Page 47 of Ashes, Apples, & Amorous Orcs

"Even if you choose to leave tomorrow," I tell her, running my fingers through her hair, "I won't leave. Take me with you."

She looks up at me and smiles. "Well, I am your queen."

CHAPTER 29

ISOLDE

The morning air carries the scent of dew and possibility as Draven helps me load the last of my salvageable honey into the wagon. His movements are efficient, purposeful, but I catch him glancing at the contaminated jars I've set aside with increasing frequency.

"You're brooding." I secure the final crate with rope, testing the knots. "I can practically hear the gears turning."

"Someone poisoned your bees." His voice carries that edge I've come to recognize—the hunter surfacing beneath the careful control. "That's not something we just walk away from."

"Draven." I turn to face him fully, noting the tension in his shoulders. "I appreciate the protective instinct, but I don't need more drama. Yesterday was enough public spectacle to last me a lifetime."

"This isn't about drama." He picks up one of the ruined jars, turning it in his large hands. "This is about right and wrong. Someone tried to destroy your livelihood while you were defending me."

The guilt in his voice makes my chest tighten. "That's not your fault."

"Isn't it?" Before I can stop him, he unscrews the lid and brings the jar to his lips, taking a small taste of the cloudy honey.

"Draven, don't⁠—"

His face immediately contorts, and he spits the honey into the grass. "Fuck. That's not just spoiled." He wipes his mouth with the back of his hand, golden-brown eyes sharp with recognition. "That tastes medicinal. Deliberate."

I take the jar from him, studying the consistency again. The cloudiness isn't random—it's too uniform, too purposeful. "You think someone added something?"

"I know they did." His jaw sets in that stubborn line I'm beginning to recognize. "And I know where we can find out what."

The apothecary smells like dried herbs and wood smoke when we push through the door, bells chiming our arrival. Liora looks up from grinding something fragrant in her mortar, her dark eyes immediately noting the jar in my hands.

"Back so soon? I thought you were leaving this morning."

"Plans change." Draven moves to block the door, not threatening but unmistakably present. "We need to talk about contaminated honey."

Liora's pestle stills. "What do you mean?"

I set the jar on her counter, watching her face carefully. "You were there. You know that someone tampered with my hives yesterday. And the taste is medicinal."

"You think I—" Liora's eyes widen, genuine shock replacing her usual calm. "Isolde, I would never. You know that."

"I want to believe you." And I do—every instinct tells me Liora isn't capable of this kind of sabotage. "But you're the only one in town with access to substances that could do this."

Liora reaches for the jar without hesitation, unscrewing the lid and taking a small taste before I can stop her. Her expression shifts immediately, professional assessment replacing personal offense.

"This is definitely medicinal." She rolls the honey across her tongue, analyzing. "Specifically for skin health—reduces inflammation, promotes healing. I recognize the bitter undertone."

Draven leans forward, predatory focus sharpening. "You've made this before?"

"The oil, yes. But I've only sold one bottle recently." Liora's voice grows quieter as realization dawns. "Three days ago. To Vaelis."

The silence feels heavy enough to crush stone. I watch Draven's hands slowly curl into fists, his breathing becoming deliberately controlled.

"Vaelis bought skin oil from you three days ago," I repeat, needing to hear the words again.

"She said she needed it for a minor burn." Liora looks between us, understanding settling across her features. "She specifically asked about properties that would be noticeable if ingested accidentally."

"Accidentally." Draven's voice carries enough menace to make the glass jars on the shelves rattle. "Right."