Page 28 of Faerie Marked

I had to move fast before he saw me.

I had the lid open, vial in hand, box locked within seconds before I popped the cork. Ducking, I chugged the entire contents in a single gulp. The potion slid down my throat like mud. It stung my tongue, stomach heaving and threatening to toss its contents, gagging.

It was absolutely disgusting. Worse than the most horrible combination of ingredients my mind could conjure. Maybe Barbarahadpoisoned me.

But it worked immediately, turning my skin molten and making my eyes water. A wrench of pain jolted through my entire body. Dear God, what had I gotten myself into? My gorge rose and I swallowed hard to keep my insides where they belonged.

I am not going to lose it.

My vision went blurry.

“Hey, Tavi, you okay?”

I am not going to lose it.

I was vaguely aware of Mike circling back around the car to check on me when I didn’t answer him. Wheezing, I tried to wave and get him to walk away, my limbs no longer belonging to me. They were attached, sure, but outside of my control.

“Dizzy spell,” I managed to get out.Please don’t puke. “Go on without me. I need a minute.”

His hands were on my back too close to where my skin rippled. “I’m not going to leave you alone. Are you sure you’re all right? Try to breathe. You’re okay.”

The concern in his voice almost made me lose it for real. Of course, the guy had to be a total knight in shining armor when I needed him to just walk away and not look back.

Cool fingers moved on the back of my neck and Mike helped me to stand upright. The world swam in front of me like I viewed it through the reflection of a funhouse mirror. The back of his hand brushed my forehead.

“Not a dizzy spell,” Mike said. “You feel feverish. You’re burning up!”

“I’m fine.” The insistence came out weak. He was too close to me. Surely, he’d see the way my skin had loosened and morphed. He’d notice something was wrong and report me to the council. I was just the crazy chick he’d picked up on the side of the road.

Shrugging him off, I tried to reach in the backseat and grab my duffel bag and purse. The wheeled luggage I’d have to grab later. If later came for me. I might not survive ingesting the sludge Barbara had made for me.

I slammed the door and winced at the sound, too loud and echoing when it shouldn’t have. Stumbled until I hit the gate.

“You’re not going anywhere, I’m sorry.” Mike wrapped his arm around my waist and helped me into the front seat. “Let’s get inside and find a parking spot. Hold on.”

I didn’t want his help. I didn’t want him scrutinizing me, caring about me, especially not when I had to fool him and everyone else to be here. Pressing a hand against my stomach to steady it, I closed my eyes as the car moved forward.

“Almost there, Tavi. Hold on.”

I didn’tdeservehis help. Maybe that’s what bothered me more than anything. This guy had stopped to help a stranger when he didn’t have to, and now he was going above and beyond. For me. For a liar.

Definitely not a serial killer.

The gates opened for us without further delay. Mike pressed the gas and zipped up the curling macadam drive into the darkness of the trees. I thought I saw the driveway branching off into two directions but he continued straight. Soon the forest opened up and the whole of the castle loomed ahead of us. I couldn’t see much. Everything shifted and blurred. I groaned, leaning forward before my stomach lost everything.

He parked near the front doors, helping me out of the car and into the front hall, the doors opening automatically to allow us entry. Like magic. The sound of them closing behind us echoed through the large space, with cathedral ceilings soaring toward a peak and a great golden chandelier shedding light. The rest of the entry hall stood empty save for a few folding tables and chairs.

“Hello?” Mike called out. “Anyone home? We need some help!”

I leaned into him when my strength failed. He tightened his hold on me. “It’s too early in the morning—”

Heels clicked along the tile floor and a voice cried out, “What’s going on? What’s all the commotion about?”

I couldn’t see the speaker. My eyes were swollen and at once it was hard to breathe, the pain never-ending. I heard Mike ask for a nurse, his grip on my waist tightening further. A wave of agony shook me and I jerked against him. Panting.

The idea of someone scrutinizing me before the potion took full effect…I couldn’t allow the risk.

I tried to tell whoever stood in front of us: I was fine, it wasgirl problemsand nothing to worry about. No one believed me. In a heartbeat, Mike and I were led down a side hallway. Once they felt my forehead and the fever raging, there was no room for argument. Every hair on my body stood upright as they flung open the door to a fluorescent-lit room reeking of sterile chemicals.

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