Page 26 of Of Poison & Pumpkins (Of Witches & Men #3)

CHAPTER TWENTY

Rynn

“W hat is it?!” Elias roars, rushing to my side, eyes bulging. “What’s wrong?”

My breaths turn raspy, and my whole body shakes as I point down at the unmoving victims on the street. I crumple under the window so I can’t see, covering my face. My skin turns clammy as I try to explain.

“Rynnlee, you’re talking in jibberish, slow down.” He’s by my side, trying to peel my hands away from my eyes. “Babe, stop moaning. I’ve got you. Take a deep breath.”

I hold myself tightly, arms wrapped around my knees. Might faint.

“Tinsley. Mmm-Maya. Tinsley.”

“Rynnlee, what are you saying? Look at me.”

My heartbeat thrashes in my ears and the walls of my apartment are closing in on me.

Every sound is amplified, from a bug fluttering against the window to the silence outside.

People should be talking outside. Tinsley should be hollering at me through my phone when I dropped it. Why can’t I hear her?

What seems like hours later, I look up at Elias, whose nostrils are flaring as his face carries a wild, harried appearance.

Then comes a tap tap tap at the door.

“Don’t move.” Elias tries to jerk upright, but I refuse to let go of him. “I’ll be right back. Stay here.”

The door swings open before he can turn the handle and Tinsley stands on the other side, with Maya under her arm. Fresh tears streak both their faces.

Tears well behind my eyes and an unexpected release of tension flows out of me like a giant tsunami.

Tinsley runs to the windows and yanks all the curtains closed, tripping over random objects and calling out, “People fainted after they touched the water.”

Before I know it, Elias is sitting by my side again, rubbing slow circles on my arm until I simply crawl into his lap.

I don’t dare take my eyes off Tinsley as she guides a sleepy Maya to my bed and tucks her in.

Her shaky voice sings a soft lullaby and all I can manage is to rest my head against Elias’s chest. He’s got me.

Solid and present. In his arms, a wave of calm washes over me. I trust him fully, with my whole heart.