us more. This is extremely important.”
“My dear, none of this Mrs. Yahgar . You are my son’s mate, the mother of my future grandchildren and--”
“Aayi, don’t say it,” Karel said with a stern but playful look.
“I was only going to say she was the woman who made you happy.“ She winked at Liv before beginning again. “Anyway, what I was saying before my son so rudely interrupted is that you should call me Aayi also. It means mom or mother, and I would love if you do me that honor.
“As to Tiana, I will answer your questions, but then you must answer mine. Bella had a couple of the workers from the castle bring me the books and each time they came, they also brought a treat. Tiana came a couple of times, but not every time.”
Liv chewed her bottom lip, pondering. “How soon after these visits began did you start getting sick?” Karel looked at Liv in shock. It made sense to ask, but it had never crossed his mind.
“A day or two after. Why is that important? Oh, never mind. You will answer my questions in your own good time.” She sighed and rolled her eyes at Karel and Liv.
Liv continued. “Tiana told me that she volunteered to help you with your day to day life. This sounds more like she came to be your nurse, though. Did you know her before she started bringing you the books and treats?” Liv smiled and leaned closer to Karel. His heart swelled with tenderness for her. She may not admit it to herself, but her mind and body knew. She was his.
“No, I didn’t, and yes, she came to be my nurse until I recovered. That’s it. I have had enough. Tell me what is going on?”
Karel sighed and nodded his head in agreement. It was time. “Aayi, Liv caught Tiana putting a poison from earth called arsenic in your tea. That is why a few hours later you continue to be sick each night.”
“I don’t understand. Why? I didn’t know her; why would she want to kill me?” Karel’s heart hurt to hear the pain and confusion in his mother’s voice. She had never cause anyone harm who didn’t deserve it. She was a protector and nurturer.
“We don’t know, but we intend to find out,” Karel growled. Liv’s hand wrapped around his fist, instantly calming him and his jaguar.
“The good news is you won’t be getting any more of it. You’ll start to recover, and with what Karel says about shifters, it won’t be long at all. Your biggest obstacle will be a lack of strength from not eating much. In a week, I predict you’ll be back to full speed and raring for her blood.” Liv winked and turned to Karel with a smile.
“I don’t know what to say. I am kind of in shock. She seemed so wonderful and such a sweet person. Are you sure about all this?”
Liv pulled the bottle out of her pocket and showed it to Keliana. “I saw her put it in your tea a few times. It wasn’t until tonight when Karel startled her and she dropped it, that I discovered what it really is. Karel had already taken her home; she doesn’t know I found it. When she comes back to check on you after the storm lets up, we can get answers.”
“I think I need to rest and regroup after everything you have told me. It’s not every day you are told someone is trying to kill you. Not to mention I now know I will indeed be here to see my baby have babies, after all. This has been a rather exciting evening, hasn’t it.”
Liv stood and kissed her cheek before moving to leave the room. Karel watched and then stood to do the same. His Aayi was right. Everything had happened so quickly, it was hard to process it all. The only thing he knew for sure was his mother was going to live, and he owed it all to his beautiful mate.
TWENTY-FOUR
“Damn it, she’s gone,” Karel growled as he stormed into the kitchen where Liv was making breakfast. “I went over even though I promised to wait until the storm had cleared, and she is
“My dear, none of this Mrs. Yahgar . You are my son’s mate, the mother of my future grandchildren and--”
“Aayi, don’t say it,” Karel said with a stern but playful look.
“I was only going to say she was the woman who made you happy.“ She winked at Liv before beginning again. “Anyway, what I was saying before my son so rudely interrupted is that you should call me Aayi also. It means mom or mother, and I would love if you do me that honor.
“As to Tiana, I will answer your questions, but then you must answer mine. Bella had a couple of the workers from the castle bring me the books and each time they came, they also brought a treat. Tiana came a couple of times, but not every time.”
Liv chewed her bottom lip, pondering. “How soon after these visits began did you start getting sick?” Karel looked at Liv in shock. It made sense to ask, but it had never crossed his mind.
“A day or two after. Why is that important? Oh, never mind. You will answer my questions in your own good time.” She sighed and rolled her eyes at Karel and Liv.
Liv continued. “Tiana told me that she volunteered to help you with your day to day life. This sounds more like she came to be your nurse, though. Did you know her before she started bringing you the books and treats?” Liv smiled and leaned closer to Karel. His heart swelled with tenderness for her. She may not admit it to herself, but her mind and body knew. She was his.
“No, I didn’t, and yes, she came to be my nurse until I recovered. That’s it. I have had enough. Tell me what is going on?”
Karel sighed and nodded his head in agreement. It was time. “Aayi, Liv caught Tiana putting a poison from earth called arsenic in your tea. That is why a few hours later you continue to be sick each night.”
“I don’t understand. Why? I didn’t know her; why would she want to kill me?” Karel’s heart hurt to hear the pain and confusion in his mother’s voice. She had never cause anyone harm who didn’t deserve it. She was a protector and nurturer.
“We don’t know, but we intend to find out,” Karel growled. Liv’s hand wrapped around his fist, instantly calming him and his jaguar.
“The good news is you won’t be getting any more of it. You’ll start to recover, and with what Karel says about shifters, it won’t be long at all. Your biggest obstacle will be a lack of strength from not eating much. In a week, I predict you’ll be back to full speed and raring for her blood.” Liv winked and turned to Karel with a smile.
“I don’t know what to say. I am kind of in shock. She seemed so wonderful and such a sweet person. Are you sure about all this?”
Liv pulled the bottle out of her pocket and showed it to Keliana. “I saw her put it in your tea a few times. It wasn’t until tonight when Karel startled her and she dropped it, that I discovered what it really is. Karel had already taken her home; she doesn’t know I found it. When she comes back to check on you after the storm lets up, we can get answers.”
“I think I need to rest and regroup after everything you have told me. It’s not every day you are told someone is trying to kill you. Not to mention I now know I will indeed be here to see my baby have babies, after all. This has been a rather exciting evening, hasn’t it.”
Liv stood and kissed her cheek before moving to leave the room. Karel watched and then stood to do the same. His Aayi was right. Everything had happened so quickly, it was hard to process it all. The only thing he knew for sure was his mother was going to live, and he owed it all to his beautiful mate.
TWENTY-FOUR
“Damn it, she’s gone,” Karel growled as he stormed into the kitchen where Liv was making breakfast. “I went over even though I promised to wait until the storm had cleared, and she is
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