Page 43 of Kiss the Dawn
“I thought I lost you,” he whispered against my lips. “I thought I’d be too late…”
Too late…
Darkness closed in on us.
Too late…
His face melted like wax, his body pooling into a puddle and vanishing.
Too late…
Oh God. This wasn’t real.
I looked down at my arm, at the blue hue climbing over my skin. And a true memory surfaced, sharp and bright.
“I’m sorry,” Zarin said as he squeezed my arm and depressed the plunger, filling my body with poison.
It was done.
I was dying.
Chapter 15
LORENZO
Seeing Orina again, spending time with her, has been illuminating. The attraction is still there and growing the more I learn about her. Losing her to the Isle isn’t an option for me.
It’s been a long time since I met a woman that I wanted to keep close, and now I have a way to do it.
The idea is simple. Risky, but I’m certain it can be done by the right people, and with the green light from Daphne, I’m ready to let Orina know the plan and see if she’s on board.
It will work. I’m certain. And it means we can leave tomorrow without Orina having to do the ceremony.
“We should have thought of it sooner,” Frederick says, pulling me out of my thoughts.
We’re almost back at our quarters, two doors andseveral staircases later. The Loop itself might not be vast, but it can take you places with its witch doors. Doors that Frederick has access to.
“It’s such an obvious idea now that you’ve laid it out,” he says.
“We’re in a world filled with magic. Basic science isn’t something that takes precedence in our minds.” The door to our quarters comes into view, and I lengthen my stride.
“Do you think she’ll agree to it?” Frederick asks.
“We’ll find out soon enough.” I lightly knock, then enter to find the room empty. “Orina?” Maybe she went to lie down. But the bedroom door is open, the bed neatly made. The bathroom is empty too. “Where is she?”
“Would she have gone exploring?” Frederick asks.
Orina is a curious spirit, but she’s also disciplined. She understands the delicate situation we’re in, and I asked her to stay here so…My pulse quickens as I catch the scent of witch magic. It’s gone quickly, but it leaves me with no doubt that there was a witch in this room not long ago. One that used magic.
“Who else is here aside from us? Any witches?”
Frederick frowns. “Well, Eliza and her mates arrived a few hours ago, but?—”
“Fuck.” I rush to the door because I know exactly where she might be, but whether of her own will or not is another question. “Take me to their quarters. Now.”
One witch door,a flight of steps, and a corridor later we reach Eliza’s quarters.
Frederick moves to knock, but I grab his arm to stop him. I can smell power. Sharp with intent and something else. A sickly sweet scent that I’ve come across once before.
