Page 95 of Alchemy of Souls

“But what if he just killed my mom?” I ask. “There’s still my sister and Gran.”

He exhales. “He drugged you. He did that to throw you off, to make you believe something that wasn’t true.”

I stare out the window, desperately wanting to believe him but unable to shake the feeling that the earth slipped out from under my feet.

Grayson screeches to a stop and I look around me, confused why we’re still in town instead of at the University. The slurring syrup has already started to lose its grip on me and my head is beginning to throb.

But before I can ask him why he stopped, he uses a wind spell to speed around his car and open my door. He offers me his hand, but I shake my head.

“I’m fine,” I say, lifting myself up.

“You’re not fine,” he replies. “We need to get you something for that headache.”

I close my door and the noise sends shooting pain through my temples.

“Come on,” he says, leading me into Kelly’s Café.

He pulls open the door and a little bell chimes. I cringe. How much slurring syrup did they give me? It feels like knives have taken up residence in my head.

An older woman behind the counter smiles at Grayson, then looks at me and gasps. I’m sure I’m a mess, cheeks blotchy and eyes puffy from crying, but it’s hard to care in this moment.

She waves us behind the counter and Grayson doesn’t hesitate. It’s a small shop, with just two tables for sitting and a huge display of pastries and fresh baked bread. She guides us through her kitchen and into her dry ingredient storage room filled with ceramic jars with cloth lids.

As the door closes, Grayson immediately throws up a soundproof bubble to keep us from being overheard.

“What in the name of Saint Patrick happened, Grayson?” she says in a tone of concern that makes me take a better look at her. Who is she to him?

“My uncle gave her slurring syrup and showed her an illusion ofher family dying,” he says, and now I’m staring at him like he’s the illusion. Did he just tell her the truth?

Her cheeks redden and she harrumphs. “That man isn’t fit to govern his own shite much less the wards,” she says, and now my head is really spinning. But not from the slurring syrup.

“Oh, I didn’t mean to shock ya none, lass. It’s just that in all the years I’ve known this boy he’s never once brought anyone to my door. And if he trusts you, then so do I.” She straightens. “But enough of that fer now. I need to get you some calming brew before you try to rip out yer own eyes.”

Normally I’d object, because calming brew’s ingredients are expensive. Only the rich can afford to disappear their hangovers.

“Whatever it costs, I’ll pay you double,” Grayson says.

Without missing a beat she says, “You will not. I’ll not have it.”

Then the very lovely Mrs. Kelly bustles out of the storage room and closes the door, leaving me and Grayson alone.

“Who are you and what have you done with the guy who trusts no one?” I ask, but even that simple statement hurts my head.

Grayson rushes to get me a stool, and this time I don’t refuse his help. “There will be time to give me hell, Claws. Let’s just get that head taken care of first.”

Mrs. Kelly, as Grayson calls her, returns quickly with a hot cup of calming brew that I gulp down so fast I burn my tongue. But it’s well worth it, because even as Grayson’s telling her we can’t stay and she’s shoving sandwiches at us and refusing payment, my thoughts are starting to clear and the pain is subsiding.

However, the moment the pain passes, my fear skyrockets, quickly followed by despair.My family. Ineedto know if my mom is okay.

Grayson stiffens, and I remember that my emotions aren’t privatewith him. But instead of stopping at his car and opening the door like I expect, he walks right past it.

“Where are you going?”

“For a walk in the woods,” he says, and I stop in my tracks.

“No,” I say bluntly. “Take me back to the University. I need to talk to Maggie. I need time to think. I—” I don’t know what I need.

He turns around. “I know I’ve lost your trust—”