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The magic drained from the world. The tech flared, bringing with it a new burst of pain.
I had to guard the door. It was all I could do.
I WAS DRIFTING IN AND OUT, CLAWING MY WAYthrough the fog into consciousness, when I felt someone approach. I slashed on instinct and missed.
“You’re a fucking mess,” Curran’s voice said.
Rescued by the Beast Lord. Oh the irony.
“Will she be okay?” Julie’s voice asked.
“Yeah,” he said. I felt myself being lifted as Curran scooped me off the floor. “She’ll be fine. Come with me. You’re safe now.”
THE BED WAS UNBELIEVABLY COMFORTABLE. FOR Ablissfully long moment I rested, half-drowned in the luxury of soft sheets. The pain had receded, still there, lurking in the small of my back, but dulled and accompanied by the soothing warmth of well-done medmagic. I was alive. That simple fact made me unbelievably happy. As I snuggled deeper into the pillow, I saw a sliver of white on the blanket next to me. I reached over and touched Slayer’s blade.
“Awake, my lady fair?” said a familiar voice. Doolittle. The self-proclaimed physician to all things Pack and wild. He sat in a chair by a reading lamp, an ancient, dog-eared paperback on his lap. He hadn’t changed a bit—still the same blue-black skin, the same gray hair, and the same small smile. He had patched me up twice during the Red Point Stalker investigation, and there was no better medmage in Atlanta.
I hugged my pillow. “We meet again, Doctor.”
“Indeed we do.”
“There was a girl with me?”
“She’s downstairs. Being entertained by Derek. I daresay she much enjoys his company.”
Derek of the huge brown eyes and the knockdown smile. Poor Red didn’t stand a chance.
“What was wrong with me?” I didn’t insult him by asking about my bloody clothes. I knew he’d burned them.
“You were poisoned. You do test my skills every time we meet.”
“I’m sorry. Thank you for saving me.”
He shook his head. “I didn’t. You were saved by the flare. The deep magic makes all spells more