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Helena shrugs and picks up one of the candies. “And you’re my friend.”
Her words warm my heart. I reach for a candy again, successful this time, and bite into it. It has a strange ingredient I’ve never had before, along with peanuts. Helena tells me it is called marshmallow. I eat the entire thing before launching into my… special time with Raúl, sharing only as much as I’m comfortable. Which isn’t that much, but it seems to satisfy Helena.
She listens with rapt attention, and by the end, I realize I am enjoying myself. It is a delight to tell someone what is happening to me and not be met with derision or annoyance.
When I am finished, Helena flops backward onto the sofa with a huge sigh. “I am so happy for you.”
My hand freezes, the candy halfway to my mouth, confusion racing through me. “Why?”
She gives me a strange look. “You are my friend, of course. Why wouldn’t I be happy for you?” She selects another candy for herself. “And I’m happy for my cousin, but only a little.”
I eat the candy, contemplating Helena’s words. It is natural to be happy for someone. It is not natural to be told no one cares. I shrug off my thoughts and swallow my food before looking at Helena. “Do you want to help me with something? I am going to cut my hair.”
Chapter Fifty-Six
Helena sits up excitedly and reaches for my braids, running her hand down one. “Oh, this will be so perfect. How much will you cut off? Would you like me to style it? I have experience, don’t worry.”
I shake my head. “I cannot cut it all off, but I was thinking about a foot off from the bottom.”
Helena grimaces. “That’s it? It won’t do very much for you. Are you sure you wouldn’t like more off?”
“I can’t,” I say, staring down at my hands, not sure quite how to put into words why. The thought of cutting my hair in the first place gives me anxiety. I have no idea how much power is stored in these strands.
Helena stands up and rifles through the desk in the corner, coming back with a pair of scissors. “No time like the present. Want me to do the honors?”
I nod, laying my braids flat and showing her where I want them cut. Moving so swiftly I cannot track her hand, she snips through my hair. The strands fall to the ground and I pick them up, intending to throw them in the fire. I pause, not moving, making sure I am not overwhelmed by power. When nothing happens, I toss the strands into the fire, watching as the flames burst.
Helena wrinkles her nose at the smell as I stand staring at the flames. Why haven’t I felt anything?
“See, that wasn’t so bad,” she says. “Are you sure you don’t want to go shorter?”
I glance at her and smile, but before I can answer, my stomach drops. My heart races, skipping beats, and I start to shake. Everything turns black as wind rushes through my ears. I fling my arms out, trying to hold on to something as I fall down into the dark abyss.
The low light of the sun filters in through a crack in my curtains, and my eyes flutter open. I stare at the ceiling, momentarily adjusting. My stomach feels as if a tornado whipped through it, while my head hurts like there is a vise squeezing it. I try to sit up and moan in pain. My muscles are as sore as they would be if I cleaned the tower for a month straight. Falling back down, I groan in frustration.
The door opens and Raúl looks in on me. “Penny, you’re finally awake.”
He comes all the way in, sitting on the edge of the bed and holding my hand. I grasp it as if I’m drowning and stare at him. “What do you mean, finally?”
He leans forward, checking my eyes and pulse, a slight frown on his face. “I mean, you’ve been in this bed for three nights.” He pauses. “Helena believes the extensive length cut overwhelmed you. She had no idea of its magical properties, and has spent the last few days burning off excess magic.”
“Excess magic?”
“Yes. Soon after she cut your hair, her own magic spiked. I’ve never seen the castle so clean.”
“It feels as if I’ve been chewed up by dragons and spit back out from the top of a mountain.” I gasp. “Wait, did you just say three nights? I’ve just been sleeping here for three nights?”
“Yes. It was quite concerning.”
I grumble, trying to fold my arms and failing when pain rips through my muscles. “I hate being useless.”
Raúl shakes his head. “How are you useless right now? You’re sick. Just rest. What hurts?”
I tell him, and with each part I mention, he plants a gentle kiss on it. I smile at him. “Will you stay with me for a little? I don’t want to be alone right now.”
“Of course.” In seconds, Raúl is on the other side of the bed, sliding under the sheets. Carefully, he wraps an arm around me, holding me close.
“Have you found the rebel vampires?”
