“Stable,” Saga assured. “Doctor Iman should be able to tell you more.”
Bowen’s expression was pained as he peered toward the door that led to the operating rooms, and then the nurses’ station. He steeled himself. “It seems the Goff estate owes your family a great debt, Miss Trygg.” He smiled mirthlessly, something more akin to a wince. “And I believe I still owe you your grandmother’s photographs.”
“That’s not important right now,” Saga dismissed his guilt reassuringly.
“I appreciate that, but if I don’t do something about it now with you present in my mind, I’m bound to forget again.” Bowen fumbled, reaching into his inside jacket pocket. “Here’s my card. I may be preoccupied for a few days, but please do not hesitate to call, and I’ll get that sorted out as soon as possible.”
Saga took the card thoughtfully. “You wouldn’t happen to have Doctor Campbell’s number as well, would you?”
The question took him off guard and he fumbled to answer. “My office would have it on file, I suppose, why?”
Saga felt Avery’s hand on her elbow—a reminder and a warning to tread carefully. “I was wondering if Doctor Iman shouldn’t reach out to him for insight into Elis’s history—Campbell being the family physician and all.”
“Doctor Campbell wasEira’spersonal physician.”
“My mistake,” Saga admitted with an apologetic smile.
Mr. Bowen gave another glance to the nurses’ station. “I should go check on my client.”
“Of course.”
Avery’s hand moved to Saga’s shoulder. “Now that someone is here with his best interest in mind, perhaps we should get home.” She cleared her throat. “And get you cleaned up.”
“Ugh, yeah. Good thing I was wearing black.” She examined the damage done to the fabric by Elis’s blood. And that’s when she noticed something odd. “Huh.”
“Something wrong?”
“It might be the light, but does this blood look like it has a sort ofglimmerto you?”
Avery squinted under the fluorescent bulbs. “Glimmer how?”
“Almost iridescent?”
“You’re certain it’s not your dress?”
Saga shook her head. “Very, it’s a matte fabric.”
Avery dug into her pocket and produced the hagstone. She fingered itthoughtfully, flipping it over in her fingers. She glanced around to make sure no one was paying them any attention and donned the hagstone like a monocle. “That’s…feyblood.”
“What?”
Removing the monocle quickly, Avery took Saga by the arm to continue to lead her to the exit. “It has a sort of self-glamouring quality—can’t be identified by the naked eye.” She dropped her voice lower. “I am not ready to postulate on type of fey or even how removed from the Otherworld they might be, but there is undoubtedly fey blood in the Goff family line…”
“Are you able to test that kind of thing?”
“Some of it, but I’d need access to a lab.” Avery put her arm around Saga’s shoulder. “Let’s go home.”
Saga smiled gratefully as they walked out of the OR waiting room. “It’s possible those genetics could be from Eira’s husband’s side…but…” But it would make moresenseif it was Eira. Everyone always said Eira and Saoirse, though best of friends, were from very different worlds, ran in very different circles. Could this be why? “The Goff family are pretty famous in British society—if she was fey, would she also be known in those circles?”
“Unless for some reason the family kept their lineage quiet to both sides,” said Avery. “Esteri didn’t recognize the name.”
Saga nodded, trusting that Avery’s friend was some sort of authority on the matter. She clicked her tongue thoughtfully. “If it was from her side of the family… What’s the likelihood of her personal doctor knowing about it?”
Avery sat back on her heels as this question sank in. “Considering it raises the likelihood of a successful resurrection?Very high.”
57Blood or bloody mucus coughed from your respiratory tract or lungs.
