“Like you did me?” Karter asked, glancing over his shoulder. “We not gon’ talk about that? You think I didn’t notice that you scooped me up like it was nothin’? Like I don’t see Bri’s feet dangling off the ground this whole time we’ve been walkin’? I’m a grown—almost grown—man—”

“I could’ve left your ass there,” Marie snapped. “And if I had, your skin would be peeling away from your bones and your throat would be closed up.”

Karter’s entire demeanor changed. He opened his mouth to speak but nothing came out. “I—I’m sorry. I just—How did you do that? Who are you?”

Marie said nothing.

“I don’t think we should tell anybody about what we saw,” I said. “Not the Heart, not Marie’s abilities, none of it. Not right now.”

“I’m not even sure what I saw,” he said, glancing at Marie.

“I’ll explain everything,” I said. “I promise. But right now I need to get home. My ankle is killin’ me.”

Karter nodded but his expression remained tight and his gaze kept flitting back to Marie.

Marie walked me to the front door, with Karter trailing far behind. Mo was waiting.

“They’re back,” she called. Marie gently lowered me to the ground. A strangled yelp escaped me as the pain in my ankle flared again. Mo’s brow furrowed. “What happened to you?”

“I tripped,” I said. “It’s pretty swollen.”

Mo and Marie helped me inside and onto the couch. My mom knelt and removed my shoe and sock.

“Shit,” she said. My ankle was already starting to bruise.

“Can you move it?” Mo asked.

I wiggled my toes. The pain was only on the outside of my ankle. “It hurts, but maybe it’s just a bad sprain.”

“We should go to the ER,” Mom said.

“No,” I said. “Not happening.” I leaned back against the pillows. “I can put something on it. Can y’all help me get into the apothecary?”

Mom and Mo exchanged glances. Marie and Karter both held out their hands to help me up.

“You could do it yourself, huh?” Karter asked, looking Marie dead in her eyes.

“You know what?” I said. “Never mind. I’ll do it.”

I pulled myself up and limped down the hall with Marie and Karter following close behind. I turned on the lights in the shop and tried to hoist myself onto the counter but slipped. Marie slid her hand around me, grabbing hold of the back of my shirt and pulling me up before anyone saw. Mom and Mo came in and helped me prop my leg on the counter.

“I need that book.” I gestured to a large book I’d brought down from the turret that had the handwritten instructions for a salve to help with bruising and pain. Marie handed it to me and I leafed through. “I need the jar of arnica.”