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Dark Magic had come to collect its debt.

It was suddenly hard to breathe. She needed air. She hadn’t brought her coin so she couldn’t travel back to her room. Her chest was tight and heavy. Her throat closed. She needed air.

Stumbling up the staircase, higher and higher, she found herself at the library.

With only the moon as her witness, she raced to the large window and opened it. Cold wind blasted her in the face, and she inhaled it as deeply as she could. Her hands gripped the cold metal of the frame tightly.

Mira felt like she was free-falling, dark thoughts drowning her. She closed her eyes and tried to slow her breathing. Her arm burned hotter than it had in years.

It was too much.

There was no air.

It was too much.

In the depth of her despair, a familiar voice cut through the silence. “Fancy seeing you here, Winters.”

22

He was the last person she wanted to see right now. Mira could still recall his words to her in the courtyard. She was unable to fix herself, and here was proof. Was he here to gloat? Tell her he was right?

“Stay away from me,” she said without turning around.

Dawson’s steps inched closer. Everything in her burned, and pain seared through her arm. She wanted it to end.

“Someone has to keep an eye on you while you’re coming down from your high,” he said as he stood next to her.

She stared at him, bewildered. “What are you talking about?” There was no way he could know. She hadn’t told anyone about the potion and had brewed it herself.

“Looks like you’re already coming down from it now. Was it worth it?”

“I took nothing.”

He chuckled. “Please, Winters. I had enough gavisus in my day to know the signs.”

The cold air did little to soothe her burning skin. She despised having him here, witnessing her weakness.

“Oh yeah? Which are?” she snapped back.

“Your smile was fake.”

Her scar pulsed and she grabbed her arm. “And you would know?”

He stared out at the moon. “Your eyes crinkle when you genuinely laugh.”

Her angry comeback evaporated.

“That was my first clue,” he continued, still not meeting her gaze. “But I assumed you were just putting on a show for that dreadfully dull Caster. My next clue was the way you talked to me at the bar. It was obvious it wasn’t you talking. And then I confirmed my suspicion when I smelled lemon hops and sunfeather on you. No other commonly used potion has both ingredients.”

Clever bastard. “Well, I still don’t need you to babysit me, so you can leave.”

“I’m serious, Winters. You shouldn’t be alone with this. Especially if it’s your first time using it.”

“I won’t be alone. I’ll tell Ella.”

He braced his hands against the railing of the window. The moonlight made his skin even paler. “We both know you won’t.”

She hated that he was right.