Page 117 of A Touch of Poison
Exhaustion swept over me, a wave that threatened to drag me under. “I did technically die for a minute. You’ll forgive me if I’m not entirely under control.”
His eyebrows shot up. “You… died?”
I hung my head, wishing I hadn’t burst out with it so easily.
“No use wishing that. I’ll see it when you let me take the memory, anyway. Come on, then.” He took the seat next to mine and gestured for me to sit up.
I called the memory afresh, gripping the table’s edge as I battled nausea.
Hmm. Kaliban’s voice reached into my mind as he wiped away the start of the appointment.Do you want this part erasing, too?
He pulled a memory to the surface…
My throat is hoarse. My breaths wheeze. But most importantly, when I open my eyes, the burning in my body is gone. Every muscle aches, weak and trembling.
No more pain.
From the far side of the slowly spinning room, Elthea watches me, head cocked, a slight crease between her eyebrows. She’s wearing a mask now. She didn’t have that before.
She approaches and makes a thoughtful sound. “Interesting.”
“Interesting?” It bursts out of me as I fight to control my breathing and the spinning of the room.
“Very interesting.” She nods, examining my hands.
I’m still strapped to the bed, or else I’d be mighty tempted to wring her bloody neck for calling this “interesting.” Somehow I would find the strength to do that, despite my limbs feeling like liquid.
“The manticore venom had the usual effect, but then… it was like your body began to process it. It caused a lot of stress to your system, and there was a strange reaction from your skin—like the aconite hazed out of you.” She pulls up my sleeves, pinching the skin and nodding.
“Your heart stopped for a while. But then it restarted on its own. And”—she ducks close, peering into my eyes—“I didn’t need to heal you. You’re clear of all effects.”
I shoot upright—or as upright as I can with the straps biting into my wrists. “I’m cured?”
“What? Oh.” She laughs. “No, notthat.” Another laugh that makes my fingernails cut into my palms. “The manticore venom. It didn’t work as a cure, but…” She frowns and unbuckles one wrist. “It seems you might be immune to poisons.”
I can’t do anything but stare at her, too exhausted to process, too drained to reply.
She flashes me a smile. “Like I said: interesting.”
I pulled back to the here and now.Take it. I didn’t want anything from that room. I offered the memory to Kaliban and sagged when he swept it out of my mind, even though I didn’t knowwhyI felt so relieved.
“Thank you,” I murmured, scrubbing the heels of my hands into my eyes. Despite the coffee I’d had at the meeting, exhaustion came crashing over me. I could sleep now. And I needed to rush back so Bastian wouldn’t know I’d snuck out.
Kaliban made a low sound. “You should be careful of the Serpent, Kat.”
“Sorry.” I gathered myself. “I didn’t mean to think so loud. I’m just so tired.” But I frowned at him as I processed what he’d said. I thought he might’ve had sympathy for someone else who was disliked by society.
His lips set in a thin line. “Not for him.”
“Bloody hells.” I squeezed my eyes shut. I was used to controlling my actions and my speech—today’s outburst to Lysander being a rare exception. But my thoughts were the only place I got to be free. At least,usuallythey were.
When I dared to look again, I found Kaliban watching me with a thoughtful frown. “Do you ever let go?”
“What do you mean?”
“You’re trying to hold tightly on to your feelings—toyourself. The tighter you squeeze a bird, the quicker it dies.”
Rising, I snorted. “What a cheerful image.”
