I skidded to a stop at the sound of Olivia’s voice. She was several paces away, rolling leisurely in a horse chaise with her brother. I froze. There was no avoiding the confrontation now.
“Olivia! And Cedric. Hello,” I said nervously when our paths intersected. The driver looked at me with a mixture of alarm and disgust. Narcissa was especially heavy-handed with the cinders today.
“Goodness, what happened to you?” Cedric exclaimed, half-rising from his seat. Olivia looked like she was going to stop the driver.
“Nothing. I, er, accidentally fell into a fireplace!” I said, backing away. “Please don’t delay your trip for me. I’ll see you later!”
Before either of them could reply, I darted around the corner and waited for them to pass. When the sound of hooves and wheels faded away, I slipped into Miriam’s shop, my heart pounding. Hiding so many things at once was getting difficult.
Miriam raised a brow at my disheveled appearance. “This is the second time you showed up like this,” she said, following me to the back room. The air felt stuffier than usual. “I hope you’re not in trouble and not telling anyone. Because that would be idiotic, dear.”
I pressed in the usual bricks. My sigh of exasperation was drowned out when the wall rolled back into the tunnel. “I’m fine, Miriam. Don’t tell Theodora or Rowena, alright?”
Miriam huffed and let the tapestry drop.
I was wheezing for air by the time I arrived at Lana’s cottage. She was standing outside with an irritable expression. “Good heavens. Have you been hired as a scullery maid?”
Even if she was the only person I could tell without consequence, I didn’t.
Lana merely shook her head at my silence and opened the door. “Come inside. We’ve wasted enough time.”
“Can we make the truth potion today?” I asked as Lana rummaged through her cupboard. “Miriam sent you the gold.”
The parcel was sitting on her counter, untouched. Lana’s shoulders stiffened when she glanced at it. “How did you come by this?” she asked, her tone accusing.
“I acquired it fairly.”
Lana continued rummaging through the shelves like the last time she had avoided my gaze and my questions. I was tired of her evasive behavior.
“I told you not to meddle in human affairs,” she said.
A flash of irritation came over me. What business did she have telling me what and what not to do? “Give me the instructions. I can make it myself—”
“I lied.” She slammed the cupboard and whirled around, eyes flashing.
“What?”
“I lied about the gold. You don’t need gold to make truth potion,” Lana said. She barked a mirthless laugh. “I told you that to discourage you. I know whatever you’re planning involves the royals and that prince. You’re better off minding your own business.”
“Youliedto me?” The thought of Lana lying didn’t sit well with me. I trusted her. She was my teacher, my mentor.
Lana frowned. “I did it to protect you. You don’t know what you’re getting yourself into.”
“What I’m getting into is none of your business!” I said, clenching my fists. “You don’t understand. People will suffer if I don’t have that potion.”
She slammed her hand on the counter. “Witches suffer every day,” she said, voice booming in the small space. “And yet humans do nothing.Nothing.They care nothing for us, Amarante, can’t you see? They are vermin upon this earth, destroying everything for their selfish desires. That prince will find you repulsive. Why are you helping him when he will kill you if you reveal yourself?”
I stumbled back, struck by the hatred in her eyes. Ash would never go so far as tokillme.
“How dare you!” I shouted. “What right do you have to speak to me that way?”
“Do you know what that enchantment on my door was when you first came to me?” Lana asked shakily. “Do you know why you were able to pass when everyone else couldn’t?”
I bit my lip hard enough to draw blood. What could she possibly mean by changing the subject?
She exhaled sharply when I didn’t answer. “It was meant to repel all but my own blood.”
“What do you mean?” I demanded.
