Page 83 of Magic's Rise

“We have to at least say goodnight to everyone,” I tell him as he leads me out of the dance circle.

“Fine.” He changes direction, heading for the table where all the witches have congregated.

“Rowe! Your drink!” Mina exclaims, thrusting the red cup into my line of sight. “I kept it safe for you.”

Haut’s hand shoots out, stopping me from grabbing the drink right away. “No alcohol.”

“Relax,” Tris rolls his eyes. “A sip won’t hurt her.”

I poke Haut in the side. “If I’m too injured for a drink, then I’m too injured to go back to our room.”

Tris’s head whips toward me. “Wait, what happened to us being responsible?”

“Haut doesn’t think it’s necessary.” I reach for the cup. “Thanks, Mina.”

As I grab the top, my wand slips in its sheath on my arm, and the charm on the end falls inside the liquid. Instantly, the little potion bottle glows a bright red, and I freeze, my stomach clenching.

If green means all is safe, then red can’t be good.

“Um, Aris?” I turn to her. “Does this mean someone spit in my cup?”

“No.” The blood drains from Aris’s face, and she shakes her head. “Red is for poison.”

GREEN, GREEN, RED

“Poison?” Mina’s eyes widen and she drops the cup she holds.

My reflexes kick in, and I grab it by the rim before it crashes to the ground. The punch inside sloshes over the top, dousing my fingers in red liquid.

Fear shoots through me, unsure if the poison can work through skin contact, and I set the cup on the table to wipe my hand off with a napkin.

“What did you do?” Haut growls, stepping toward the young witch.

“Nothing!” Mina’s voice rises, her hands raised in self-defense. “I just poured it from the punch bowl! I swear!”

“Really?” Tris’s eyes narrow on her. “Because you’re the one who kept trying to get her to drink it.”

“Rowe, you have to believe me!” She reaches out, then shrinks back when my mates close in. “What reason would I have to harm you?”

“Oh, I don’t know.” Tris sweeps a hand around. “Maybe because you have something to do with the failing barrier?”

“I…” She looks at her fellow witches. “I would never… Silver Hollow is my home.”

Griffen, Levi, and Ezra catch wind of the commotion and push through the crowd forming.

“What’s going on here?” Griffen demands, his gaze sweeping over the gathered werewolves.

“Someone’s poisoned the punch,” Aris supplies. “Or, at least, they poisoned Rowe’s cup. The charm I gave her stopped her from drinking it, though.”

“Nobody drink the punch!” Ezra orders, his voice firm and authoritative, and a murmur spreads through the other werewolves. “We need to check it for contamination.”

He strides across the clearing, heading toward the drink table.

Griffen focuses on Mina, who cowers back. “How did this happen?”

“I was sitting here the whole time with Aris and Kaela, watching everyone dance.” Mina’s eyes plead for understanding. “I swear, I didn’t do it.”

“Watching people dance?” At Mina’s nod, Griffen’s face hardens. “Which means you weren’t actually watching Rowe’s cup the entire time.”

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