<b>Chapter </b><b>566 </b>


    Mirabe set the bottle back on the table, turned her head with a yful gaze, and smirked at Asher. “Did you use my recipe to brew this potion<b>?</b><b>” </b>


    Asher shifted ufortably under her scrutinizing eyes, his fingers twitching but not daring to retrieve the


    bottle.


    He knew, of course, that Dane’s potfon was concocted following Mirabe’s instructions. But what of it? If it worked, that was all that mattered, right?


    Niki, overhearing the exchange, suddenly fixed his eyes on Mirabe’s face. After a brief pause, his attention darted to the bottle on the table.


    He moved quickly, almost clumsily, bumping into his chair in his haste. Johnny, sitting nearby, jumped to his aid, worried that Niki might cause a scene.


    Niki barely noticed Johnny. He grabbed the bottle, unscrewed the cap, and inhaled deeply. He wasn’t an pharmacist, but his knowledge of pharmacology was extensive, and he immediately recognized the ingredients of the pills.


    Niki remembered the recent weeks when Dane had been holed up in the pharmacy, concocting who knows what. He had asked Dane about it<b>, </b>only to receive <b>a </b>vague response about research. Niki hadn’t pressed further. So, it was Mirabe’s master recipe he’d been using all along…


    Leaning against the table edge, Niki was, for the first time, at a loss for words. Pure research would have been one thing, but this was theft, in and simple. Suddenly unsteady, Niki fumbled with the bottle, which fell with a tter onto the table and rolled onto the floor.


    Asher stood hastily and moved to Niki’s side. Before he could utter a word, Niki’s hand struck him across the face. “Aplete disgrace,” he spat.


    Niki’s voice was hoarse, and he shook his head, disappointment etched across his face. He wondered how the Reeves family hade to harbor such unprincipled individuals.


    Asher stayed silent, knowing better than to provoke further ire. He had only wanted to hand over the potion <b>to </b>Owen in front of Mirabe and be done with it. He hadn’t anticipated Owen’s refusal or Mirabe’s scrutiny.


    The room was steeped in awkwardness.


    Mirabe sighed softly, bent down, and picked up the bottle from the floor, cing it back on the table. “To brew potions is one thing,” she mused dryly, “but this… this is amateur hour.”


    James nced at Mirabe, sensing her thinly veiled patience. Despite herposed exterior, he knew better. His gaze swept over Asher with a glint of annoyance. The Reeves family, he mused, all seemed tock the makings of leadership, save for Niki.


    Rising gracefully, James casually draped an arm over Mirabe’s shoulder. She turned to him, questioning. “Weren’t we heading to the library?” James‘ voice was light, prompting her.


    Mirabe blinked and nodded. “Oh, right. Let’s go then.“–


    With a soft affirmation, James turned back to Niki. “We’ll be taking our leave, Niki,”


    Without another word about the potion, they offered him a graceful exit.


    Niki, struggling to maintain hisposure, couldn’t look them in the eye. “Yeah,” he managed to say, his voice strained.


    James collected Mirabe’s coat from the rack and handed it to her. Momentster, they left the room together, side by side.


    Though they said nothing more, Niki knew their rtionship was forever altered.