Chapter 288
Chapter 288
Avery’s POV
I woke to the sound of voices outside my tent.
My eyes snapped open. The sun was barely up, casting a pale glow through the canvas. I sat up slowly, pulling the furs around my shoulders just as the tent flap opened.
Asher walked in first, followed by the old doctor with her bones and beads. My stomach dropped.
“Good morning, poppet,” Asher said. He smiled, but there was something even colder and nastier about it than normal. “The doctor is here to perform a routine checkup on you and the baby p>
“A checkup? Why p>
“Just to make sure everything is progressing as it should.” The doctor shuffled forward. “Lay back down, girl p>
I obeyed, lowering myself onto the mattress. My heart pounded as the doctor pulled the furs away and lifted my shirt, exposing my stomach. She pressed her hands against my abdomen, prodding and poking in various spots.
Asher stood at the foot of my bed, watching. His arms were crossed, and his expression was unreadable.
They knew. Or at least, they thought they knew.
So Lindsey had told him what I’d said after all. She’d gone straight to Asher and reported my lie about not being pregnant, probably in exchange for another one of those candies. My theory was correct.
The doctor pulled out her pouch of herbs again and waved it under my nose. The smell hit me immediately, and I gagged, turning my head away.
“Please,” I gasped, covering my mouth, “that’s awful p>
“Hm.” The doctor pulled the pouch away and turned to Asher. “She’s still pregnant. No doubt about it p>
Asher’s brow furrowed. “You’re certain p>
“Positive.” The doctor tucked the pouch back into her robes. “The nausea response is still strong. If she weren’t pregnant, she wouldn’t react like that p>
Chapter 288
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Asher stared at me for a long moment. I stared back, keeping my expression neutral. Finally, he nodded. “Very well. Thank you, doctor p>
The old woman left without another word. Asher lingered for a moment longer, studying me like he could see right through my skin and into the meat and bone beneath. Then, he turned and walked out.
I waited until I heard his footsteps fade before letting out a breath. My hands were shaking.
I went back to the garden later that morning Lindsey was already there, as usual. Asher must have assigned her to work in the garden, just to ensure she could spy on me. Well, nothing I planned on telling her would be true from here on out. Anything that came out of my mouth would be purely designed to confuse them both.
“Good morning,” she said. “I got the seeds you wanted p>
“Thank you.” I moved to grab the watering can. I stepped forward, pretending not to see her, and bumped into her shoulder.
Lindsey yelped and toppled sideways, her chains making it impossible to catch herself properly. Something tumbled out of her pocket, landing in the dirt with a soft plop.
Two candies. Wrapped in shiny foil.
I stared at them. Lindsey scrambled to her feet and snatched them up, shoving them back into her pocket. Her face had gone red.
“Sorry,” I said. “I didn’t see you there p>
“It’s fine.” She dusted herself off and wouldn’t meet my eyes.
I turned back to the garden, but inside, my blood was boiling. Two candies. That meant she’d been rewarded twice. Once for telling Asher I wasn’t pregnant, and once for something else. I wasn’t sure what, but I knew one thing for certain now,
Asher was bribing the slaves by giving them incentives to spy on me and report everything I said and did. I couldn’t trust Lindsey, I couldn’t trust anyone,
That afternoon, I asked my guard to take me to Asher’s tent. He grunted in response and led the way. When I arrived, Asher was sitting at his table, poring over a map.
“Avery.” He looked up and smiled. “What can I do for you p>
I wrung my hands and stepped forward. “I was wondering if I could ask you for something p>
العالم ا ر ا و
2/3
Chapter 268
“Of course. What is it p>
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