Witchy Sour(75)
“You’ve got scratches on your arms.”
“Probably the branches from The Forest,” I said, my lies bringing forth the last images of Thomas clawing at my arms. “What happened?”
Ranger X’s expression hardened. He didn’t believe me. “I was wondering the same thing.”
Clearing my throat, I gathered up the last of my willpower and explained in great detail the events leading up to my foray into the dangerous wilderness. His eyebrows knitted in concern when I described Dust of the Devil, and he nodded in approval after I explained the trick to the Trappers. His eyes burned black when I mentioned Thomas, and a shade of sadness passed by at Turin’s parting words.
When I finished, his hand stilled, a thin lock of my hair twisted around his fingers. “Why didn’t you ask for my help?”
“There wasn’t time. I knew you wouldn’t let me go alone, and I needed to do this for Poppy. You were busy looking for Gus, and if it weren’t for Thomas, I would have succeeded just fine without you.”
“That wasn’t smart.”
“Sometimes risks are worth taking.”
His eyes scanned mine, but I didn’t relent. It was easy to meet him eye-to-eye when I had nothing to hide. So when he looked away, the hairs on the back of my neck rose.
“What aren’t you telling me?”
“There’s one piece of this puzzle that I’m missing,” he said. “What brought—”
He didn’t have time to finish his question because at that moment, Poppy threw the door open and burst into the room, followed closely by Zin.
“We were waiting outside like Ranger X asked,” Poppy trilled. “But when I heard you talking I just couldn’t wait any longer. How are you, dear?”
My cheek squished against Poppy’s chest as she wrapped me tight in a hug. “Fwine,” I mumbled against her skin. “Cwan’t breathe.”
X gently pulled her back. “She’s been suffocated enough today without your help.”
“Oh, right.” Her eyes turned with worry toward my neck. “How are you?”
“I’m fine,” I said for what felt like the ninetieth time. My hand subconsciously flew to my neck as she and Zin continued to stare. “What’s wrong?”
Poppy winced. “It’s just…you have a bit of…”
Zin pulled a small mirror from inside her pocket and stepped forward. Without a word, she opened up the compact and showed me the image.
My breath burned, the inside of my throat still raw, as I took in the angry red marks streaking up my neck. Purplish bruises the shape of small coins dotted the sides of my neck where Thomas’s thumbs had pressed, and my arms were rife with scratches—both human and otherwise. I finally managed a forced smile. “It looks worse than it is.”
“The wounds will heal,” Ranger X said, fighting to keep his face stony. “I’ve used so much salve since you stumbled onto this island I’m going to have to start ordering it in bulk.”
“How did I get here?” I gingerly rubbed my neck. “What happened to Thomas?”
At my last question, all three of the others exchanged glances that told me I didn’t want to know the answer. Finally, Ranger X broke the silence. “It was Zin. She found you and took care of Thomas. If she hadn’t gotten there in time, things might have turned out quite differently.”
Poppy nodded in agreement. “It was incredible. I was with Zin when it happened. She just shifted into the most beautiful animal I’d ever seen. We don’t have a word for them on The Isle, but Ranger X said you call them jaguars on the mainland.”
“Those are much more intimidating than a turtle or mosquito.” I got a laugh out of Poppy and a smirk from Ranger X, but Zin looked less than amused. “I’m sorry, I shouldn’t joke. How did you know I was in trouble?”
“Animal instincts?” Poppy grinned. “Cat’s intuition?”
The color left Zin’s already pale face. She was light-skinned on a normal day, but now she bordered on ashy. The deathly pallor of her skin was offset drastically by the sharp bob of her jet-black hair and her dark mascara and lipstick. “Can I have a word with you, Lily? Alone?”
Poppy gave a sniff and opened her mouth to protest, but Ranger X beat her to it. He rested his fingers lightly on her elbow and tilted his head toward the door.
“I have to speak to you anyway, Poppy,” he said softly. “May I?”
Looking slightly appeased, she nodded. “I suppose. At least someone wants me around.”
Once they’d left, Zin stood stiffly with her arms crossed.