Page 27 of Pierce

“Alina. Please. Your sister is dying, and she needs your help.” Smoke took the bandana from me—wrenched it away, more like—and held it out to her. “She told us where to find you. She told us you’re a healer. And yes, we know you’re a member of the fae. We mean you no harm, but there are those in your world who would wish us harm. And we can work this all out later, but for now, you need to put on the damn blindfold and come with us. Quickly.”

She blinked.

They held each other’s gaze for an endless moment.

“Fine.” She pulled it from his hand and tied it over her eyes and around her head.

Smoke examined her closely, probably more closely than he needed to, to be sure she couldn’t see. Finally, he shrugged.

“All right. Come on. You’ll have to go down the wall on one of our backs.”

“I’ll what?”

It didn’t matter if she was skeptical. I took her by the hand and led her to the window.

“We need to leave.” I did the deciding for her, turning my back and wrapping her arms around my neck before doing the same with her legs around my waist. “There’s no doubt the two of you are related,” I grumbled as I climbed out the window.

“What’s… that… mean?” she asked through gasps for air. Her heart beat wildly against my back as I climbed down the tower wall.

“She never stops asking questions and stalling, either.”

We were on the ground in no time at all, but I couldn’t let her go with the blindfold still on.

“Hold on tight, now.”

She did as I asked, to the point where I wondered if she was trying to strangle me. She would once she knew what I had done to Jasmine.

“How did you do that?” she asked as Smoke and I ran through the woods.

“Do what?”

“Climb up and down like it was nothing? And with me on your back?”

“You don’t weigh very much,” I pointed out.

“I don’t respond to flattery, so don’t waste your time.”

Smoke snorted again. “I’ll tell you about it in the car. I promise. So long as you don’t touch that blindfold.”

“I won’t.”

“Your sister’s life depends on it.”

“I said, I won’t.”

And she wouldn’t. Her heart beat faster than ever at the mention of Jasmine. She loved her sister, was devoted to her.

Good thing. We would need that.

I helped her into the back seat and rolled my eyes when Smoke climbed in beside her instead of driving, as he had to get us there.

“I guess I’ll drive,” I muttered, getting behind the wheel and hitting the gas the moment the engine turned over. It was better that way—my brother drove like an old woman most of the time. He’d never go fast enough for me.

“All right. I’m in the car. Can you tell me now who you are and why I’m wearing this damn thing?”

“Promise you won’t flip out,” Smoke implored.

“You’re asking for a lot of promises.”

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