The paper Andrew picked up detailed the magical herbs. It was all there: where to find it, what it could do, and even a sketch I had made myself.

"Hand it over," I said, my voice ice.

Andrew stared at me, his face a mask of shock.

Louise, quick to jealousy, grabbed the paper from him. "Lina, are you so desperate to be a healer that you've lost it? Lying, and now delusions? Making up herbal lore?"

Her accusation fell flat.

The room was silent, the Wolven Clan unmoved. Louise, fuming, crumpled my notes and tossed them into the fire. "I won't just watch you twist facts and disrespect the profession I adore!" she declared.

Andrew was speechless. To convince him, Louise gave him a pitiful look.

"It's all lies, Andrew. Even you hadn't been to Northland. Do you really think she could go there?"

Andrew's gaze flickered to me, words caught in his throat. Finally, he murmured, almost consoling Louise, "It's just a piece of paper. No need to get worked up."

Just a piece of paper? He knew what it was. He knew the magical herbs had cured his wolfsbane poisoning. He knew its power better than anyone.

I never counted on him to be on my side, but I sure did not see him spinning such bold-faced lies to cover for Louise.

Hey, it was no big deal. There was a whole world of opportunities out there, as vast as the fields of magical herbs in Northland.

Without so much as a backward glance at Andrew, I strode out of the restaurant.

After a good night's rest, I was all set to head Northland.

That was when I noticed my medical book was gone from my desk.

Andrew, stinking of booze, just tilted his head with a smirk when he saw my panic. "Louise wanted it, so I handed it over."

"What are you saying? She called it a fake, so why take my book?!"

I was shaking with rage, ready to confront Louise, but he shoved me back onto the sofa.

"Louise is long gone with your book.

"It's just a bunch of papers. Real or fake, what's the difference? You're Moon Queen, so why sweat the small stuff?

"You hunted down those magical herbs for me, not just to cure my poison but hoping I'd fall for you, right? Consider your wish granted."

He leaned in for a kiss, but I shoved him away, furious.

"Back off! You're not what I want! My life has more to it than you! I've got my own path to follow! I'm out of here!"

He checked his watch and released me, a knowing look on his face. "Right, time to wash my mom's feet."

He sat back, closed his eyes, and did not bother looking at me again. "Make it quick, I'll be here waiting."

I shot a harsh look at him lounging on the couch, my eyes void of any lingering affection.

Ha.

'Sorry, your wait is over. Not now, not ever,' I mused.

Andrew did not realize I was gone until I reached Twin Shores Lake, the boundary between our worlds. He had been out cold on the couch all night.

Just before dawn, his mother burst into my room, hurling insults.

"Lina, where did you go?! You skipped out on washing my feet last night and didn't even bother with breakfast this morning!"

The commotion stirred him from sleep, and that was when he noticed my absence. Initially, he figured I was just peeved about the medical book, probably taking a breather at the nearby pack.

However, then, a sharp pain seized his heart, and he crumpled to the floor.

Andrew's wolfsbane poisoning had returned, unbeknownst to us all—the poison had not been fully purged from his system.

He had been managing because my healing gifts had been keeping it at bay.

Andrew's eyes snapped open, his forehead slick with sweat, as he gasped my name.

His mother, beside herself with worry, lashed out, "Where's that Lina?! Is now really the time for her antics? Get her back here to cure my son!"

The tribal healer was clueless.

"Lina left for Northland alone last night, and she's not coming back. Didn't she tell you?"

"What?!"