phin

and bitter herbs, clung to me like a shroud. I escaped the main house, pushi

owers, a testament to the Carlisle family's obscene wealth. I walked toward a bank of white camellias, their pristin

heels on the marble floor announ

ragged in. Or in your case, what

hockingly bright red dress, a slash of crimson against the lush green of the conservatory. She was idly tossing a

camellias, a deliberate act of blocking my

e cooed, the word d

ask of bored indifference. I stared at her, saying not

gue? Or is it just empty, like your womb?" she sneered. She h

eal of trouble to get this for you. It's from The Mystic at Sile

er, you might as well give him a reason to keep you around. This is your last hope, Seraph

ep, primal knowing in my bones, screamed at me. Belladonna. Nightshade. Mixed with something else, something to mask the immediate effec

h away. This wasn't just a petty rivalry. Thi

sabella's smug, pretty face and saw nothing bu

, don't look so glum," she said, her voice fu

ing to press the cold g

ct too

ed, pulling my hands back. It

forward momentum carried her past me. Her eyes widened in a comical 'oh'

for a moment, a perfect, gl

it the ma

as

ed across the pristine white tiles. A tiny wisp of white smoke rose from th

the hem of her expensive red dress. Where the liquid touched the fab

watched the chaos I had orchestrated with a single, sim

xpensive. I suppose you'll have to keep that miracle cure for yourself now. T

h rage. She pointed a trembling finger at me. "Yo

pressure I'd felt from Damien, the pure, predatory stillness

e actually stumbled back, a flic

rous purr. "If you ever, ever bring your cheap little poisons near me

telling Damien!" she blustered, falling back on her f

hat the Alpha's sister is trafficking in illegal, unregistered toxins from a questionable mon

ssession of such substances was a serious offense, one

ure hatred. "You'll pay

ess and a pile of illegal evidenc

d the singed hem of her dress and fled the c

ut a weary disgust. The entire Carl

en pocket in my coat, I pulled out a tiny, sterile sampling v

iscous purple liquid into the tube, then sealed it tightly. Evidence. Lever

ly away. Time to go. This plac

ed to

fr

ry, partially obscured by a giant fern, was Da

ad been standing there. I h