27. Julian
JULIAN
The greenhouse feels different now that I realize anyone could have accessed it.
"Every single herb." I’m already photographing jars, creating an inventory. "Document everything."
Calder's installing a new lock on the door, heavy-duty, key-access only. The click of his tools provides a steady rhythm to our anxious work.
Tyler sits cross-legged on the floor, organizing my scattered notes into something systematic. "Okay, who have you given blends to in the past three months?"
Elowen runs through Seraphina’s list of names she sent by email.
"Lila—anxiety blend for exams. Claire needed focus tea.
Molly from biology wanted something for headaches.
Dozens of people." She freezes when a name jumps out at her.
“Kira Matsuda for heat cramps.” Her chin quivers. “Did she die because of me?”
"Stop." Calder's hand covers hers, stilling the pen that's been shaking. "This isn't your fault. This is simply one lead of the investigation. Crossing it off a list. Narrowing our options."
"But if someone copied my work—"
"Then they’re responsible. Not you." His grey eyes are fierce. "You give healing. Someone else chose death. That's on them. Besides, with no autopsy reports, we don’t know that the herbs contributed to Kira’s death, and you weren’t even here when the others died."
Elowen nods. He’s right. She is allowing fear to influence her judgement.
Elowen is brilliant at what she does. It’s in her blood. But I understand as well as she does, that some plants are toxic, lethal even, if used in the wrong quantities, and with no autopsy or toxicology reports to refer back to, it’s an option we would be foolish to overlook.
My laptop chimes. "According to Gideon’s notes, Helena Raven was given a sleep blend immediately before her heat. Does Seraphina coordinate with Thornwood Academy?"
Elowen double-checks the list the omega councilor sent across. “No Thornwood names on here, but I know she liaises with their student councilor.”
“Do you trust her?” I blink.
“Yes.” She doesn’t even need to think about it.
"Good enough for me." I continue scanning data. "And of course, every other omega on the list is still alive." I look up, my stomach clenching when I realize how that sounds. “I didn’t mean… It sounded wrong…”
But Elowen is laughing, hysteria threatening to bring her to her knees.
Laughter is contagious, especially when there’s a killer on the loose. Soon, we’re all laughing, tears running down our faces, cheeks aching from trying to hold it in.
“I didn’t kill anyone else with my tea blends,” she manages between choking gulps of laughter. “Maybe I can add that to my resume.”
“Along with private investigator skills,” Tyler adds.
“And the ability to incinerate grilled cheese.” Calder’s laughter booms above everyone else’s. “Every time.”
“You’re welcome.” Elowen fake bows, tears streaking her face.
Rani's room smells like vanilla and old textbooks. She perches on her bed while we crowd into the small space, trying to look casual about questions that are anything but.
We’re following Gideon’s research and speaking to other omegas who have experienced their first heat this semester, trying to find a connection, praying that it doesn’t come back to Elowen too.
"So weird you're asking," she says, twirling thick black hair around one finger. "But yeah, actually. After my last heat, someone left a care package outside my door."
Everyone in the room goes still.
"What kind of package?" Elowen’s voice is surprisingly steady.
"Sleep tea, recovery blend, little note that said for post-heat wellness." She shrugs. "I thought it was from you, honestly. It had a drawing of a greenhouse on the wrapping."
"It wasn't from me." Elowen swallows painfully. "Do you still have it?"
"Yeah, in my closet. I didn't need it." She retrieves a small bundle wrapped in brown paper, a greenhouse sketch on the front. "Why? Is something wrong with it?"
I take it from her; the fear in Elowen’s eyes is unmistakable. "We need to test it. Quality control concern."
Rani’s eyes widen. "Is it dangerous? Who sent it?"
"We don't know yet," Tyler says gently. "But better safe than sorry."
We ask other omegas the same careful questions. Three more admit to receiving similar packages. All after the first heat with a new pack. All with greenhouse drawings. All assumed they were from me.
Pure luck none of them drank it. Not that we have evidence that it’s contaminated.
"Multiple targets," I say as we walk back across campus. "If this is what we’re looking for, this means active attempts on current students, although not all of them have experienced their first heat."
“Yet,” Elowen says.
I’m praying our tests reveal a harmless blend of herbs created by someone who doesn’t want Elowen to have the monopoly on natural remedies. Rivalry she can handle. Poison isn’t something I want to think about.
I’m wrong.
We take over one of the science labs to test the blend given to us by Rani. Elowen hovers close to my side. This affects us all, but for her, it must feel like she’s sitting on Death Row, dreading the moment the door opens, and she knows her time is up.
My fingers tremble. I have to pause several times during the process, afraid I’ll spoil the results and be forced to start over.
Calder massages Elowen’s lower back. Tyler maintains a steady supply of tea and coffee although I can barely taste it.
“How long will this take?” Tyler asks.
“How long is a piece of string?” It trips out without thinking, my mind focused on the task in hand. “I don’t want to rush it.”
“Alright?” Calder asks Elowen.
She shrugs. “I’m scared.”
Calder folds her into his arms, and I’m glad we’re all here for her. “We’re all scared. But we won’t let anything happen to you. Promise.”
“I can’t help thinking that we’re missing something,” she says, scrunching her eyes tightly. “It’s right there.” She taps her temple with her knuckles. “But I can’t grab hold of it.”
I tune out of the conversation and stare at the results of the lab test unfolding in front of my eyes.
"This isn't a normal sleep blend. There's digitalis.
Concentrated foxglove extract." I make some quick calculations.
"Enough to cause cardiac arrest in someone with post-heat physiology.
Body already stressed, heart rate elevated—this would push it over edge.
The victim would think they're just tired from heat until—"
Elowen’s eyes widen. “Concentrated foxglove?”
“Are you sure?” Tyler moves around the bench to see what I can see.
“Positive. But without an autopsy report for Kira, we can’t prove that’s what killed her.”
“No,” Calder’s voice is low, “but it’s too much of a coincidence to not pursue it.”
“What do we do now?” Elowen asks.
“We should inform Gideon,” Tyler suggests.
“Then we find out who had access to omega heat records.” I feel strangely calm now that we know what we’re dealing with. It’s one more lead than Gideon had when we spoke to him.
Elowen’s phone buzzes then, and the color drains from her face.
“The killer knows what we’re doing.”
Tyler takes her phone, his lips a thin line. “I’m blocking their messages.”
Why didn’t I think of that?
Ms. Hartley’s office provides sanctuary and strategy both. She listens to everything without interrupting, face growing graver with each detail.
"I knew something was wrong," she says finally. "I didn't know… I would never have thought it was this."
"We need to warn everyone," I tell her. "Every omega who recently bonded."
"Carefully," she agrees. "We don’t want to cause unnecessary panic.
" She thinks for a moment. "I'll frame it as a contamination concern.
Quality control issue with herbal supplies.
Anyone who received unsolicited packages should turn them in, even yours, Elowen.
" She pauses. “We should inform the police as a matter of urgency.”
“Not yet,” Elowen says. “We don’t want to alert whoever is responsible.”
Her eyes meet mine briefly, and I know what she is thinking. The police will liaise with Officer Brennan on campus, and if he is our killer, he’ll cover it up somehow and we’ll have wasted precious time.
Ms. Hartley nods. “I’ll have to notify the dean of course. It will be his decision regarding how we proceed.”
“We understand,” I say.
Pushing it will only make her question our motives for keeping this quiet, and if she believes Elowen is the killer’s next target, she’ll probably make arrangements to send her home. Without us. And the thought of her being so exposed, so vulnerable…
“We’ll spread the word to other omegas,” Tyler says. “Seraphina can help with that.”
"Can you tell us who has access to heat records?" I ask Ms. Hartley.
She hesitates. "That's confidential—"
"Four people are dead," Calder states flatly. "Confidentiality matters less than preventing number five."
Her shoulders slump. "You’re right." She types something into her computer and blinks before facing us again. “I’ll have to tell the dean that I’ve given you this information.”
“Of course,” I say, speeding up the process.
"Four people have full access to omega heat schedules. Me, obviously. Dr. Hayes from health services. Dean Morrison, and Officer Brennan from security."