Mated To My Mate's Worst Enemy (ARIA) novel Chapter 186

Chapter 186

ARIA

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Finished

She wopped mid mydlory, her eyes focusing on his face. He said something else, but I couldn’t hear in over the ringing in my own car Couldn’t process what he was saying because I was too focused on the familiarity between them. The easy way he touched her. The concern in his voice. The intimacy of the gesture that spoke to year of connection

“You’re yelling Kael said, loud enough that we could all hear now. “Everything you’re saying is at volume ten. Can you hear me?

Ivory’s expression shifted to confusion, then understanding then mortification. Her hand came up to her car, touching it as if checking something

Oh,” she said, will too loud. “Oh no. The compound. The side effects. I tested it on myself first-I always test on myself first-and I must have… oh not

Aryada stepped forward then, moving past me and into the laboratory with purpose. She approached Ivory with the same gentle authority I’d observed when they’d first arrived.

“May I Aryada asked, reaching for Ivory’s hands.

Ivory nodded mutely, allowing the elder to take her hands in a gentle grip. Aryada closed her eyes, and I watched as a faint glow began emanating from where their skin touched Soft golden light that spread from Aryada’s hands up Ivory’s arms, concentrating around her ears.

“You are deaf, Aryada said, not as a question but as a statement of fact. “Temporarily, but completely. The compound you tested has affected your auditory processing”

Everyone froze. Even Kael looked shocked, taking a step back from Ivory as if the news required physical distance to process.

Deaf? Mooris repeated. “She’s been conducting experiments while unable to hear? That’s extraordinarily dangerous.

“Temporarily deaf, Ivory clarified, though her voice was still too loud because she couldn’t hear herself. “The side effects were noted. I documented everything. The deafness should resolve within six to eight hours as the compound metabolizes. It’s inconvenient but not permanent.”

“Six to eight hours, you’ve been working in a state of sensory deprivation,” Bridget said, her tone somewhere between impressed and horrified. “Creating compounds, handling aggressive plants, managing an entire medical system-all while unable to hear warnings or calls for help.

The glow from Aryada’s hands intensified, becoming brighter, more concentrated. Ivory gasped slightly, her expression shifting as something changed. The elder continued to channel that golden light for another few seconds before gradually releasing Ivory’s hands and stepping back.

“Try now, Aryada said quietly.

Ivory blinked, her hand coming up to her ear again. She tapped it gently, turned her head as if testing

10:19 Mon, Jan 5

Chapter 186

directional hearing. Then her eyes widened.

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Finished

“I can hear,” she said, and her voice was normal now-controlled, measured, the high-pitched yelling replaced with her usual composed tone. “You healed me. Completely. The deafness is just… gone.”

“Temporarily accelerating the metabolization of whatever compound caused the effect,” Aryada explained. “Your body would have healed itself eventually. I simply expedited the process.”

Ivory immediately bowed again, this time with her full awareness and control. “Thank you, Elder Aryada. I’m deeply grateful for your intervention. And again, I apologize for the state of my workspace and the dramatic scene you witnessed. This is not how I would have chosen to demonstrate my research methods.”

“On the contrary,” Kalicus said, moving further into the laboratory to examine the contained plant. “This was highly informative. We’ve now seen your work environment, your response to unexpected complications, your willingness to test experimental compounds on yourself before administering them to others, and your ability to handle dangerous situations with composure despite sensory impairment.”

He studied the pot containing the aggressive plant. “What is this specimen? What were you attempting to achieve?”

Ivory’s embarrassment began shifting to professional interest—her natural state when discussing her work. “I’m exploring defensive applications of accelerated growth. The theory is that certain plant species, when enhanced with the right compounds, could provide natural security measures. Rapid-growth barriers. Deterrent systems that don’t require guards or weapons. This particular species-Tentacula Defensiva in my notes-shows promise but clearly requires more refinement in terms of controlling its aggressive response.”

“It nearly strangled you,” Mooris observed bluntly.

“It defended itself when it sensed what it interpreted as threat,” Ivory corrected. “Which means the defensive response works as intended. I just need to develop better control mechanisms so it can distinguish between actual threats and people like myself who are meant to interact with it safely.”

Bridget was examining the laboratory more carefully now, taking in the organized chaos of Ivory’s workspace. Compounds in various stages of development. Plants growing under specialized lights. Documentation covering every surface with meticulous notes and observations.

“This is where you develop all your innovations?” Bridget asked. “These healing compounds. The accelerants. The agricultural breakthroughs. All here, in this one laboratory?”

“Primary development happens here, yes,” Ivory confirmed. “Though I have secondary workspaces for different applications. The agricultural research happens mostly in the gardens. The medical compounds are often refined in the main clinical laboratory where I have access to better monitoring equipment. But initial experimentation, theoretical work, and projects like Tentacula Defensiva-those happen here where I can contain potential complications without endangering others.”

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