realized I was shaking . My whole body trembled , not from fear anymore , but from the aftershock of surviving something I shouldn't have . He took one look at me , at the blood coating my skin , at the broken body on the floor , at the knife still glinting faintly in my grip and froze . " My Lord ... " My voice cracked . " I ... I just killed someone . " For the first time in my life ... .. I just ended someone's life . Chapter 10 Chapter 10 Discover our latest featured short drama reel. Watch now and enjoy the story!