Castiel nodded in agreement and Artemis looked at me with a flicker of fear. “We need time to control her power or she could be a danger—”
“We leave in the morning,” Brayden announced, and that was that. I agreed with his decision. I wouldn’t delay the rescue mission any longer either.
Artemis glanced at me. “The second you get back from dissolving the curse, find me and we will train all night until morning.”
My eyes widened. “No sleep?”
He shrugged dismissively, as if this was a punishment to me. “You want to storm the Fae Lords in the Ether without dying? Then I will need every available hour to train you.”
Storm the Fae Lords. Yikes this sounded as serious as it was.
After bidding him and Maddy goodbye, we headed for Erwin’s house just as the sun was peeking over the horizon. We’d all gotten up before sunrise so that we’d make it to Erwin’s early enough for the potion to be strong.
My stomach was a ball of nerves the entire drive. I was warring between anxiety at drinking some rando potion, and heartache at losing what little memories I had of Brayden, Lena, Wren and Castiel. By the time we pulled up the driveway and passed the place where Morgana had broken the curse yesterday, I felt sick to my stomach.
Brayden must have sensed it. He reached over and placed a hand over mine. “Whatever happens, we will face it together,” he said.
That was Brayden, always saying the perfect thing. I nodded and the little white house came into view. There was smoke rising from the backyard, indicating they must be back there. Putting the car in park, we all walked across the freshly trimmed lawn and around the side of the house to find Morgana and Erwin arguing as they stood over a cauldron.
“I stirred it last!” Morgana shouted. Her normally lustrous hair was frizzy and had a twig sticking out of it. Deep bags sagged under her eyes.
“No, I did!” Erwin stood on a stool and shouted back at her.
“We’re here!” Brayden announced.
“Oh thank the light!” Morgana hissed and dropped the spoon against the edge of the cauldron.
Erwin turned, facing Leah and I. “Quickly, spit into the pot! Both of you,” he barked.
“Say what?” Leah asked hesitantly, but Castiel all but pushed her forward. This was clearly time sensitive.
I ran forward and tried not to overthink the fact that I was probably about to drink my own saliva. Peering into the purple bubbling liquid, I spit into it. A shot of green sparks flew from the pot and I backed away. Leah looked at me wide-eyed, but I encouraged her and she leaned over to spit, which sent blue sparks dancing off the top.
Interesting.
Erwin reached out and stirred the pot, and the purple liquid slowly became highlighter-yellow.
“Cool.” I couldn’t help but admire.
He put some on the tip of the spoon and held it out to me. “Ready? Hold hands.”
Now? Like he was ready NOW?
I thought maybe we would have more time. A little processing would be nice.
I nervously stepped up to Leah’s side and took her fingers in mine.
“Brayden, to me!” Leah cried, pulling the stone out.
This was all happening way too fast. I’d wanted to have a few words, maybe some time to think this through.
“If this changes color, the potion is dead and I will be pissed—” Morgana growled, and before she could finish I leaned forward and slurped the contents of the spoon.
A bitter peppery flavor rolled across my tongue, and Erwin quickly dipped the spoon back in the potion and then fed some to Leah. She slurped it off and winced, puckering her lips as I waited.
Nothing happened.
“I don’t feel any—”
