Page 85

Jace pushed me out of the way and laid his ear to her nose and mouth. “Damn it!” He balled up his fist and pounded it on her chest.

“Jace?” I asked, concerned. I had never seen him mad and right now there was a look of anger and frustration penetrating out of his every pore.

“Come on, Snow!” He pressed his lips against hers again and then continued pushing on her chest.

She laid there like a rag doll with her arms flopping this way and that with each compression.

“Snow.” I said, holding her face in between my hands.

“Blow in her mouth.” Jace commanded again.

I pressed my lips to hers and blew twice and felt something.

A twitch.

“Jace.” I called his attention.

He looked at me, then down at her.

“Snow?” I whispered.

I saw her lips curl into the smallest smile.

“Snow.” I grabbed her head and sat it on my lap, wiping her hair out of her face.

A few seconds later, she opened her eyes and looked right into mine.

“Snow.” I leaned over and kissed her forehead.

She took in a deep breath and sat up, looking around at everyone with her hand grasped tightly in Jace’s. “Where is she?” Her voice trailed off, but sounded like she had swallowed an entire bag of glass.

“Who?” I asked, looking around. “No one was here when I got to you.”

“It was an old woman. She was…” she rubbed her throat. “She was selling necklaces.”

“The necklace.” I pointed at the necklace I had thrown and Calix ran to pick it up. “She tried to strangle you with it. I found this wrapped around your throat.”

She winced. “I don’t understand. She… she seemed so… nice.”

“Who was she?”

Snow shook her head.

Barrett came running back and looked at all of us. “Is she ok?” He asked.

Jace nodded. “I think so. She will have some bruising around her throat and be hoarse for a few days, but I think she’ll be ok.”

“Did you find anything?” I asked.

He held up some thin brown fabric, a satchel, and a kitchen knife. “I found it behind the house with some footprints, but they disappeared.”

“Disappeared? It was her, wasn’t it?” Snow asked solemnly, rubbing her throat.

Gideon looked around. “Let’s get her inside.”

“Come on.” I lifted her up as she leaned into my chest and wrapped her arms around my neck.

Calix and Jace walked over to the cabinet and started pulling out some herbs and dropped them in hot water. A few minutes later, Jace was cradling a mug, bringing it over to her on the couch. “Drink this. It will help your throat feel better.”