My breath hissing in, I moved to block it.

Ivy moved blindingly fast. She twisted her hand, catching my wrist. Yanking me forward, she wrapped her body around me, hauling me onto her lap.

“Let go!” I shrieked, but she had me firmly.

“Edden,” Ivy panted, her lips next to my ear. “Pull over. You have to give her another shot or she’s going to hurt herself.”

“Keep driving,” Jenks said. “I’ll do it.”

Pulse beating wildly, I struggled. Ivy grunted when my head smacked into her face, but she wouldn’t let go.

“Can’t you hold her still for a bleeding minute?” Jenks said from in front of me, and I twisted wildly. He wanted to drug me. The little bug wanted to drug me so I couldn’t move. I wanted to move. I had to run. It was why I existed, and I couldn’t let them take it from me!

“Let. Me. Go!” I grunted.

Edden flipped on the lights and pulled over. Traffic passed as we stopped right on the bridge. The thickset man wedged himself half over the front seat. Grabbing my arm at the wrist and elbow, he held it steady.

“No-o-o-o-o!” I howled, struggling, but he had that one part of me unmoving, and I shrieked at the tiny prick of a needle.

“Hold still, Rache,” Jenks said as I gasped for air. “You’ll feel better in a minute.”

“You son of a fairy whore,” I seethed. “I’m going to step on you. I’m going to pluck your wings off and eat them like chips.”

“Looking forward to it,” the pixy said, hovering at my eye level and peering at me. “How you feel now?”

“I’m going to stuff your stump with poison ivy,” I said, blinking as Edden let my arm go. “And buy a terrier to dig you out. And then I’m going to…to…” God, this stuff works fast. But I couldn’t remember anymore, and I felt my muscles go limp. The curse went somnolent, and I had a brief instant of clarity before the drug took complete control. Golden sparkles blotted my vision, turning black as I shut my eyes. “I thought you were dead, Jenks….” I said, starting to cry. “Are you okay, Ivy?” My voice shook, and I couldn’t open my eyes anymore. “Are you dead? I’m sorry. I messed everything up.”

“It’s okay, Rache,” Jenks said. “You’re going to be okay.”

I wanted to cry, but I was falling asleep. “Kisten,” I slurred. “Edden, go see Kisten. He’s at Nick’s,” and then my lips quit working. Ivy’s arms were around me, keeping me from rolling to the floor as Edden twisted back into the front seat. The siren wailed a short bleep, and he pulled back onto the road. I heard Ivy whispering softly in my ear, “Please be okay, Rachel. Please.”