What the hell?
Wooziness overwhelmed me, and I scanned the area for Nell. As soon as I spotted her, she morphed into Rage.
“It’s me. I’m your mate,” Nell-Rage said.
“I knew it.” My words slurred together, and I started to giggle.
The mage then turned into Justice. “No, Nai, it’s me. I’m in love with you.”
My eyes widened. “Youare?”
I had no idea if the mage was professing her love or Justice. Something wasn’t right here.
Nell’s shrill scream burst through the hallucination, jarring me back to the present. “You’re killing her!”
I stared at three blurry-Nells, and they all lunged at me then, yanking my arm out from under the mage’s blade. The mage dropped the knife and pulled the jar to her chest with both hands as Nell swiped the blade from the ground and waved it at the witch.
“That’s not fair. You tricked her!” Nell bellowed. “That jar is spelled. It never fills.”
“If either of you had wanted something specific, you should’ve demanded it before we sealed the contract.” The woman grinned. “Life’s not fair; neither is death. Remember that.”
She walked away as if Nell threatening her life didn’t bother her one bit.
Maybe it didn’t.
“Nai, are you okay?”
Nell’s concerned face swam into view just before I shook my head to clear my thoughts of Rage and Justice.
Oww.Bad idea. The headache was akin to that cursed blade stabbing my brain. I held my hand out to examine the cut, which was now healing, and croaked, “Fine.”
Two of the hunchback dudes shuffled into the room then coalesced into one, carrying two potions in his hand. The purple iridescent fluid danced in the small glass bottle.
Nell gasped. “That’s the same stuff Justice got when he saved your life.”
Shock ripped through me. Would Justice have seen the same mage? Would he have given a blood sacrifice to save me?
No way…
“Wake Kaja,” I said, shoving one of the vials toward Nell. I took the other bottle, the one intended for the Headmistress Elaine, and uncorked it. I wasn’t sure I was going to be able to walk out of here in my current state, so I’d have to follow my instinct. Tipping back the vial, I took a tiny swig of the syrupy liquid into my mouth and swallowed. Immediately, my entire body heaved at the revolting taste, and I would’ve spat the liquid out if I hadn’t already swallowed. Even so, I gagged and spit, wishing for a mint…or even a drink of water. Peering back at the vial, I prayed that three-quarters full was enough to save the Midnight princes’ mom.
“What is in that?” I rasped.
The dark mage ignored me, whistling happily in the corner as she poured my blood into a huge wine barrel labeled “Virgin Blood.”
Before I could repeat my question, Kaja gasped and then started coughing.
Legit, almost dying sucked.
Stumbling toward my BFF, I swayed as the tent spun around me.
Nell tucked the now-empty vial into her pocket, tears streaming down her face. She turned and stepped away from Kaja, catching me by the upper arm just in time for me to avoid a faceplant. “Maybe you should take the other one.”
I held my hand out to stop her coaxing. “I took a sip. I’ll be okay.”
That second vial was for my mate’s mother.
We helped Kaja sit up, and Nell dipped her head to look her sister in the eye. “Hey, girl. How you feeling?”
