“Or what?” I say back in a thready voice. Fae lords, it hurts to speak, to breathe.
“Or I’ll eat Bangs and Bombs for dinner.” His voice is far too soft to back the threat.
“No, you won’t,” I croak.
“You better stay awake to make sure I don’t. I bet they’d be delicious served with carrots.”
“You love them, despite your best efforts. They got to you.”
“Yes, they did,” he says in a contemplative voice that seems far away.
When did we get in a car? I fall in and out of consciousness, but Brexley never lets me go. And even in my wretched state, I find a way to revel in his touch. The feeling of being held makes me want to cry. There were so many nights at the Academy I longed for Hunter to just hold me. But he was always off in training or studying, working to be the top of his class. He sometimes managed to keep the twisted twins away with threats, but he did his best to put distance between us.
I should tell Brexley he could take some tips from Hunter on that point. Since he’s so dead set on being alone. He’s doing a terrible job keeping away from me.
If I had any moisture left in me, a tear would fall from my eyes.
How stupid is life? That I would be killed over a damn recipe I know nothing about.
* * *
I don’t remember fallingasleep, but when I wake I’m surprised how good I feel.
“There she is,” an unfamiliar voice says. It’s a deep pitch, but there is an elegance to the person’s speech.
I find myself on Brexley’s couch, a heavy blanket wrapped around me. Instead of the binding bustier, I’m wearing loose clothing. The strong scent of an expensive perfume I can’t name washes over me. A woman removes her rather large hand, with elaborate acrylic nails, from my stomach. She steps back, and I get a better look at her.
The Black woman has a massive mane of hair, outrageous, blue sparkly eyeshadow, and the longest fake lashes I’ve ever seen. To match the drama of her hair and makeup, the woman flaunts a sequin dress and platform heels that must put her at seven feet. A lime green boa is wrapped around her arms. She clip-clops back to stand next to Brexley, towering next to him. I can’t help but notice her thick, carved calf muscles flexing and lifting in those heels.
She, whoever she is, appears to be a drag queen.
“Hi,” I say, feeling confused and out of sorts. “Who are you?”
The woman smacks Brexley on the chest. “Aren’t you going to introduce me?”
Brexley stands next to her with a bandage wrapped around his bicep. He opens his mouth, but she cuts him off. “Right, I guess I’m used to an emcee giving me all my cues. I am Dame Kiki Eleganza!” she says, extending her arms with a flourish. I can’t help but smile at her zeal and drama. She was clearly made for a stage.
“She’s a Level Four healing mage,” Brexley says gruffly. “I called her when I realized how bad off you were.”
Dark circles drag under the wolf shifter’s eyes, and it looks as though he’s been tugging his hair every which way. He wiped blood off his bare torso but missed a few spots.
Pushing myself up into a sitting position, my hands drift to my stomach.
“What did you do to them?” I ask Brexley. I vaguely recall Hansel and Gretel screaming about their magic not working.
“A werewolf trait is the ability to temporarily nullify or cancel out magic within a certain radius. Mages hate it,” he says with a smile that is closer to baring his teeth.
“Whoa,” I breathe.
“The twins didn’t seem to care for it and resorted to hand-to-hand combat with me. While they are well trained, it did not go well for them.” Delight and violence sparkles in his eye as he twists the ring around his forefinger. He delighted in kicking their asses. I would have certainly enjoyed the show, if I’d been able.
“How do you feel, honey?” Dame Kiki asks, putting the attention back on me.
I don’t feel moments from death anymore. “I feel like I could down a pitcher of water and a couple bacon cheeseburgers,” I admit. “But I’m okay.”
Tears sting the backs of my eyes with a sudden ferocity.
Kiki’s drawn eyebrows scrunch in sympathy as she sits at my feet on the couch. “Oh honey, you’ve been through a lot, haven’t you? This isn’t the first time this has happened,” she finishes softly.
