Chapter 91

Lionel’s POV

A wave of tension washes over the room at Irina’s accusation.

“You can’t be serious.” Nan says disbelievingly.

“Are you truly going to deny your actions?” Irina asks. “You said it yourself…you made lunch. I only added the leeks you requested.”

Nan shakes her head. “I know I didn’t add any soy sauce. It’s literally on my list!”

Irina scoffs. “Then why is the bottle so close to the pot? I definitely don’t know this kitchen well enough to add anything else if I wanted to…that’s a servant’s job.”

Nan has no argument for this. “I don’t…I couldn’t have…” Doubt begins to enter her tone.

My sister-in-law’s face is pulled back into a defensive snarl. Her bright blue eyes darkening into icy slits. Her temper barely in control.

I slightly take a step between Nan and Irina. Using my body to form a barrier between Nan and the outraged Irina. Nan’s safety at the forefront of my mind.

I realize my mistake as hurt fills Nan’s face. It is only then that I guess how Nan might I interpret my actions. That I might be choosing to believe Irina.

‘She couldn’t be any more wrong.’ I think. However, my little action does not go unnoticed. Whispers and mummers pass between people.

“…think she could have done this?” A woman’s voice speculates.

“…suspicious. You have to admit.”

The next words make me freeze.

“…kicked her out for a reason. Poor Alpha Lionel…tricked by her into letting her back.” One of the maids sneers.

“...any surprise really. Worming her way into the mansion. Using our alpha’s resources.”

“She had already tried kidnapping the young mistresses. And now she is trying to kill them?”

“How dare she!”

“…rotten from the start.”

I watch as the room full of concerned staff slowly morphs into mob. Nan’s already exhausted wane face becomes even paler. Her shoulders hunch up as thought to fight against their cruel words.

Hateful glares become directed at her from some of the maids and butlers. Not all of the people within the room. But enough that I have no doubt that Nan feels their sharp barbs all too well.

It makes me bristle. Who were these servants to cast judgement on Nan? They have no right.

“I don’t know how this happened.” Nan says shakily. “I’ve never…”

Irina sneers. But stays silent at my harsh look. A small blessing for an already aggravated situation.

Nan gulps audibly. “If I did do this…I am so, so sorry. I would never intentionally harm our daughters.”

She casts her gaze toward our still, unconscious daughters. Her mouth trembles slightly. I see a slight glimmer of tears.

The sight of Nan’s breaking composure sets me off. My wolf strains beneath my skin. My protective instincts now triggered by my daughter’s close call and my love’s emotional distress.

“No, Nan.” I bark out. Her gaze jerks to me as she flinches.

“You did nothing wrong.” I state resolutely. “I know you would never do anything to hurt them.”

Her eyes searched mine. Testing my sincerity. I knew she believed me from the glitter of her winter sky eyes.

It bolsters my resolve.

“Can any of you truly say you have not stepped foot in this kitchen at all today?” I ask warningly. Daring one of my kitchen staff to disagree.

A shuffle of feet and nervous exchanges of looks gives me my answer. I narrow my eyes. Irina steps forward to speak.

“But Lionel…surely this could have only taken place at lunchtime. From what I saw…no one else was here.” Irina says softly.

‘Typical Irina,’ I think in brotherly pride. ‘Always trying to help…yet not quite meeting the mark.’

“Nan…when did you begin to make the soup?” I ask instead.

“A few hours ago.” She replies. Trusting me.

“Where you by the pot every second?” I continue.

A flicker in her eyes tells me she has caught on. I resist the urge to smirk. Now is not the time to marvel at our compatibility in intellect.

“No. I brought the girls over to visit Irina for a little while the soup was still simmering.” Nan responds.

I look around the room. “So…really, the soup could have been tainted at any time.” I announce.

No one speaks. It is utterly silent. No one wants to take the blame for this.

I finally focus my attention on the doctor. “May I see the bottle and a sample of the soup?”

The elderly man immediately hands it over. Curiosity etched on his wizened face. But his questions will have to wait.

I take a sip of the dish. Allowing a brief moment of pleasure at the enticing flavors before I refocus. I frown.

It is a light soup…one with notes of citrus and fresh herbs. Almost perfectly balanced in flavor to the average taster. But my superior sense allow me to detect the slight unpleasant saltiness of the soy sauce.

The soy sauce does not fit in with the dish. It’s suspicious. My guard goes up.

I let my alpha eyes flash. Ignoring the various upticks in heartbeats of the crowded room. Letting my superior eyesight take the bottle in.

Unfortunately, too many hands have handled it to get a clear read. I had guessed as much. So I used my sense of smell.

I got nothing at first. Only the usual salty scent of soy sauce. The slight scents of passing hands over the bottle.

Noticeably…I observed a lack of Nan’s scent. None of the fertile and warmth of her graced it. But one scent did…

A bitter scent of medication reached my nostrils. One that I had become accustomed to recently. I became motionless.

Irina’s scent.

Hurt and betrayal coursed through my veins. ‘How could she do this?’ I think with bewilderment.

“Call security. Now.” I snarl.

I whirl around. Irina takes a step back. Knowing fear in her eyes at my temper.

‘She knows I’ve found out,’ Rage grows in me. ‘Good.’

“I know what you did.” I growl at her like a wild animal. Barely recognizing my own voice.

“Lionel?” Nan’s voice calls from behind me.

“She fucking poisoned our girls!” I shout. “Her own nieces!”

The gasps around the room barely register. Irina tries to move back. My enraged snarl stops her from moving.

“You aren’t going anywhere until you’ve explained yourself!” I exclaim darkly. “What were you thinking?”

Her blue eyes are like puddles of slushy water as her pupils shrink as she takes in my menacing stance. I refuse to soften my stance. Not when someone I consider a little sister had betrayed me so badly.

But she does not explain herself. Not until security arrives. Not until she realizes she will be facing attempted murder charges.

This breaks her silence.

“Lionel!” She cries. “You can’t do this!”

“Did you think you could get away with trying to murder my daughters? Your blood?” I scoff incredulously.

“I wasn’t trying to seriously kill them.” Irina protests.

“No, you just wanted to provoke a serious allergic reaction.” Nan hisses sarcastically. Hovering protectively near our daughters.

“Only to get rid of you!” She shrieks.

“What did I do to you? You had no right to play with your nieces’ lives!” Nan argues back.

Irina laughs bitterly. Her normally friendly face now twisted in anger. I am even more taken aback at this girl I no longer know.

“Irina…” I utter in horrified shock. “Why did you do this?”

“Oh come on…” She nearly sobs. “You have to know.”

I can only gape at her incomprehensively. “Know what?”

There is a hysterical quality to her words now.

“She didn’t deserve you!” Irina admits.

“Nan?” I ask.

“Katya!” She screams.

“You thought I didn’t see…but you’re the one who never saw.” She accuses. “And then my stupid, bitch of a sister finally died.”

I rear back at her cold words. Trying to find the soft-hearted little girl I knew behind this creature of venom. I do not see her.

“It’s all for you.” The sound wrenches out of her. “Can’t you see we belong together?”

I recoil in disgust. Horrified at the words coming from this child’s mouth. This 15-year-old girl’s mouth.

“Irina, you are a child.” I say firmly. “I would never…”

“NO!” She shouts. “Can’t you see my devotion…we can be together now.”

“No.” I say dully. “Even if you weren’t a teenager…I would never see you that way.”

Irina is taken away after that. I do not watch. I clamp down on my emotions.

I will mourn the little sister I loved later.

Nan and I take the girls upstairs to rest. Nan rests her head comfortingly on my shoulder. Understanding my lack of words.

‘At the very least,’ I think wearily. ‘Nan has been vindicated.’

It is enough for the moment.