Y

ad spins and my body feels weak. My skin burns, y

s urgent, shaking slightly. The sound of the city fades into nothing as he speeds through

ries me in his arms. His heart beats fast against

whispers, almost like he's

s in the distance-colored lamps that onc

we in

Dex answers softly.

cost me fifty dollars, and I loved every second of it. But there's a gap

, heading toward a tunnel sealed off from the public. The air is heavy w

ots striking metal steps. His grip o

er," he murmurs

th catches. We've stepped into a space so vast it could hold an ent

ble," I

esn't look surprised. He walks straight toward the glo

er. His voice echoes across the mas

together. The people, the walls, ev

voice asks. She sounds yo

her," Dex s

his is bad," t

he doesn't remem

me. She has smooth brown skin, full lips, a

Dex says beside her, h

wers softly. Her hand pre

n and see a needle piercing my skin. Warmth spr

drowning in air. My chest hea

an yells. "Baron's poison h

ys through gritted teeth. He's holding my hand

n we do?

enly. "We need your blood to figh

, but the world swims in and out of view. I see him raise his hand to hi

leaning over me. His thumb brushes across my

his breath mixing with mine. The taste is nothing like

lungs again. My body comes alive. My hands clutch his

breath rough against my chee

the woman says quic

can think, his lips meet mine a second time. I swallow the

part of me doesn't want him to stop. He wipes the bloo

," he

obey. The taste ling

olding his arms, as though trying to compose himself. My heart beats wi

's an infirmary, clean but dimly l

low the pois

?" I as

on. It entered your sys

s, his expression dark. "But m

ugh for us to find

adowed with worry. Before I can

oice cries. "By the g

s her arms around me. Her hair sm

d lost you,"

e-but softer, prettier. Her eyes are blue, her hair darker.

speak. I only stare, t

remember e