Page 89 of Twisted Gift

I press my ear against his chest to make sure he’s still breathing. “What now?” I ask Richelle. “How long before we know if it worked?”

“I don’t know,” she says, wheeling the tray away from the table. “You know the procedure has never be done on a fae-born before. There’s a possibility it didn’t work. There’s a possibility he won’t wake up.”

My blood runs cold. “He’s going to wake up,” I snap, turning away from her to look at Tristan. I push the hair away from his face and brush my hand over his cheek. “You’re going to wake up,” I murmur to him and press my lips to his in a whisper of a kiss.

Three hours later, Skylar and I are both pacing the room. Tristan still hasn’t stirred. His chest is rising and falling evenly, but he hasn’t opened his eyes. Skylar can’t read his energy, can’t tell whether he’s human.

“I look at him and see nothing. No energy or emotion. It’s as if he’s not even there, but I know he is.”

That doesn’t make me feel better.

Skylar sighs. “We should check in at the hotel. I’m sure—”

She’s cut off by a loud gasp filling the room. We both whip around to find Tristan’s eyes open wide, blinking fast as if the light above is hurting him.

My heart slams against my chest as I rush to his side, cupping his face in my hands. “Tristan,” I murmur, my eyes filling with tears. “I’m here. You’re okay. Everything is okay.”

“Holy shit,” Skylar breathes, staring at him in disbelief. “You’re fucking human.”

Tristan goes to chuckle but winces in pain and starts coughing. Skylar and I help him into a sitting position, and I rub his back until the coughing stops.

“How do you feel?” Richelle asks, walking over to take a look at him.

He blinks at her. “Everything hurts, but I’m alive, so I can’t complain.”

I glance over at Skylar. “Think you could help him out with that?”

She nods, pressing her hand against his chest. “Already on it.”

“You don’t have to—”

“Oh, hush,” Skylar cuts him off.

This time, when he laughs, it’s light and sounds strong. “Thank you,” he says to Skylar after she pulls her hand away.

“You’ll need to take it easy for a while. You’ve never lived as a human before,” Richelle says.

Tristan looks to me and shoots me a wink. “Oh, I think I’ll manage.” He swings his legs over the edge of the table, and Skylar and I help him stand. He takes a few steps, testing his strength, and nods. “I’m all right,” he assures me.

Richelle inches back. “I did what you asked. Now it’s time you keep up your end.”

Tristan tilts his head to the side, flicking a glance at her. “You did.” He nods. “Once Skylar has adjusted your memories, one of the guards will take you home.”

She frowns as if she’s disappointed Tristan is following through with her memory wipe. “Okay,” she says in a low voice, filled with defeat.

Skylar walks over to her, shaking her head. “You really don’t deserve his mercy,” she hisses at her.

Richelle’s eyes widen as Skylar grabs her by the throat. “Tristan said he would let you go.” She digs her nails into Richelle’s skin, making her cry out. “I, however, promised no such thing.”

“Sky, don’t—” Tristan starts.

It’s too late. Skylar snaps Richelle’s neck like a twig and drops her lifeless body on the floor as if it’s nothing. My mouth drops open as I stare at her face, her eyes wide and vacant.

Tristan sighs, his brows furrowed. “Was that necessary, Skylar?”

She whirls on him and says one word: “Max.”

His eyes soften, and he nods, wrapping his arm around my shoulders and guiding me toward the door. “Let’s go home.”

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