Page 126 of The Stars are Dying

“The tea, Starlight,” he said as though pained he couldn’t truly aid me.

I thought I nodded, though I couldn’t be certain when I could barely reach out to wrap a cloth around the pot handle. My hand shook the boiling water dangerously, but I managed to pour enough into the cup.

“This is safe?” I asked with blurred vision, hoping the black water was a mistake.

“It won’t taste pleasant, but yes. And if you’re still wondering, the plant would have killed you if you’d consumed it raw.”

It wasn’t the right moment to tell me that; now I was overcome with the notion I hadn’t boiled it for long enough and it could still be deadly.

“Your time is running out,” Nyte urged.

I took a deep breath, letting it blow over the cup to cool its surface before I took a sip. Cringing, I pulled away, coughing at the bitter taste of ash and water.

“You have to drink it all.” Nyte was behind me again, bringing a hand under mine to coax the cup back to my lips.

I tried to shake my head, but the cup reached my mouth and I drank again. I gagged, but Nyte’s hand remained there, determined to make me drink it all despite the water pooling in the corners of my eyes.

It burned, and I wanted to vomit with every gulp I took.

“That’s it,” he soothed, his voice becoming distant.

The last drop sliced my throat, and I panted. The cup dropped, shattering as my hand caught me from falling, but the world was spinning.

“Lie down.”

I didn’t have a choice when my arm gave out and I fell.

37

Ijerked back up with a gasp. I didn’t know how I’d gotten to my feet, but my disorientation began to clear, and I walked a few vacant steps.

“Nyte,” I hissed down the dark hall I was standing in.

He didn’t answer.

My hand caressed my neck, certain it had been on fire seconds ago, but now I felt normal. My shoes echoed as if it were marble beneath my feet as I walked toward a light with flickers of color. Voices sounded now, though distorted, like I was underwater, and I became desperate to push through to the surface.

Until a bustling room unfolded around me as my focus came back. My hands shielded the burst of light.

It wasn’t the sudden commotion that stilled me. A slow chill crept down every notch of my spine before beginning to coat my skin.

I felt him, and I wanted to race from this place I thought I’d escaped.

“My darling,” he said in a sultry tone.

Hektor’s hand touched my waist, and I couldn’t move.

Oh gods.

He’d found me. I couldn’t believe I’d thought I could ever escape this hold, ever run, when my chain to him would always have a limit.

“I missed you.” He pressed his lips to my bare shoulder, and my eyes pricked.

I examined my gown. It was a dark purple, hugging my body. The cut at the top of my thigh let air breeze over my legs while sheer sleeves fell from my shoulders, attached to a low, heart-shaped neckline.

“I’m sorry,” I whispered. It was all I could do when what I’d done rushed in with a daunting horror. I’d run from him, and now he’d found me I would face punishment. “I didn’t mean to—”

“Shh,” he silenced me, easing me around until my head leaned back to look him in the eye. Those green eyes I’d hopedto never see again. Yet in that second, maybe the pang in my chest was relief at the familiarity and the fact I hadn’t killed him.

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