“Don’t tell him we came here. I want him to think it wasn’t a big deal,” I pleaded as a wave of pain came on again. Either they were getting stronger, or I was getting weaker. This was a worse incident than I thought; Ayden might have touched my hair when he hugged me as well.
“Drink this!” Avis flew across the room, with the cap already off the bottle. “Just a sip, dearie, it’s strong.”
I gingerly took the bottle from her with my gloved hand and put it to my lips. Bitter notes of orange, clove, and something else washed over my tongue and I winced, gulping it down and handing it back to her. She capped it and gave it to Ariyon. “That will take her pain and make her sleepy too. Do I need to get her home?”
Ariyon shook his head. “I will see her home safely. You have my word.” He bowed slightly out of respect.
Avis nodded. “All right, then, let me know if you need more,” she told me, but already I felt my limbs going numb as I swayed on my feet.
“Whoa, that’s good stuff,” I muttered, and Ariyon handed Avis a stack of coins.
“A donation to your noble deeds, to be used however you see fit.” He winked at her, and she smiled.
“Did you just pay for my medicine?” I slurred a little as Ariyon slipped his hand behind my back and guided me outside to where Ember was waiting.
As Ariyon loaded me up onto the horse, Avis called after him. “Be a gentleman, Ariyon Madden, I know your aunt very well,” she threatened.
“Yes, ma’am,” he said curtly, and he sat behind me, tucking me into his chest.
I laughed at Avis’s threat to Ariyon. As if he would want to do anything with me. He was going to the dance with Blair, and I was going with Ayden. Or I was before tonight. Who knew what was happening now. He’d probably never want to talk to me again.
We started our ride, slow and steady, the clip clop of horse hooves relaxing me as I leaned back on Ariyon’s shoulder and looked up at his strong jaw. “I’ve never been kissed,” I blurted out, regretting it instantly.
Was this stuff truth serum? It felt a lot like the queen’s magic, but this also had the miraculous effect of numbing my entire body to where I felt like I was floating.
“I figured.” Ariyon grinned, looking down at me as if he enjoyed the confession.
I scowled up at him, pulling my lip into a dramatic frown. “It’s not fair that the brother who doesn’t want me is the only one who can touch me.”
Ariyon stiffened against me, dipping his head to look down at me, which brought our lips dangerously close. “You think I don’t want you?” There was pain in his eyes, and I was starting to feel the pull of sleep yanking me under.
“I’m destined for darkness. No one should want me,” I mumbled against his chest, my head lolling downward.
“Hey!” he said loudly, and my eyelids snapped open as I jerked my chin to look up at him.
He was angry as he gazed down at me. “You’re too desirable, Fallon. It scares me.”
My heart felt like it was going to jump out of my chest but also my chest felt numb, so all I could do was swallow hard.
“And what if I go dark?” I whimpered.
His face sobered. “Then I will jump into the shadows and pull you back to the Light.”
And with that, sleep took me.
SIXTEEN
The next morning I awoke with slightly raw-feeling skin and Yanric perched on my chest inches from my face. ‘Your father was worried sick.’
I groaned. ‘How did I get in bed?’
I had little memory of what happened after I drank that tincture at Avis’s.
‘Ariyon brought you back last night and tucked you into bed. Then he waited in the living room until your father got home from work and explained everything.’
Oh Fae!How embarrassing.
I sat up and Yanric hopped off my chest. After getting ready, I came out to the kitchen and saw the tincture bottle on the counter and my father cooking at the stove.
