Queen of the Fae (Dragon's Gift The Dark Fae #3) - Linsey Hall Page 0,58

the disgusting taste of sour rot.

Drinking the queen’s blood—even a little bit—made me want to gag.

No choice though.

I finished it and looked up. “Well, that was disgusting.”

“Do you feel any better?” Tarron asked.

I tilted my head, trying to decide. Then I doubled over in pain, the potion finally getting to me. Gasping, I went to my knees. Tarron knelt beside me, concern creasing his face as he helped support me, his strong arms around my shoulders and waist.

“What’s wrong?” he demanded of Connor, concern thick in his voice.

“The poison is leaving her body.”

“Will it be over soon?” Tarron asked.

Through the buzzing in my head, I heard Connor answer, “It should be.”

The pain faded a moment later. My skin felt clammy, and I looked down at my hand. It was covered in tiny pinpricks of black that had seeped out of my pores.

“Ew.”

“You can get cleaned up in the bathroom,” Connor said. “There are some towels under the sink.”

Shakily, I rose with Tarron’s help. I did feel better, despite the weakness. It was as if an extra weight had been removed from my shoulders. Her influence was gone.

“I’ll be quick.”

Tarron followed me to the bathroom, conjuring clothes along the way. He handed them to me.

“Thank you.” I took the bundle of clothes, then disappeared inside the bathroom. “It’s like having a walking closet with you.”

“Any time.”

Quick as I could, I stripped out of my dirty clothes and shoved them in the waste bin, then retrieved a towel from under the sink and dampened it. I wiped myself off as best I could, removing the poison from my skin. I’d kill for a shower, but there was definitely no time.

Finished, I tossed the towel in the bin, then pulled out the trash bag and tied it up so no one would come in contact with the poison that had leached out of me. It was probably inert by now, but still… I wouldn’t wish the queen’s influence on my worst enemy.

I dressed in the clothes and boots Tarron had conjured—identical to all my other ones, thank fates—and returned to the people waiting in the bar.

“Ready to go?” Tarron asked.

“Ready.”

“First, another pep-up potion.” Connor held up three little vials. “How many have you had recently?”

“Two.”

He nodded. “Three should be fine. But no more.”

“Thank you.” I took the magical equivalent of an energy drink from him and swigged it back.

Strength surged through my muscles and alertness through my mind. Tarron and Aeri looked healthier as well.

Two Seelie Fae walked into the shop, their skin luminous and their pale hair pulled back into braids that would be perfect for fighting. Each wore leather armor and slinky chain mail that gleamed in the light.

“That’s our ride,” Claire said.

Connor hurried behind the counter and grabbed his potions sack.

“You’re coming, too?” I asked.

“Wouldn’t dream of missing the fight.”

“You could burn to death in a fiery blaze of Eternal Fire, you know.”

He just shrugged. “If it’s my time, it’s my time. Wouldn’t miss a fight when a friend needs me.”

My eyes prickled hotly, and I turned, managing to croak out a quick, “Thanks.”

If I survived this, I owed all my friends. Big time.

Though I had a feeling they wouldn’t accept it. It wasn’t really a payback situation. They did it because they wanted to, and no other reason.

The Fae picked up the boxes of food, and Connor and Claire followed them from the house.

“Let’s go.” Tarron reached for my hand, then for Aeri’s.

We each gripped his hand, and he transported us to the Seelie realm using his specific brand of transportation magic. The three of us spun through space, and the ether spit us out at the edge of town, right underneath an enormous floating platform.

I looked up, craning my neck. “Whoa.”

Millions of fairy lights glittered beneath the platform, gleaming bright and golden. Somehow they managed to support it a hundred feet above the ground.

“Mordaca! You’re here!” Cass’s voice sounded from the right.

I turned to see her loping toward me, Del and Nix at her side. A few yards behind them, Aiden, Roarke, and Ares stood. They were the Origin, the Warden of the Underworld, and Vampire royalty, in that order. Each was hooked up with one of the FireSouls, and even they had come to fight.

“So this thing is going down, huh?” Cass said as she stopped in front of me.

“Yep.”

She squeezed my shoulder. “Good luck. We’ll be on the east entrance if you need us.”

“Thank you.”

Everyone would be stationed at the various closed entry points to the