Page 45 of After the Fall

“Don’t worry,” she said, handing it to me. “Gloria taught me how to use the machine.” She gestured to the fancy espresso machine that had been installed, after Gloria had grown tired of spending so much time percolating. Fiona’s first attempt had been like sludge.

“I’m more worried about poison,” I said, sniffing the mug.

Fiona patted my arm. “She wouldn’t dare try anything under this roof, with all of us here.” Her eyes were bloodshot, and she stunk like an old western saloon.

“Don’t tell me you’ve been up all night, too,” I laughed.

She shook her head. “Those damn South Americans. There’s no reasoning with them,” she muttered. “I’d kill for my own bed. Or at least a decent bedtime.”

I took a sip from the mug, moaning in appreciation.

Fiona glanced out the kitchen window. The greenhouse glowed dimly against the darkness of the estate. “Are you hiding out in the greenhouse again today?”

It wasn’t a secret to anyone that I was avoiding Valentina. I nodded.

“Good call,” she said, stifling a yawn.

“You should get some sleep.”

“Another good call. Is your friend, what’s her name, coming for the meeting later today?”

I smiled. “Savannah.” I’d heard through the grapevine that Valentina and Wyatt had faced off in a dramatic showdown over Connor and Savannah’s involvement in the plan. In the end, Valentina had caved to Wyatt’s leadership, and agreed to meeting with the human and the biter, as she’d called him.

As the coordinator of the event, Savannah was more involved than I would have liked, and it made me uncomfortable that she was putting herself in danger. But we needed her. Either way, Savannah would have come by the mansion to keep me company, which would piss off Valentina and the South Americans. One human was bad enough, but two? One of whom was dating a wolf? I knew it ruffled her feathers, a fact I secretly loved.

I needed Savannah. I was going crazy after three days of being the only human, other than Gloria, in a house full of sasquatches including my arch nemesis, as I’d taken to thinking of Valentina.

“She’s coming with Connor,” I answered. “Wyatt asked her to brief everyone on the timeline.”

Fiona nodded, yawning. “It’ll be good for you to have some company.” She waved goodbye and disappeared down the hallway.

Alone again, I grabbed a jar of overnight oats from the fridge and a spoon, and headed out to the greenhouse.

“And this one?”Tim lifted the pot and pointed to the bright red petals.

“Easy,” I laughed. “Bromeliad.”

He nodded. “And the genus?”

I scrunched my eyebrows together, thinking back to the blackboard scribbles from our lesson earlier this morning. “Tillandsia.”

Tim smiled. “Very good, Harper.” With a tilt of his head, he said, “I don’t suppose you remember…”

“It’s epiphytic. It grows attached to other plants and surfaces.” My smile stretched wide.

Tim’s low chuckle carried through the space. “You’re an excellent student. You know more about plants than most of our kind. You’d give Fiona a run for her money.” He winked.

I could feel the warmth spread across my cheeks. “You’re a great teacher, Tim. I appreciate you letting me spend so much time in here.”

He grinned, and gestured for me to follow him down the aisle. “I’d like to show you something really special. But I should warn you, there’s a reason it’s hidden in the back.”

I followed him down the narrow aisle, the humidity clinging to my hair and clothes. The scent of damp earth was everywhere, mixed with the subtle sweetness of flowers. It was like being in the forest after a thunderstorm. It reminded me of Wyatt, which made me smile.

As we neared the back corner, I could feel my nausea from the other day returning. I pinched my nose and asked, “What’s that awful smell?” The foul odor intensified with each step, like rotting flesh.

Tim laughed. “Sorry, I guess I’m more used to it.” He stopped in front of a large clay pot, a proud grin on his face.

I gasped. “Rafflesia arnoldii.”

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