Julian looks at the screen and nods. "That's him."
I feel lightheaded. My brain was so consumed by the flames raging through me that I wasn’t even aware of the officer’s visit. What else did I miss?
"He was present at two other scenes." Gideon's voice goes flat. "Lydia's dorm when they found her. Shannon's heat suite for a wellness check." He looks up. "He's not the only common factor, but he's on the list."
"So, we watch him," Julian says.
"Watch everyone," Gideon corrects. "Trust no one outside this room. Whoever's doing this has been getting away with it for eighteen months." His gaze lands on me. "They've perfected their method. Which means you need to be smarter."
"What's your theory?" Julian leans forward, fully engaged now. "Method of death. How are they doing it?"
"I don't know yet. They said Iris’s death was caused by cardiac arrest. My parents didn’t question it; they were grieving for their daughter. She had no health issues that we knew about." Gideon rubs his face with his hand. "But five omegas dying suddenly within days of their heat?"
“Why are the campuses not more concerned?” I ask, drawing everyone’s attention to me. “What about the families of the victims?”
“My guess is the schools don’t want the publicity,” Gideon says. “They don’t want the student body on alert, students pulling out of courses, families creating panic.”
“Or they could be covering for someone,” Julian suggests, his expression unreadable. “It’s often the case with deaths that appear to be suspicious.”
My thoughts are spinning like cotton candy. “Did you question Kira’s pack?”
“My contact spoke to one alpha.” He glances at his notes. “Daniel Watson. He couldn’t tell them much, only that she was fine when her heat was over. Tired but fine. She was taking herbal tea for the cramps. No medication.”
“Your herbal tea?” Calder asks. He’s paler than I’ve ever seen him.
“Maybe. I don’t know. Seraphina handles all requests via the Student Council to keep it simple and to free up my time.”
“Seraphina Bloom,” Gideon says. “Maybe speak to her first, find out what she knows.”
"Do you think…?" My stomach drops.
"No," Calder says firmly. "Don't go there. Olivia drank your tea, and she didn’t die."
“Mira’s tea.”Not mine.
The seed of doubt is planted. What if my knowledge, my herbs, my attempts to help are hurting people?
"Look, this is just a precaution," Gideon says pragmatically. "But could you test your supplies? Make sure nothing's been tampered with. And get a list of everyone you've given blends to."
"I guess." I feel numb. How could this be happening? Mira saw my herbs in the greenhouse. She said I’d learned well. What if she was wrong too?
Gideon is still talking. "We'll need to cross-reference your names with any omegas due a heat soon."
My phone buzzes.
Withheld number.
Saw you go into the shack. Was that smart?
Ice floods my veins as I hand my phone to Tyler. This changes everything. This makes it real. "How did they get my number?" I whisper.
They must’ve followed us here. They were hiding the woods, probably smirking behind a tree whenever I peered over my shoulder because I thought I heard a sound.
Tyler’s fingers fly across the keyboard of my cell. “Come on, you coward,” he mutters to himself. “Answer.” He looks up. “Nothing.”
Gideon looks unsurprised. "I’ve been getting threatening text messages for weeks but killing me would be a real curveball. I’m not an omega, and my twin was his first victim. This might work in our favor though."
"How?" Tyler demands, jaw clenched.
