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“We want to clean you up, Ylara. Will you let us?”
“Oh, sure. Why does everything taste like blood?”
Her head was still drooping, and he used the opportunity to lick at her mark again. Her breath hitched. That tiny sound gave him hope.
* * * *
“Mommy, wake up. You have to wake up, Mommy.”
Ylara looked around, and there was a three-year-old pushing at her legs, trying to rock her awake. “Are you still around, little one?”
“Yes, but you have to wake up. Wake up, Mommy. Do it for me.”
Ylara looked around at the bright meadow, reaching up and out.
He had stabbed her again. She had burning points in her chest and belly. The back of her neck burned and throbbed. He had bitten her again.
She was dazed, and everything hurt, but she could feel her legs twitching again. Whatever he had done, it was working.
She saw a gorgeous older woman with a graceful dress, a few pounds of jewels, and hair and skin the same colour as Riithan’s. She greeted her, agreed to let them clean her up, and then she felt Riithan licking at her new mark.
“Was the mark necessary?” She inhaled as he continued to tend what seemed to be a large mark. “How big is it?”
“The beast decided to make it wide and deep so it can’t be excised again.” He lapped lightly at her skin. “He was... upset.”
“Does he know his host is an asshole?”
“He does now. Thanks for blowing my cover.”
She was startled into laughter but finally able to lift her head. He had a wet, cool cloth and wiped at her skin. The expression in his eyes surprised her. He knew what she was, and he was still caring for her. Mind you, he had injected her with the toxin, to begin with.
“If any other alpha tries to mark you, he’s dead. Your body is now toxic.”
She mumbled, “There goes my record-breaking blood donation. Blood services are going to be pissed.”
He paused. “I will send them a letter explaining, so they don’t bother you.”
She was startled into a giggle as he cleared the blood under her nose.
Ylara muttered, “A shower would probably be more effective.”
“Maybe when you can use your legs.”
His mother said, “What were you singing when I came in?”
Ylara looked at her. “Oh, a lullaby. I know she’s just a speck, but I didn’t want her to be scared.”
“Her?”
Ylara put her hand over her lower abdomen. “Yeah, the speck. The little girl that I see in my visions. She came back and woke me up. That was new. They don’t really interact with me.”
Himera blinked. “You are a seer?”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
“You saw a baby girl?”
“Yeah, born with wide black eyes, so a little freaky looking.” Ylara smiled. “But super cute with thick, black curls.”
