Chapter 229
229 The Needle in the Gem
Third Person POV
71
+8 Pearls
“Alpha Henry, you’re here.” Shamin greeted with a pleasant smile the moment she saw him. Yet Aubrey caught it at once—this time, Shamin’s warmth toward him had cooled.
Henry, remembering her forwardness at the last banquet, gave only a curt nod.
Shamin didn’t seem to mind. Carrying her jeweled clutch, she stepped closer, her voice light and graceful.
“I heard you’re supporting my sister to inherit the alpha position? You really are so kind to her.”
She blinked playfully, slipping herself between Henry and Aubrey.
“Shall we go to the banquet hall together?” Her smile was dazzling, but a flicker of something sharp flashed in her eyes as she reached out, aiming to hook Henry’s arm. The clutch dangled conveniently, about to brush against the back of his hand.
At the last instant, Aubrey’s fingers clamped onto the strap, jerking the bag up. Her eyes gleamed as she inspected it, her voice soft but cutting.
“Miss Shamin, would you care to explain why your purse is studded with such sharp little points?”
To the untrained eye, the glitter of the pearls and gems looked harmless. But Aubrey’s gaze was too precise–she had spotted the fine needles hidden among the decorative stones. A single scrape against Henry’s hand would draw blood. And to anyone else, it would look like nothing more than a flawed edge, an unfortunate accident. But in truth, it was a perfect way to collect a blood sample.
15:28 Mon, Sep 8 B…
229 The Needle in the Gem
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71
+8 Pearls
Shamin’s heart lurched. For one terrifying moment, she thought her task was exposed.
Just yesterday, her grandfather had summoned her, warning that Henry might be infected with the virus from Sineville.
She had panicked, begged him to drive Henry away at once. But Loch had waved it off—perhaps it was rumor, perhaps not. Proof was needed. A blood test would decide. Thus, he had sent Shamin with this trick.
She hadn’t expected Aubrey’s sharp hand to ruin her plan, snatching the strap away at the critical moment. She had been so close.
Under Aubrey’s cold stare, Shamin forced a brittle laugh. “You mean the pearls and jewels? They’re not sharp at all. I don’t know why you’d say that.”
She tugged for her bag, smiling stiffly, but even with both hands she couldn’t match Aubrey’s single grip.
By now Henry’s expression had turned storm–dark. His gaze met Aubrey’s for a moment, silent understanding passing between them, before he turned his glare onto Shamin. In the depths of his violet eyes, fury boiled.
“What are you trying to do? Take my blood? For what?”
“No!” The word burst from Shamin, her face draining pale. She shook her head frantically. “You’re mistaken! You’re both completely mistaken!”
She kept trying to wrench the bag free, still resisting.
But Aubrey didn’t waste another word. She swung her hand sharply, striking Shamin unconscious. The young woman crumpled soundlessly to the floor.
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15:28 Mon, Sep 8 G…
229 The Needle in the Gem
71
+8 Pearls
Aubrey lifted the clutch again, examining it with care. The design was clever—those tiny needles, less than half a centimeter long, masked perfectly by the brilliance of the stones. Almost no one would ever notice.
But she had.
And now, she was sure of it: Loch already suspected Henry’s infection. He wasn’t ready to confront them openly, not yet. Instead, he had schemed to take Henry’s blood in secret, to test it.
“We need to leave. Immediately.” Aubrey’s voice was firm as she rose.
“Yes.” Henry nodded, his violet eyes gleaming with the promise of bloodshed.
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