CHAPTER 166: GETTING THE REAL ANTIDOTE

Lumina, Ero, and Ashen stayed close inside the chamber while they watched Lord Drex check on the unconscious Stella.

Lumina had already tried everything she could to keep Stella stable, but nothing worked.

The sight of the girl she had grown up with lying pale and weak tore her apart. Her hands shook, her tears fell freely, and she could barely breathe from the frustration of not being able to help.

Ero had quickly sent word for Ashen to return to the chamber, telling him that Lumina was too vulnerable to face this alone.

Ashen did not hesitate before coming no matter how angry he still was at his wife, he rushed back, because in that moment her pain mattered more than their quarrels.

An hour passed before Lord Drex straightened and turned to them. His voice was calm but held this dejection.

"The same person who poisoned you is the one poisoning her. Whoever it is, we must find the culprit quickly. The antidote is the only chance she has."

Lumina’s lips trembled, Ashen noticing it pulled her away from the room, "Who?" he asked when they were both standing in a private place.

"It’s Adam... when I went to him... he gave me an antidote, only after she used it did we realize that it was no antidote. It was another poison. That is why she is like this now."

Ashen’s jaw tightened. His eyes darkened as he asked, "Are you telling me Adam is behind this again?"

Lumina nodded. Ashen immediately turned, ready to storm out, but Lumina grabbed his hand. "Please... don’t. I don’t want you punished again."

He stopped, his chest rising and falling with anger. "Then what do you expect me to do? Do you want to lose her? You said yourself Adam holds the antidote. We must take it from him."

"I know," Lumina whispered, her grip on his hand desperate. "But he cannot know I told you already. He must think I am still playing his game. If you go to him now, everything will be ruined. He will never give us the real antidote again."

Ashen turned back to her, eyes sharp. "Then what is your plan, Lumina? Do you even have one? Or are you still trying to protect him in some way?"

She shook her head quickly. "No. I will get the antidote from him. He promised me that if I take the ledger to him. He shouldn’t have fooled me."

She looked at Ero, then back at Ashen. "Let Ero come with me," she suggested.

Ashen’s voice was cold. "No...You will not go to him alone. Especially not with a man who has poisoned you twice. I will not allow it."

She gave him the softest look she could, her eyes pleading. "Please... just this once. I know how to handle him."

Ashen’s expression did not change. "I am sorry, Lumina. The only thing I can do for you is promise not to let him see me. But I will not let you walk into that place without me near."

She exhaled slowly, then nodded. "Fine. But you must promise not to interfere or show yourself. Just allow me to handle it."

Ashen paused, clearly torn, but finally said, "I promise."

Together, the three of them left for Adam’s chambers. Ero carefully guided Lumina by the arm until they reached the entrance. As luck had it, Adam was just stepping out when he saw her.

Adam stepped out of his chamber just as Lumina and Ero reached the entrance. His usual smug smile curved on his lips.

"You again?" he said, tilting his head. "What is it this time? Did you bring me something to trade..."

"You lied to me about the antidote." but Lumina cut him off.

"Lie..."

Before his sentence could finish, Lumina reached up and tugged the blindfold from her eyes.

The effect was immediate. Adam’s expression faltered. His body stiffened as though a cold hand had wrapped around his spine.

He quickly turned his head, trying to escape her gaze, but it was too late. The silver glow in her eyes locked onto him, and his limbs refused to obey him.

"You..." Adam growled, straining, but his voice broke as the wooden doors behind them slammed shut with a loud crack.

The iron bolts locked into place on their own. The sound echoed like thunder in the chamber’s corridor.

Ero took a small step back, not interfering, his hand hovering near Lumina in case she lost control.

Ashen clenched his fists but held to his promise not to step forward.

"Give me the antidote," Lumina ordered.

Adam gasped, his knees buckling slightly. "Stop... using your powers. The poison in your body... it will fight back against you..." His words broke as he choked against the invisible grip tightening around him.

Lumina advanced one step at a time, her bare feet brushing the marble floor. Her eyes glowed brighter, pinning him like prey.

"You poisoned me once. You poisoned Stella. You think I will let you mock me with another false cure? Give me the antidote, Adam, or I swear I will make Cyres pay the price for your sins."

Adam’s face twisted at hearing his aide’s name. "Don’t you dare threaten him!" he barked, struggling. His hand rose as if to summon power, but his wrist bent back sharply, forcing him to cry out. Lumina’s force held him down, dragging him to his knees.

"I warned you," Lumina whispered. She raised her hand slowly, and Adam’s body lifted off the ground as though pulled up by invisible strings. His boots scraped against the floor before dangling uselessly in the air. His throat constricted, every breath a battle.

"Lumina... stop... " he rasped. His eyes darted wildly, panic breaking through the arrogance that usually clung to him. "Put me down!"

"Not until you obey me," she hissed. Her voice vibrated with restrained fury, her whole frame trembling from both anger and the strain of her own poisoned blood fighting back at her power. Still, she forced herself to hold on.

Adam’s face flushed, veins standing out on his neck. His boots kicked the air. "Fine!" he finally shouted, coughing. "Fine! I will give it to you!"

Lumina lowered her hand, and he dropped heavily to the floor, coughing and clutching his throat. With shaking fingers, he fumbled at his coat pocket and pulled out two small glass bottles, their liquid glinting faintly under the dim light.

"This one is yours," he wheezed, holding up a bottle. "The other is for your girl."

Lumina did not move immediately. She stood over him, breathing heavily, her eyes cold. "If you deceive me again, Adam... I won’t stop at lifting you into the air. Next time, I will break you."

Adam swallowed hard, his smirk gone, his eyes darting away from hers.

Only then did she extend her hand and take the bottles. Without looking back at him again, she turned to Ero. "Let’s go."

The doors swung open at her command, and the two of them walked out, leaving Adam slumped against the wall, drenched in sweat and trembling from the force he had just endured.