"In thekitchen. Labeled bottle. Ten dropsinmy mouth."
My words slur together, my eyes sliding shut without permission as the vampyr venom continues to burn through my system. I'm lying supine now, and everything is starting to fade.
Please come back to me, sangfluir.
The last thing I hear before blacking out is, "Hell no. I am not fucking with wyvern juice, you blood-guzzling freak."
22
MAVEN
Fresh-fallensnow crunches under my boots as I walk into Halfton at two in the morning. It took more of my magic reserve than anticipated to break out of Everbound's wards. But so far, none of the Immortal Quintet or their henchmen have jumped from the shadows and attempted to kill me.
Which is disappointing.
But at least it means I can get Kenzie back quickly.
A thick, ominous chill hangs in the wintry night air as I stroll down the middle of Main Street toward the inn at the very end of the small town. The street lights are dim. The only humans who might be awake in Halfton would be on the other side of town, but otherwise, all humans are resting in their beds in this sleepy little town.
Occasional flurries of snow fall while the breeze rustles dead tree branches. Sinister-sounding wind chimes hanging outside dark storefronts toll softly. The ambiance is so eerie it makes me smile.
And then I sigh, wishing my quintet was here with me. Gods, I'm such an idiot for them.
But it's safer for them that I'm alone tonight to get Kenzie.
I pass by a cemetery before finally reaching the Black Wing Inn. The massive brick building was probably built a hundred years ago, and the owners haven't renovated since then. A broken porch swing hangs crookedly beside the front door, creaking loudly whenever the cold wind blows. None of the lights are on in the three-story building. A feral calico cat hisses when it sees me and hides in the nearest bushes.
Charming.
Quick and silent as a shadow, I pick the lock of the inn's front door and slip inside, ascending the stairs until I finally stop at Room 17. Holding my breath, I use a simple common magic unlocking spell, step inside, and turn on the light to find that?—
Thank the fucking universe.
Kenzie lays on the bed in suspended animation, paused in time, staring sightlessly at the ceiling while pale green light shimmers around her from the stasis spell.
Holding my hands over her, I draw from what little remains of my magic, whispering various incantations until, finally, one of them clicks.
The changeling's lingering spell shatters. Kenzie gasps and scrambles back on the bed, her blue eyes wild and disoriented as she grabs the nearest pillow and holds it like a weapon.
"Unless you plan on asphyxiating me with that, it's useless."
Kenzie blinks, focusing on me. For a moment, my throat tightens painfully as I wait to see whether she'll remember me or not. She might be looking at a total stranger. The changeling was feeding on her memories, so there's a good chance that she has no idea who I?—
"Maven!"
I'm yanked onto the bed, and Kenzie sobs into my shoulder as she hugs me tight, her body shaking. I shut my eyes, relieved that she didn't forget me.
It's still fucking uncomfortable to be around someone who's crying. Still, I ignore the apprehension dancing along my spine and the cold sweat that starts to prickle my skin to hug her back.
"O—oh, s—sorry," she hiccups, pulling back and mopping at her face. "I know you don't like touching. I didn't mean to grab you like that. I was just so relieved to see you and—and,oh my gods, there was a ch—changeling who looked just like Harlow, and it wasinside my fucking headand…I'm sorry, I know you can't stand crying, but I just?—"
Determined to comfort her even if it feels entirely unnatural to me, I re-wrap her in an awkward hug and clench my jaw against the way my nerves tighten in horror at all this extended contact.
"Cry if it helps. I don't mind."
Kenzie takes me up on the offer and cries for another couple of minutes, mourning her lost memories. She finally pulls away and swipes at her eyes again. Her face is splotchy, but she straightens and blows her wild, pale curls out of her face like she's determined to move on.
"So, um…how long have I been here?"
