Kyren entered his tent again to check on Anna after Rafe left. To his surprise, she was sitting upright on the bed, staring vacantly. When she noticed him, her gaze slowly lifted to meet his.
She no longer looked weak or helpless. Instead, something about her felt off—unnaturally alert and lively.
A flirty smile curved her lips, her eyes fixed on him. Then she let out a soft, strange titter.
"You're handsome… Can I kiss you?"
His eyes widened immediately, and his lips locked.
'What is happening?'
Then Rafe's earlier warning surfaced, giving him the answer—The aphrodisiac.
"Oh, kiss me, please! I've never been kissed before! Kiss me!"
She suddenly rose and rushed toward him, but her small frame was no match for his strength. With one hand, the commander stopped her reckless advance.
"Don't you want a maiden? Am I not pretty?"
She giggled like someone unhinged, trying to cling to him. Kyren pushed her back, his brows knitting tightly.
"Lady, you're not acting like yourself," he said, voice stern.
Her behaviour unsettled him.
"You don't want me? Why not? We can have fun tonight!"
She lunged again, and he sidestepped swiftly, evading her in a blink. She nearly fell, but steadied herself, then turned to face him once more.
When force failed, Anna changed her approach.
Her eyes sparkled as she looked at him. She raised a finger and gently pressed it to her lips.
Before he could react, she slipped off the loose tunic draped over her and let it fall to the floor, revealing her torn garments beneath.
He froze upon seeing a sight so foreign to him.
Anna smiled at his stunned expression. She brushed her lips with her finger, then slipped it into her mouth, her tongue moving slowly as she withdrew it. Her other hand wandered, her movements deliberate and provocative.
Kyren felt his heartbeat thud violently in his chest. Heat rushed to his face as he averted his gaze.
"Ah… it feels strange… itchy…" she murmured, her breath uneven.
Her voice alone was enough to make his ears burn.
Receiving no response, Anna grew bolder.
"It's hot… I feel so hot!" she cried, fumbling with her clothes.
The tattered fabric slid down, leaving her fully exposed.
Kyren didn't need to look to know what was happening. Her sounds and movements were meant to lure him, as the aphrodisiac was supposed to work.
Heart pounding, he debated whether he should leave—but then—
"I want to go outside!" she exclaimed suddenly, rushing for the tent flap.
The commander's heart lurched. In an instant, he caught her and pulled her back. Letting her run out like that would have been disastrous.
He carried her to the bed, grabbed the blanket, and wrapped her tightly. She struggled, but he held her firmly in his arms, secure enough to restrain her, yet careful not to hurt her.
"Why won't you kiss me?" she murmured. "I've never seen a man as handsome as you…"
She continued whispering flirty words, but Kyren remained unmoved.
"Look at me… I like you so much."
Her eyes burned with unfocused desire, utterly intoxicated and stripped of restraint. Shame might have been an unfamiliar concept to her now.
"Lady, you're not in your right mind," Kyren said firmly.
His voice was steady and commanding, yet beneath it, he was struggling. This was not a task he was accustomed to—to hold an unfamiliar woman in his arms.
"Let's make love tonight."
Kyren shut his eyes and took a slow breath, forcing himself to remain calm. Deep within, he silently prayed.
'Come quick, Rafe!'
***
Half an hour later, Rafe entered the tent and halted mid-step, faced with an unexpected sight—his patient lay wrapped in the commander's arms on the bed.
"It's not what you think," Kyren said immediately, fearing that he would be misunderstood.
"I didn't say anything," the healer replied, raising both hands.
"She was trying to humiliate herself. I was stopping her," the commander added.
Rafe nodded, his expression solemn, indicating that something far more serious troubled him than their proximity.
"I understand," he said with a nod.
The situation was indeed awkward. Earlier, Kyren had considered restraining Anna—but the thought vanished the moment he took in her condition.
She was too thin, too injured, and too pitiful. As such, he held her carefully, just enough to keep her from moving.
"How is she behaving?" Rafe asked, assessing again as he noticed her intoxicated behaviour.
"You're beautiful…" Anna murmured dreamily, gazing only at Kyren, interrupting the conversation.
"She's been like this since you left," Kyren replied.
"What did she do?"
"She attempted to seduce me. She even—" He paused, his jaw tightening. It was better not to name what had transpired. Instead, he asked, "Where is the antidote?"
Rafe paused, his brooding gaze settling on the patient. The test results had already provided the answer, and the weight of that knowledge caused him to falter.
"It's… complicated," he said quietly as he laid out the main issue. "She was given Purple Krista."
Kyren frowned. "And?"
"There is no antidote for that type of potion."
The commander's eyes widened, worry creeping in. "Then what happens to her?"
"She'll worsen. Her heart will give out within two or three hours."
The healer's response was the worst he could have expected. Guilt overwhelmed him as he looked at Anna again—such a delicate life shouldn't have to suffer like this.
He sucked in a sharp breath and turned back, saying, "That's unacceptable."
"It's the nature of the potion," Rafe continued carefully. "Unless—"
"Unless what?" the commander snapped.
The healer swallowed hard as he relayed his findings.
"Potions from Purple Krista were created to induce carnal desire and were widely used in forced prostitution and s*xual abuse. It causes a woman to lose her grip on reality and significantly amplifies to dangerous extremes."
"Cut to the point, Rafe! What's your meaning?" The commander shouted; his patience was wearing thin.
"Her body will only stabilise once that desire is fulfilled. To put it plainly, she must sleep with a man," Rafe said grimly.