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“It’s not about the truth elixir itself. Things that alter our subconscious can hinder coin travel. Instead of home you’d have to think I want to go to my room at Ivercrest to make sure your subconscious doesn’t fill in the blanks.”

Thoughts rushed through her mind, making her dizzy.

“Hold on, you said things that alter our subconscious can also interfere with coin travel?”

He nodded.

“Would…would life-threatening injuries qualify?”

His eyebrows furrowed. “Absolutely.”

Her mouth went dry. The image of Dawson slamming lifelessly against the cupboard of vials in Harrington’s healing wing came back to her. Aidric’s words from that night were on endless repeat in her mind.

I meant to coin travel home. Not sure why it brought me here.

34

Mira checked her watch again. The sign outside the small apothecary in Tallan stated it would open in two minutes. Her fingers drummed on her elbow. She could have gone to Ivercrest’s infirmary and avoided this entirely. But at school, she would risk running into someone and having to answer questions she could not answer herself. Namely, what was she doing with Aidric Dawson? What was this between them?

She shouldn’t have taken Rylan’s potion without asking about possible side effects first. And she shouldn’t have coin traveled after using it. Mistakes were made.

Last night, right before Mira went to her room, Rylan had said to her, “Oh, and I don’t mean to assume anything, but…” He had trailed off as he awkwardly scratched his head.

“What?”

“Just to be clear—the potion shields against all spells.”

“I know. That’s the point.”

He cleared his throat. “Right. So, again, I’m not trying to assume what may or may not have happened when you went to Dawson’s in the middle of the night, but the potion shields against all spells.”

Fuck.

So here she was, waiting for the apothecary to open so she could buy a contraceptive potion.

The elderly shopkeeper turned on the lights, slowly walking from one corner of the shop to the next. She checked her watch again.

Finally, the door opened.

“Good morning,” the potion shopkeeper greeted her.

“Morning.”

“What can I help you with?” she asked as she walked back behind the counter.

Thankfully, Mira was the only person in the store so early. “I need the contraceptive potion. For…after.”

She probably could have made the potion herself, but she didn’t want to risk getting it wrong.

“Coming right up,” the shopkeeper said, taking a vial out of the drawer. “Drink it within twenty-four hours of having intercourse, and be sure to finish the whole vial. Some make the mistake of only taking a sip because of its taste.”

Mira nodded, placed the quants on the counter, and took the vial. She didn’t even make it fully out of the store before she downed the potion in full and grimaced at its awful taste. This was the price she had to pay for not asking Rylan about his potion’s side effects first.

—

The horrid taste was still on her tongue when she walked to class and spotted Dawson in the crowded hallway. He strode toward her.

“I’ve been waiting for you to ask me to your Caster celebration,” he said, with delight written all over his face.