Free Web NovelChapter 114: Strange Blend Of Tea
Rather than a proper cabinet, it was a mere display table that had just one shallow drawer. I hadn’t even realized that it was functional due to how thin it was― I assumed it was just a side table meant to hold decorations like a vase or keys, with a decorative ’knob’ that was glued down for aesthetics.
However, there was just something about the furniture that made it difficult for me to look away. My gut feeling told me that there was something wrong with that random side table.
Slowly, I reached for it, gently pulling on the small brass knob. The drawer opened.
The moment the drawer was opened, the smell of lavender filled my nostrils. It seemed like a stash of dried flowers meant for tea brewing.
Picking it up, I began to examine it with a frown. The dried purple petals were crushed, the gentle, calming fragrance perfuming the air. Mixed in it was some yellowish green dust that smelled faintly like chamomile. It seemed to be a blend meant to aid sleep.
However, there was something wrong with this blend.
There were darker colored petals mixed into the tiny specks of lavender and chamomile flowers. They still looked purple, but it didn’t seem like it was lavender. Yet, the smell of the lavender flowers was so strong that when I placed it next to my nose, it was all I could smell. I couldn’t identify what the other purple flower was.
The ratio was also completely thrown off. One random teaspoon of the dried flower mix would probably only yield one or two flecks of the small darker petal, or maybe even none at all.
That immediately raised my suspicions. After all, what was the point of adding this petal in that case? It barely had a scent, and when placed with a stronger flower like lavender, its taste would be easily overpowered due to how mild it would’ve been, if its scent was any indicator.
Unless it was added to boost the effects of the tea? However, again, it was such a small dosage. The difference it would’ve made would be nearly negligible.
I frowned. However, before I could ponder it even further, I heard the faint sound of conversation a distance away. My body stiffened as I glanced at the door.
Cassian was returning. And by the sound of it, he even brought company.
Grabbing a fistful of the tea, I quickly shoved it in my pocket. I tied the knot of the packet holding the tea blend before shoving it back into the drawer. I had just enough time to make sure that none of the petals had scattered onto the floor when the door suddenly opened, and in walked Cassian and Cedar.
Cassian’s expression darkened instantly when he noticed my presence.
"What are you doing here?" Cassian bristled the moment his eyes met mine. He narrowed his eyes, his lips curdling into a sneer.
"Why else? I’m here to see the sister that I saved," I said, pointedly emphasizing the fact that originally, the Alphas had no intention of looking through the forest for Willow. Soren entertained the idea, and I was sure that Rowan would agree if I annoyed him enough — especially with the mark between us — but Cassian practically had the word ’unwilling’ tattooed to his forehead in giant block letters.
Willow was still here, lying in bed, recovering, because of me.
Cassian and Cedar stood in front of the door like a pair of overprotective guard dogs, bristling at my presence. It was just bad luck on my part to bump into the two of them. I didn’t think that they would return so soon. However, at the same time, I was also glad that Cassian, at least, was protective enough to make sure Willow always had company.
Well, almost always. In the time they were gone, I could’ve already killed Willow and gotten away with it if I wanted to.
"And what about you?" I asked. My annoyance quickly grew the more I thought about how easy it was for me to sneak in, and how easy it would be for anyone else, even slightly more skilled than I was, and the bar was low to begin with. "Aren’t you supposed to be crying by her bedside to prove your love for her?"
Even though I was never particularly fond of Cassian, admitting it out loud that he loved someone else still burned my chest ever so slightly. The fated pull between us would keep us tethered together forever until he was willing to cut it. I hated that he had that power.
I pushed through as Cassian’s face purpled.
"You―"
"If you’re going to be grovelling, you’d better get to it. You’ve got a lot of that to do, especially since you left her for dead months ago," I reminded him through gritted teeth. "Remember? When I told you guys that she was still alive, and not dead just because she bled a little?"
"Watch your tone!" Cedar growled, his eyes narrowing as he took a step closer towards me. He gripped the collar of my shirt, lifting me slightly into the air as I gasped in surprise. "Have you forgotten who you’re speaking to?"
I gritted my teeth, my heart suddenly rising to my throat. Cedar didn’t give any quarter, and his grip merely tightened. I could feel my body slipping a little, yet still held up by my thin clothing.
Clearly, just because I brought Willow back safe and sound didn’t mean that his attitude towards me would change miraculously overnight for the better. I was starting to think that he simply hated me, and Willow had nothing to do with it. Her condition was just an excuse.
In the past, that would have hurt me tremendously. But after all that I had experienced in the past few months, I could not be bothered to spare my brother anything more than a vaguely pitying, yet dismissive sneer.
"Get your disgusting hands off me," I spat back. "I will speak however I want to whoever I want. You’re not the boss of me."
"I am the Beta," Cedar reminded. His deep green eyes began to grow, turning one shade lighter as they did.
"And I am the one who brought the future Luna back to the pack," I hissed. "Meanwhile, your Alphas risked our sister’s life with their cowardice and negligence. If it weren’t for me, she would be nothing more than maggot breakfast right now!"
Cedar yanked me closer, his eyes roaming my face with annoyance.
"Now that you see Willow is alive, you know I wasn’t lying. And if you had just searched for her earlier, she wouldn’t be in this state, would she?" I said viciously
"That doesn’t―" Cedar was about to say, but he suddenly stopped short.
Then, his eyes landed on something, widening in surprise. His fingers loosened their grip for just a fraction of a second, but it was enough for me to fall back down.
I staggered back and caught my balance against a couch before I could completely collapse onto the floor. On the other hand, Cedar remained still like a statue, completely stunned. His lips were slightly parted.
"What?" I taunted, huffing. "Don’t tell me you didn’t know?" I asked.
I shot a glance towards Cedar, sneering as I shook my head.
The audacity of this man. The only way Cedar would know anything about the rescue was either by his own assumption or if Violet or the Alphas told him anything. Considering he was spotted with Cassian, and Rowan and Soren seemed to have stationed themselves by my bedside, I could only blame Cassian for providing Cedar with either false information or no information at all.
It looked like Cedar didn’t even know that Willow’s return was due to my credit. He seemed shell-shocked by it, so much so that flies could enter his mouth and lay eggs there before he even moved an inch.
I turned my attention to Cassian.
"That’s low, even for you," I said, my eyebrows tightly knitted together. "Did you seriously try to steal credit for saving Willow? Even after everything I did, you guys are still setting me up for her disappearance?"
I couldn’t understand why I felt so disappointed either. I should’ve already grown used to it. Cassian was never one to stand on my side, even if it were a temporary thing. However, for him to straight-up lie and besmirch my name even when he knew the truth was a whole other level.
In the past, I could at least convince myself by saying that Cassian didn’t know― that he was blinded by anger and simply took it out on the easiest suspect. However, this time, he did know. Yet, he still threw me under the bus.
I scoffed in disbelief, shaking my head. The back of my eyes felt a little sour.
Maybe the next thing I knew, they would claim that Violet was the one who brought Willow back. Maybe then―
"What the fuck," Cedar said, cutting off my train of thought, "is that on your neck?"
