Page 81 of The Enemy's Daughter

“Okay.” That must be where Enola is. “Where’s that?” I try to sound friendly despite her obvious aversion to me. Skies, I have never missed Freia more.

She turns away before answering. “First door on your left after the stairs.”

It’s the room she just came out of.

I approach the closed door and knock on the hollow oak. “Hello?” Turning the door handle, I step inside. Bright sunlight pours in from the large window taking up most of the wall. Standing next to it is Annette.

My stomach sinks.

Suddenly something sharp pokes my shoulder, causing pain to shoot down my arm. I jerk away.

Caro sneers with frustration as she holds up the half-empty syringe to Annette. “She moved away too quickly. But it’s probably enough.”

“What are you doing?” I demand, covering the throbbing puncture mark with my hand. Outrage and fear flood my body. “What... what did you inject me with?”

Caro glares and slams the door shut.

My gaze darts around the room, and to my horror I find Enola facedown in the corner. I rush toward her, but Annette and another nurse I’ve only seen in passing block my way.

“It appears you’ve lost your mind.” Annette’s face is stone cold, but the strained, high timbre of her voice betrays her nerves. “You’re a violent, psychotic girl who attacked the only person who’s ever been nice to you. It’s really sad.”

“What?” My heart spasms as I spot the small pool of blood leaking from Enola’s head onto the floor. “No,” I whisper.

“Yes,” Annette says. “You can’t be trusted. We told everyone that. If only they had listened.”

A light, airy buzzing begins at the base of my skull. Whatever they gave me is starting to take effect. With a deliberate breath, I attempt to steady my erratic heart. I have to help Enola.

We have to get out of here.

“You thought no one saw the attack,” Annette continues, “but all of us are witnesses. You were vicious. Calculated.”

They have me cornered. Even though I know it’s pointless, I reach for the connection to Tristan, but there’s nothing there. We’re too far apart. I notice a second empty syringe, lying on the table. Did they hit Enola hard enough to knock her unconscious? Or did they give her something after they hit her to help her stay down?

“Have you checked that she’s breathing?”

Annette ignores me, but a slight movement of Enola’s chest eases my panic.

Caro moves, and dizziness swirls through my head as I try to keep her in my sights. The sensation is almost pleasant. Could they have given me a sedative? An injectable form of poppy extract? “What do you want from me? To leave?”

The three women share a tense look—I’m right.

“Fine. I’ll go.” I’ll say anything to get Enola help and get me outof this room, preferably somewhere I can talk to Tristan. He’ll help me figure this out.

The tension around Caro’s eyes relaxes. I’m playing right into their hands. What exactly are they planning?

“I’ll go as soon as you take Enola to Henshaw,” I amend.

Annette shakes her head and pulls a knife from one of the big pockets in the bottom of her shirt. “That’s not how this is going to work. You’ll go now. I’ll escort you, and only once you’ve crossed the border fence will we help Enola. Fight or take too long, and she dies.” She raises the knife to my neck.

“The story of how you attacked our treasured founding family member is already spreading. And if Enola survives, she won’t be able to correct it. She doesn’t know who hit her.”

“Go,” Caro barks at me. “You’re done convincing everyone that the clans need to be spared. And don’t even think about coming back. There isn’t a soldier guarding the border fence who won’t shoot you now on sight.”

So that’s what this is about—at least to Caro. Even with the growing fuzziness in my head, it’s clear time is running out. Not just for Enola, but also for me.

I will not lose consciousness around these monsters.

“Then let’s go.” I spin on my heel and the room spins with me. My hand flies out to grab the wall. Inhaling through my nose, I say a quick prayer for Enola.Please be okay.

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