Chapter 61

Chapter 61 Accident in the lab

CA SSANDRA

“Is there a way to open it?” I wondered as I stared at the box.

The librarian squatted down beside it and inspected it closely. Her round gla*ses nearly fell off her nose as she leaned in closer and took the large lock into

her hands.

“Ah,” she remarked, and she pointed to the back of the lock. “See there? That’s the royal seal.”

“Oh,” I replied simply and then I frowned. “So that means…”

“You’d need permission from the Alpha King, most likely,” the librarian said and she offered me an apologetic glance. “His Majesty is probably the only one with the power to open it. I’m sorry I can’t be of more help.”

“It’s no problem,” I a*sured her, but it was quite the opposite. I was too afraid to visit Asher and didn’t know how to face him after the events of last night.

“Is there anything else-”

I shook my head. “No, I think I’m going to grab my things and go back to my lab. Thank you again for letting me in, I appreciate it greatly.”

“Of course, Healer Ca ssandra,” the librarian replied.

I quickly returned my notebooks and pens to my backpack and once I had everything, I walked out of the library and headed back toward the lab. I was disappointed that I hadn’t found anything helpful and also a little intrigued by that strange box. Normally, I would let something like that go, but I had a strong feeling that something interesting was in there and my mind wouldn’t dismiss it.

As I made my way down the hall, I heard loud voices in the distance. My

eyebrows creased together. What was going on?

The volume increased as I got closer and when I reached the doors, I noticed the guard’s face was bright red. Asher had appointed him to keep anyone who wasn’t supposed to be in the lab out.

So who was Becky arguing with?

“What’s going on?” I wondered, and the moment I asked, I heard Becky’s voice again.

“I’m going to have to ask you to leave.”

“Just who do you think you’re speaking to?” the other voice demanded and my heart began to race.

The voice belonged to Adalyn. And she sounded angry.

“I’m sorry, Healer Ca ssandra,” the guard apologized. “I didn’t mean to fail my

duties-”

“I’ll handle this,” I a*sured him, and after I took a short breath and centered myself, I stepped through the doors and into the lab.

Adalyn was frantically walking around the place, checking devices and various things on our desks. Meanwhile, Becky was following along, begging her to stop.

“Please, my lady,” she begged. “Don’t tamper with our things… it’s important research!”

My a*sistant’s voice was quite despaired and she seemed a little helpless. It was as if Adalyn couldn’t hear her or something. Anger swelled within me. I needed to put a stop to this.

to

“What’s going on here?” I blurted out boldly, and both sets of eyes fell on me at once. Adalyn’s were full of rage as they darted over to me and her full, red l*ps drew

into a thin line. She looked as beautiful as ever but it was clear that she was incredibly tired. Last night had apparently done a number on anyone, but I wasn’t

going to let her continue on with her behavior.

“This lab is forbidden to anyone else but the King,” I emphasized.

Adalyn rolled her eyes and ignored me. She turned back to the desks and continued to rifle through the papers. It was clear she was searching for something,

but I had no idea what.

I

I approached her this time and blocked her view of the desk.

“What are you looking for?” I demanded in a much firmer tone as I stared her down. She could intimidate me anywhere else but here… here was my place of work. She was messing with my things, my research, and my a*sistant, and I wasn’t going to let it fly.

Adalyn huffed. “Stand aside. I’m looking for the serum.”

“The serum?” I repeated back in confusion. “What serum?”

“You know what I’m talking about,” Adalyn hissed. “Goddess knows if the viper will return again or not. I need the serum in case it comes after me or Marco again.”

Even though her tone was angry and demanding, I almost wanted to laugh. My. eyes glanced over at Becky and she had a similarly surprised expression. But when I turned back to Adalyn, I remained calm.

“The serum is still being worked on,” I explained. “It’s nowhere near being done. But even if it was, only a royal healer would be allowed to handle it. You would need their help.”

Adalyn’s beautiful face gréw angrier and her nostrils flared for a moment. She was flustered.

“Of course,” she shot back. “In that instance, I suppose a royal healer would be more helpful. So long as it isn’t you, of course. I wouldn’t trust a village commoner like you to administer it.”

I lost my patience immediately.

“Please leave,” I said, and I pointed toward the door. “Since you don’t trust me to do my job, you should never try to come back in here again.”

Adalyn’s b*dy shook with anger and before I could stop her, she swept her arm across the nearest desk and knocked a bunch of bottles and vials to the floor. They shattered upon impact and various liquids spilled all over.

Asher’s

wife didn’t stop there. She sprang into action and began to destroy our things while Becky and I stood there in horror.

Adalyn had always been like this. She would perform and pretend to be a sweet, charming girl in public, but when she was alone with someone she didn’t like, she showed herself as the monster she really was.

I

When we were children, Asher and I had built a treehouse in the garden of the Felix house. It was a secret place just for us. It wasn’t long, though, before Adalyn found it. She was angry to have been excluded and threw a fit. One day, she snuck into the garden and destroyed the treehouse when I wasn’t home. Devastated, I’d tried telling on her to my father, but there was nothing we could do. She was the Beta’s daughter and could get away with anything.

Now, things felt like the same. Adalyn had probably wanted to destroy this lab. for a long time.

As she threw her fit and continued to mess with our things, I rushed over to Becky.

“Take the guard and go find the Alpha King right now,” I said. My a*sistant nodded and rushed out of the room, leaving Adalyn and me alone.

“The Alpha King isn’t going to be pleased,” I called out to her and Adalyn. laughed.

“I don’t care,” she seethed, and then she raised a bottle high in the air. My heart nearly stopped. It was a container of chemical acid.

“Adalyn, please put that down,” I advised her gently. When she noticed my panic, her crazed look turned into a cruel smile. She took a step toward me, the

bottle still held high.

“I don’t care what’s i

this,” she said slowly. “But apparently it’s something bad. So, I have a proposal… leave Anemond for good. Or I’ll pour this right on that pathetic face of yours.”

“Adalyn, please,” I pressed. “I didn’t come here of my own volition-”

“Shut up!” Adalyn blurted out, her amber eyes manic. “I don’t believe you!”

Before I could get a word in, she opened the bottle, and in one swift motion, she shook it right toward me. As the liquid poured out, I flinched and stepped out of the way. I closed my eyes.

Adalyn let out a scream. When I opened my eyes, I was shocked to see that the acid had burnt the skin on her forearm.