“Hold up!” the guy called out. “Aren’t you going to finish your juice?”
I frowned. Was he into saving the earth or something? Maybe he wanted to recycle the bottle. I chugged the rest of it and tossed him the plastic.
“Go nuts,” I told him, then turned to catch up with Rani.
I didn’t know what I expected from the missions, but me sitting in a shopping cart while our group maneuvered across campus wasn’t it. Granted, my ankle made me the perfect prey, and Rani refused to let me get eaten. Neither did Kaiden. He and Ezra were magically in our group, not that I thought it a coincidence.
My stomach hurt as we made our way over uneven brick. Rani pushed me in the cart while the others flanked us with their guns at the ready. It was a funny sight. I held my bag of marshmallows close, tempted to eat one, but the churning in my gut was growing worse the closer we got to our checkpoint. The ancient tree was the marker for the center of campus, and an obnoxiously pink hippo piñata hung from its lowest branch.
“Someone grab it and let’s go,” Kaiden ordered.
No one questioned him. It was like they all subconsciously decided he should be in charge. The sight of the bright pink inmy lap was enough to kick-start my nausea. We needed to finish this mission quickly. I was obviously coming down with something. The way back was clear until we passed the liberal arts building. A giant horde of half-drunk zombies waited for us and charged the second we came into view.
“Shit,” Rani giggled. “They really want that piñata.”
The piñata thatIwas holding? Great.
We ran for it—well, the others did. I threw marshmallows from the cart and tried not to throw up. ‘Dead’ zombies littered the path, picking at grass until their time out was up. Half of our group had to remove their bandanas and switch them when we got back to the tent. Me, Rani, the guys, and a handful of others were the only ones to make it through unscathed. Us and the hippo. I couldn’t see the clearing, but I heard the music and it wasn’t much further. Too bad that was still too far for my poor stomach.
“Stop,” I called out. “Stop the cart.”
Rani slowed and leaned over to see what I needed just as I dipped my head over the side to hurl. Cool hands gathered my hair at the base of my neck, and I didn’t need the tingles on my skin to tell me it was Kaiden. Another round nearly toppled the cart, but it stayed on four wheels.
“Are you okay?” Kaiden whispered, anxious eyes scanning my face.
I wiped my mouth with the back of my hand and nodded.
“Maybe it was that fish you had at dinner,” Rani suggested, resuming our trek at a brisk jog.
Whatever it was, it wasn’t done with me yet. By the time we made it back to the clearing, I needed help getting out of the cart. My legs felt like hot Jell-o, ready to melt and drop me to the ground. I stumbled away and threw up again behind a tree. Gods, I felt like shit. My head swam and shivers racked my bodyin waves. I barely made out the conversation taking place around me.
“Are you sure? I would do it, but Pasliegh is being a bitch and wants me on clean up.”
“I’m sure.” That was Kaiden. “I’ll take care of her.”
Then I was being lifted, and it all went black.
Kaiden
I knew tonight was a bad fucking idea. Ezra raced ahead to open the back door of my truck. Moving as swiftly, but gently as I could, I lay my bond across the back seat. She looked so weak. Vulnerable. Her forehead was beaded with sweat, and her scrunched face told me she was in pain. Fuck. I hopped behind the wheel and slammed the door shut. Ezra barely had enough time to climb in the back with my bond before I tore out of the lot.
“I don’t like the look of this, cuz.” He placed partially frozen fingers on Eryn’s skin, trying to cool her. “The fever is rising too fast, and she’s starting to twitch.”
“Check her pupils,” I ordered, and floored it through a red light.
The apartment was in view when Ezra cursed.
“Blown,” he shouted. “This isn't the stomach flu.”
No. It was poison, and I had a pretty good idea of what kind. Gathering my bond back in my arms, I took the stairs two at a time and nearly broke my own door down rushing to get her inside. Antidote. I needed the antidote. But first, I needed tobring her body temperature down. Nothing would do shit for her if her brain fried inside her skull first.
“Ez!” I shouted from the bathroom.
I ran the faucets lukewarm and laid Eryn inside the tub fully clothed. The second she was out of my arms, her eyes flicked open, and she leaned over the side. I jumped out of the way as she was sick once again and growled when she slumped unconscious the second the heaving stopped. Ezra slid into the bathroom, his arms laden with supplies.
“I wasn’t sure what we needed,” he panted. “Fuck, she doesn’t look good.”
“Save your opinions for when I ask,” I snapped. “Go into the kitchen and boil the following: moon water, kola leaf, St. Mary’s thistle, and a clear quartz.”
