Chapter 2

I turned to see Mindy Bloom yawn and loop her arm through Keith's, pouting.

"Keith, I'm so bored. Come take me out somewhere, okay?"

Keith didn't hesitate. He ruffled her hair fondly, smiling like she was the most precious thing in the room.

"Sure."

The two of them turned to leave, hand in hand.

That was the moment a wave of sickly-sweet heat rose in my throat.

Before I could stop it, blood spilled from my mouth. My body went slack in the wheelchair, my vision darkened, and the whole world spun.

Keith's eyes went wide. He shouted my name in alarm and rushed over, pressing two ice-cold fingers to my wrist to check my pulse.

Three seconds later, his voice came back, sharp with anger.

"Are you still trying to guilt-trip me?"

The room went silent.

He spoke through gritted teeth.

"Your pulse is completely normal. Why are you faking it?"

Faking it? When had I ever faked anything?

I tried to tell him he was wrong, but the pain had locked up every muscle in my body, and I couldn't get a word out.

Mindy's eyes turned red, and fat tears started rolling down her face right on cue.

"It's all my fault! I'm nothing but a burden. Tori can't stand me, and now she's faking being sick just to steal Keith's attention from me. I might as well just die."

With that, she turned and ran off without looking back.

"Mindy!"

Keith called after her, panicked. Then he shot me a look of pure disgust.

"Stop faking it. I mean it. If something happens to Mindy because of this, I will never pick that herb for you again, and I will never marry you."

He hurried off after her without another word.

The whole time, the pain was so overwhelming I couldn't speak. My chest felt like it was being crushed in a fist, and the air around me thinned with every breath.

Maybe this was what dying felt like.

I fought to keep breathing, but the moment Keith walked out, everything went black, and I lost consciousness completely.

When I woke again, night had already fallen.

"I..."

I pushed myself up slowly, staring in disbelief at the elders gathered around my bed.

"I'm not dead? Does that mean the curse didn't take hold?"

"No."

The Elder stepped forward from the crowd, his expression heavy as he looked at me.

"The curse took hold exactly as it always does. It was your mother who saved you."

He gestured toward the wooden box sitting beside my bed.

"Your mother was always afraid you'd be deceived. Before she passed, she spent the rest of her life crafting a single elixir for you: the Reprieve Elixir. It buys you three days.

"If you get married within those three days, our family's rules allow an exception. Your groom would be permitted to enter Mount Elme and gather your dowry himself.

"This is the most precious gift your mother ever left you, and it's also your last chance. Only..."

He didn't need to finish. I already understood.

Mount Elme was a dangerous place, and most people couldn't find the true Everroot on their first attempt.

That was exactly why I'd given Keith so many chances before this.

Which meant this elixir, for all the hope it offered, was still a long shot at best.

In the silence, someone I never expected stepped forward.

"Marry me."

Noah Tinsley knelt down without hesitation and gently took my hand in his.

In the flickering light, his eyes were brighter than the stars outside.

Noah was the son of my family's housekeeper. My parents had always treated him like family, so growing up, he'd had everything I had.

But now, hearing him offer to marry me...

The tips of his ears reddened. When I didn't answer right away, his voice grew urgent.

"I'm not after your family's money. We can sign a prenup. I just want to help you get that herb. Once you're well, you can divorce me whenever you want. Please. Will you marry me?"

I looked at his face, smiled faintly, and closed my hand around his.

"Yes."