Page 97 of The Study of Poisons
“There’s an antidote? Why didn’t you tell us?” He jumped to his feet.
“There’s no antidote to My Love. Or I would have followed you right away.”
“Oh.” Ari’s anger deflated. He gazed at Yelena. “Will she…is she…”
“…straw…fire…feathers…,” Yelena muttered.
“She’ll live,” Valek said, moving closer. He smoothed her hair, pulling a few sweaty strands away from her face. “It’ll take her a couple of days to recover from the poison. In fact, it’s a good sign that she’s delirious.”
“What can we do for her?” Ari asked.
“Stay with her. I need to be with the Commander. You can wipe the sweat from her forehead, so it doesn’t sting her eyes, and apply a cool damp cloth. You’ll need a bucket because she’ll empty her stomach, and clean sheets in case you’re not fast enough.”
“I’ll send Janco for supplies. What about when she wakes?”
“Let me know right away. She’ll be thirsty. Have some water nearby.”
“Yes, sir.”
“Somersault, somersault, cartwheel…and…fly… Fly! Fly away!”
“I’ll ask the medic to come check on her just in case. She can help Yelena change into her night clothes, they’ll be more comfortable.”
Her eyes flew open. “Valek! My love! My love!”
Taking her hand in his, he rubbed his thumb over her knuckles. “Shhh. It’s okay. You were perfect. You saved us.”
Lost in another delusion, she yanked her hand away. “Fire…fly…crash…sneeze…”
“Let me know if her symptoms get worse,” Valek said to Ari.
“Yes, sir.”
Janco remained standing by the couch. “Did you arrest the southerners?”
“No.” He grabbed the cognac bottles and headed out.
“But, they—”
Valek didn’t have time to explain it to him. Obviously Janco hadn’t connected the incident to Star, even though he’d been at the brainstorming session. Was it an inherent dislike for the Sitians, or were Janco’s thoughts just that scattered? Valek slowed as another notion struck him. One of the other southerners could have added the poison while they were traveling. Perhaps not all the Sitians were happy about the possibility of a trade treaty. Which meant, Star could still be a threat. Janco might be on to something. Who knew?
CHAPTER19
After checking that the Commander was well protected and confirming the schedule for tomorrow, Valek returned to his office. He set the bottles on the sideboard next to his desk. Resigned to the fact he wouldn’t get much sleep over the next few days, he sat down and considered the attack.
Just because they ruined one plot to upset the conference, didn’t mean there weren’t others in place. If Star had poisoned the cognac, then her plan hadn’t worked, and she might try again.
A knock interrupted his thoughts. “Come in.”
Kenda escorted a disheveled man into his office. The man wore pajama pants, socks, and a stained shirt. He smelled like sour beer. His wide face was creased in a belligerent expression. Interesting.
Kenda pointed to the chair in front of the desk. “Sit.”
The man glared at her but did as ordered.
“This here is Emmet,” she said. “According to his colleagues, he’s come into some money recently.”
“So? I got lucky playing cards,” Emmet said.
