Vespera’s POV
The little cottage stood in the middle of nowhere, surrounded by wild gardens, winding stone paths, and rows of herbs. Lavender grew beneath the windows, rosemary lined the walkway, and bundles of dried plants hung beneath the crooked roof, while dense woodland concealed the house from passing strangers.
An elderly woman approached with a wicker basket over one arm, her silver hair pinned into a loose bun. She paused to inspect the chamomile growing beside the path before continuing towards the door, unaware that someone was waiting inside.
She stepped into the kitchen and stopped abruptly, dropping her basket as apples rolled across the floor and a jar of dried lavender shattered beside her feet.
Her attention was fixed on the young woman sitting at the table, a dark lea
