Page 73 of Bought to Break
Viktor came to stand next to him, squeezing her knee gently. ‘We will not allow you to die, Lana.’
‘Wait,’ she suddenly said, her eyes fixed on her patient. ‘You.’ She pointed at Kane. ‘Touch her flesh to yours.’
Looking mildly perplexed, Kane did as he was told for once.
‘Do you feel better?’
It was a moment before Lana realised that the woman was speaking to her.
‘Yes,’ she said, taking a breath. ‘Better than I’ve felt in days.’ Her head began to clear and her body suddenly felt a bit stronger.
The woman stared at her face a moment longer. ‘There may be a way. I doubt you will like it at first, but it might save you.’
‘So you can help,’ Sorin summarised.
‘I can try,’ she said slowly, as if speaking to a child, ‘if it isn’t too late, but you can do nothing to assist her at the moment.’
‘What will you do?’ Lana asked her, trying to sit up.
‘There are rituals that can be performed; tinctures and potions you can drink. But,’ the woman said the last with finality, ‘you need to rest here for two or three days.’ Her eyes landed on the Brothers. ‘Without them.’
‘We aren’t leaving her here.’
‘She goes where we go.’
‘Anything that has to be done can be done with us here.’
Lana almost smiled as they all spoke at once, but she thought the woman was right. She needed time to recover some strength with someone who knew how to heal her.
She drew the blanket around herself, shaking off the hands that held her. ‘I will stay. You three can follow the Brothers as they make that exchange and see if you can get your revenge,’ she said sweetly.
Sorin put a hand on her shoulder. ‘We can find someone else to help.’ He lowered his voice. ‘I don’t trust her.’
She put her hand over his, savouring his strength. ‘I can already feel myself weakening again. If she can help me, then I want her to try. If she’s lying, well, I won’t last very long anyway.’
The woman grinned. ‘My name is Vie. I’m not lying. I’ll do what I can, but the ritual is not for the fainthearted.’
Lana nodded. ‘I understand. What do you want for it?’
‘Thirty gold pieces.’
‘Half now. Half when they return, if I’m still alive.’
‘Done.’
Lana lay back on the table, breathing out slowly. She grinned at the Brothers for appearance’s sake. Inside, she was terrified.
‘Go on then,’ she said to Kane. ‘Pay the woman.’
She watched as Kane gritted his teeth. No doubt he believed she was little worth all this trouble and coin. She half-closed her eyes with a sigh.
‘Take her to the bed. I need to begin immediately. Leave and return in not less than three days.’
Lana vaguely felt herself being lifted and deposited on top of what felt like a mountain of furs. She heard them murmur comforting platitudes and felt them hold her hands, and then they were gone and she slipped back into the haze.
The next thing she knew,her hair was being pulled. ‘Ow,’ she mumbled, trying to go back to sleep, but the pain persisted until she opened her eyes.
‘There you are,’ said the woman –Vie. ‘I’m ready to begin. You need to drink this.’ The contents of a cup were poured down her throat. ‘That should give you strength enough to begin.’
