Cravings by unknow

Author:unknow
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Penguin Group USA, Inc.
Published: 2012-05-14T08:35:44+00:00

Chapter 4

THE pop! was like clearing your ears during an airplane’s descent with a jaw-cracking yawn, except that it happened under my solar plexus. It should have been similar for Erin, though with more of a sting.

It should not have made her eyes roll back in her head as she sank to the floor in a faint.

I jumped and managed to keep her from hitting her head, ending with both of us on the floor with her head in my lap. Michael rolled off the couch so awkwardly I thought something had happened to him, too. But no, he’d simply made an odd dismount, for he fetched up on the other side of Erin’s lax body and sat, staring at her in appalled fascination. “I didn’t do it,” he said. “I didn’t mean to do it.”

“Breaking the circle shouldn’t have harmed her.” I checked her pulse. It was strong and steady, thank goodness.

“No, it wasn’t that. But it wasn’t me, either—at least, it came through me, but I didn’t will it. Maybe . . .” He put his hands on either side of her face and focused intently on her.

I looked at him sharply. “What are you doing?”

“Trying to fix her. Be quiet.”

Should I let him try to repair whatever he’d inadvertently damaged? Or prevent him from doing more harm? Before I could decide, Erin blinked herself back to us. “What . . . Molly?” She put a hand to her temple. “I have such a headache. What happened?”

“I don’t know. Michael broke the circle, and you collapsed.”

“Michael? Who’s Michael? And what,” she demanded, “am I doing lying on the floor with my head in your lap?

“You don’t remember?”

She shook her head.

I considered going back to bed.

“The amnesia should be temporary,” Michael said. “I think.”

“You probably can’t remember.”

“I believe that’s sarcasm.”

“Good call.”

Erin sat up, pushing her hair out of her face. Her headband had come off. “The last I remember, you’d woken me up at a godawful hour to ask for help. How did—”

Someone knocked on my door. We all jolted.

“Michael, get on the couch and look like an invalid,” I said, scrambling to my feet.

“What does an invalid look like?”

“Pale. You’ve got that part down, so just lie still and pull the blanket up over you. Make sure your wounds and genitals are hidden. Erin—”

“Not wearing a stitch, is he?” She watched Michael’s beautiful backside as he moved to the couch. I couldn’t blame her for finding the sight distracting. “But I’m clothed, so we weren’t performing a ceremony.”

“No, we—” The knocking came again, louder. “Be right there!” I called. “Erin, I know you need answers, but for now pretend you’re here to help me with my nephew Michael, who’s recovering from a mysterious fever. I thought he’d been cursed, which is why I called you.” I headed for the door.

“You don’t have a nephew,” she informed me.

“That’s a fiction,” Michael said. “We are supposed to fool whoever is at the door.” He pulled the blanket over himself and lay down as stiff and straight if he’d been encoffined.

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