All of which was unfortunate, because when it was time to place the cotton candy in and cast a spell to simmer the top with fire, a plume of pink smoke billowed from the cauldron like someone dropped a bomb in our mixture.
Kaboom!
Chaos erupted in the classroom, but I couldn’t see through the thick smoke.
The smell of cotton candy coated my nostrils, filling my lungs. I gasped like a fish out of water as the smoke wrapped around us.
“Temp—” Remy said softly as a hand grabbed my arm and pulled me down. I fought to brace myself, but in seconds my eyes fluttered shut, and I hit the ground beside my roommate.
Chapter Seventeen
Never seen him act like that
“Is there anything else you can do?”
“We’ve done all we can. She just needs rest.”
“If you need more—”
“Your generous donations are more than enough. Have a seat, and I’ll get you some tea.”
People talked in hushed tones around me, but it was hard to understand what they were talking about.
One thing I did know, Rylan was nearby.
Second thing I knew was my head throbbed.
It took effort to open my eyes, but after a couple tries, I stared at wispy white clouds floating against a wooden ceiling. A very odd thing to see, but then I remembered I was in a magical castle.
“Temperance,” Rylan choked out from my side, and then his face replaced the cloud view.
“Hi,” I said while wiggling my fingers and toes to make sure my body wasn’t broken.
His hair hung over his forehead, and his typical five o clock shadow got thicker. To say the man looked rough was anunderstatement. But on the other side of that statement was the fact that the rough look made him hotter.
“You’ve been asleep for two days. The dragon’s venom in the smoke exacerbated its effects, causing you and Remy to pass out.”
I winced… from the words and the throbbing head.
Rylan’s eyes widened as he scanned my face. “What’s wrong?”
“Just a headache. And it sucks that I’ve missed two days of class.”
This week was when all the good stuff was happening. If Remy was out too, then I’d have to reach out to someone else for notes.
“How’s Remy? Oh, my goodness, Edith and Jemison!” I shot upright, almost slamming my head into his, then swayed before Rylan’s hands guided me back down.
“All fine. Remy is awake and drinking coffee. Your familiars have been spoiled. They’re missing you both but getting the highest level of care I could afford.”
Which was obviously a lot. My poor noodle was dramatic already. She’d have to adjust back to being a pauper after her princess treatment.
“Good. Thank you. You didn’t have to…” I stopped speaking when his lips tightened and the muscle in his jaw tensed.
“What?”
His gaze bored into mine as he lifted his hand and brushed it against my cheek. The tender motion sent shivers down my body.
Please keep it together, magic. No glowing, no combustion, or any emotional giveaways.
