Love wasn't the reason she was here tonight.
Although she wasn't completely skeptical towards the supernatural, there was only one person who made her heart beat faster—and that person was disgusted by the mere thought to kiss someone. Especially in a crowded space like this.
The only reason he was here tonight was business. As usual.
Her own reason to be here was nothing more than a gut feeling. Unrest plagued her since she'd broken into the Pharmacy to steal fluisterkruid from the locked cabinet. She never asked questions when Kaz told her to do something. This time, things hadn't been different. However, that didn't mean she didn't want answers. A long time ago she'd learned to trust her gut—and that was the reason she'd watched Kaz from the shadows, two hours before the feast started.
He'd handed the fluisterkruid to Geraldine van Eck—in exchange for a fine bag of cash. Money, it's always about money. She'd followed the girl, watching her brew a potion while whispering her wish into the kettle.
It was a love potion.
A love potion on a day like this—where kisses were binding and lovers were born. Geraldine clearly planned to give fate a helping hand. Something that would have made Inej shrug, except that the nagging feeling persisted.
And so, she kept an eye on the girl since her arrival.
Which wasn't very hard, for it didn't take long before she purposefully walked up to Inej's best friend.
"Hey," Jesper said, his smile bright as always. Yet, there was a slight tremor. Disappointment. Inej knew him well enough to interpret small expressions like that. A small smile crossed her lips. Was he hoping for someone to join the feast with Geraldine?
He looked around once more, but Geraldine started to talk lively to him. She even led him away from Inej, who suppressed a sigh.
Does she really plan to give him a love potion?
Inej kept standing on the side, her gaze not leaving the couple for a single moment. She hadn't planned ahead. What was she going to do? Tackle Jesper when that girl tried to kiss him? Tell him what she'd seen?
Jesper was way too skeptical. He would only laugh about it.
An hour went by. Inej was pretty sure Geraldine had given him the potion. Inej tried to join them three times, but the potion already seemed to be working.
It's too late.
Would she really lose her best friend to that... witch?
There had to be a way to—
A thought crossed her mind. There was no doubt that Geraldine had used her own blood to create the potion, to make sure Jesper would fall in love with her.
Would it work for a blood relative as well?
When Jesper would focus on him and she'd make sure they wouldn't kiss...
With only a part of the plan in her head, she left the room. She had to get Wylan, as quick as she could. He hadn't come to the feast, which meant that he was still at home.
Inej knew better than ringing the doorbell. She climbed the roof and froze when she saw someone standing behind the window. It's him!
His face was all sadness. Did he know what his sister planned to do?
The boy flinched when he noticed her; then, he opened the window.
"H-hello?" the boy asked, sounding insecure.
"Hey." Oddly enough, they'd never spoken. She simply wasn't much of a talker. "I need your help."
Confused, Wylan looked at her. "My help? For—for what?"
"You have to keep Jesper from making a terrible mistake."
The boy kept staring at her, his cheeks turning pink. "Jesper?" he whispered.
"Yes. Your sister wants to bind him to her. You can stop this."
The boy raked his hand through his curls. "I never thought that I would be the knight in shining armor tonight," he muttered.
Inej lifted the corner of her mouth. "It's a night full of surprises—as it's supposed to be." She stepped back. "Come on, there's no time to waste."