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“I don’t know how,” I say, staring at the leaves like I can will them to return to what they’re supposed to be. But they remain unchanged.
“Maybe your gifts are changing,” Kendall says quietly. “Now that we’re in Tartarus.”
“Maybe,” I agree, though the truth twists its way into my thoughts.
This curse is dangerous.
It’s spreading even when I don’t touch something. Even when I don’t want to grow and spread poison, that’s what I’ve just done. I take a few more steps away from Kendall, putting more distance between us as she talks about Juniper’s memory.
When our little memorial concludes, I fake exhaustion and escape to my room before she can read my fear. The moment I’m safely away from her and back inside, I pull my scarf off and shake out my hair. My need to always be covered head to toe is starting to wear thin. It’s not like I have another option, but my annoyance is there nonetheless. An annoyance that quickly turns toward brooding.
Over Juniper. Over Legion and the way he knelt beside me in obvious fear when I drank that poison. And over this curse that only seems to feel lighter when I’m brimming with poison. But ultimately, I’m brooding over a future that’s looking more and more bleak with every day that passes.
I’m so lost in my own thoughts that I almost don’t see the dark figure blocking my bedroom door.
“I see you’re feeling better.”
Legion’s voice startles me, and I brace myself against the wall, catching my breath. “You scared the hell out of me.”
“I have that affect.”
His mouth quirks up. It’s a smug look that should ruin the fact that he’s devastatingly handsome. But it only makes it harder to breathe.
My heart thuds wildly, and I become very aware of the effect he has on me. “What do you want?” I ask, a little breathless.
“I came to check on you, and you were gone.”
“Kendall and I had a memorial service for Juniper.”
“I am sorry for your loss.”
“I grew a tree,” I say, not even sure why I’m telling him. “In the woods beyond the gardens.”
“Were there not enough trees already for your liking?”
I roll my eyes. “It was meant to be a memorial for Juniper.”
“Ah.”
“Anyway, don’t touch the tree, okay?”
“If this tree is so personal to you, why put it out in the open?”
I huff impatiently. “It’s not personal, it’s poison oak.”
He studies me for a long moment. “Was poison oak special to Juniper?”
“No, I… It was an accident.”
He frowns, concern etching lines around his mouth that I want to trace with my finger. “I don’t understand.”
“I don’t either.”
A beat of silence passes between us where it’s clear he’s waiting for me to elaborate. When I don’t, he changes direction, his gaze skimming my face and throat now exposed thanks to the scarf dangling from my gloved hands.
“How are you feeling?”
“Better. Or I was before I grew that damned tree.”
