Page 90 of Mate Me

“That’s my favorite one,” I told Caius, putting a bean down on my tabla and looking fondly at the picture of a soft blue crescent moon.

“Why?”

I shrugged. “Always thought she looked beautiful. Just something about her felt calming.”

“I like La Sirena,” Abyssian said, pointing at the topless mermaid.

Pollux scoffed. “You like that her tits are showing.”

Abyssian threw a bean at him, pelting him in the head.

“Nog!” Clara called the next one, holding up the card of a drunken man, leaning against a pole so he wouldn’t fall.

It had become a family tradition to call the El Borracho card “Nog” and take a shot in his honor. He couldn’t handle drinking very well. I’d even painted a version of the card, using the same colors and posture, but replacing the man with Nog’s likeness instead. He didn’t find it nearly as amusing as we did, but he still kept the picture.

Clara and I laughed, pouring a shot from our jars, and raising them up to clink a toast, and we each knocked it back. The guys followed suit, clearly not understanding the humor in it, yet still working to be an active part of our night.

“That is deliciously potent,” Caius said, setting his glass down with a slight cough.

“Wow,” Pol said, wiping a tear from his eye. “Is that a hint of blackberry?” I nodded in confirmation.

Abyssian blew out a breath, shaking his head. “Wasn’t expecting that. You made this?”

“Best moonshine in The Crossroads, right, Clara?”

I looked at my cousin and my stomach twisted instantly. The burn of the liquor was gone. The aftertaste lingered like ash. A wave of adrenaline rushed through my body in panic.

Her jaw was slack, her body swaying slightly as though she’d lost her balance. Clara’s pupils were dilated, her eyes beginning to roll into the back of her head.

“Catch her!” I yelled, jumping up and leaping over the table. Abyssian caught her before she fell backwards. Pol grabbed her legs, and they laid her on the ground.

“No, no, no, no,” I whispered, cupping her face as I kneeled beside her. “Clara, look at me.”

“Healer, now!” Caius’s deep command shook the room, and two guards posted outside the kitchen took off, following his instruction.

My cousin’s body vibrated, drool sliding out of the corner of her mouth, pooling on the floor. “Clara, stay with me,” I said, panic leaking into my voice when I turned her on her side while she seized.

I felt helpless. I didn’t know how to heal. I had no idea how to use my witch magic. I didn’t even know what kind of magic I had. I screamed internally, reaching for Eres.

“What do I do?”

“There’s nothing we can do. I don’t know how to heal.”

“What do you mean you don’t know?”

“You’re the witch, not me. Even if we shifted, there’s nothing a shifter can do to heal someone who is dying.”

“Don’t you have some special unicorn magic?”

“You know the answer. If it were possible. I would have done that already.”

“What is the point of being some mystical, rare creature if we don’t even have some special magic in your godsdamned horn?”

I slammed the connection between us shut, and tears leaked out of my eyes as I whispered comforting words to my cousin, begging her to hold on.

Abyssian and Pol kneeled beside her, looking at each other. It was as though they were silently speaking to one another, but it only ended with each one shrugging their shoulders.

“What did this? Abyssian asked.

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