Page 50 of A Touch of Poison
What was she going to do next? Did she understand I wasn’t fae? What might be normal for them could kill me.
More bile licked my throat as I hurried across the pillared entrance hall. Head down, I tugged on my coat and gloves.
Outside, the overcast day didn’t pierce my eyes like the cold light of Elthea’s treatment room. Like every other part of me, my breaths shook, steaming. It had grown suddenly chilly, as though autumn had arrived overnight.
I needed to get back to Rose and tell her what Elthea had done. It couldn’t be normal—couldn’t be all right.
Except then she would tell Bastian, and Bastian… Well, he’d broken a man’s nose because he’d questioned me eating cake. He might kill Elthea. I couldn’t risk it. Not when she was my only hope of a cure.
I had to keep this a secret. And that meant I couldn’t return to Rose trembling and pale, this close to hyperventilating.
But my heart was still pounding and I couldn’t control my heaving chest, not as so many people watched me charge by.
I needed to get away. I needed somewhere safe.
Help, my mind cried.Help.
I held onto my breath and that let me hold on to a semblance of control, but both were only temporary.
Both would have to burst soon.
I aimed for a park, but as my eyes burned, I realised it was too far—I wouldn’t make it that long.
A quiet side street opened up. Its houses had basement floors with staircases leading down.
Quiet, dark, small, they beckoned me.
I stumbled down the nearest one and found a spot between the stone steps and the house, invisible from the road.
Wedging myself in, curled tight and small, it felt like the stone embraced me. I crossed my arms over my knees and sobbed in silence.
Only the gods knew how long I stayed there, but it was enough time to grow chilled and for tears to soak my coat sleeves. I still couldn’t look at my hands without being reminded of everything Elthea had done, but I could stand and dry my cheeks, and that was enough.
I kept my head bowed as I took a circuitous route to meet Rose, keeping my bearings using the tower with the bowyer’s shop in it.
I managed a smile when I walked into Ariadne’s atelier, though I thought it might break me.
Even worse, Rose was already on her feet. “I was just about to come looking for you. I was worried—you’ve been ages.”
“Oh, it just took longer than expected.” I waved her off, clinging to my fake smile. “Elthea has some treatments to try now, so we’re making progress, but it means my appointments might take longer.”
“Treatments?” A wide smile, not even remotely fake, spread over her face. “That’s great!”
“Isn’t it?”
And it was great. I could almost convince myself.
All part of my plan.
Find out who was behind unCavendish, get rid of the poison and my need for Bastian, then go home.
This was just another thing I had to endure in the meantime.
19
Bastian
“Who’s the best cryptographer these days?”
