Page 122 of House of Pain
Blaze forced himself to give her space, stepping aside and leaning on the wall with his arms crossed.
Gillian placed her little satchel on the nightstand and opened it. There were a dozen different glass vials and bottles with herbs and weird-looking mixtures inside.
She twirled a finger over them as if unsure which one to pick, and Blaze’s heart lurched, but he didn’t let it show.
Val’s eyes were already on him, watching every move and reaction intently. He didn’t need her reading his mind.
Not when it came to Alecto Black.
Gillian picked out two vials, one with bright amber liquid and another with a spring-green powder. Slowly, she poured the powder into the liquid, and it bubbled, a sour scent filling the room.
Jolene stood over Gillian’s shoulder, inspecting what the healer was doing.
“This is going to release the venom?” she asked.
“Yes. And it will remove the freezing spell, so she’ll be awake immediately.” Gillian leaned over Alecto, one hand pulling her jaw down, parting Alecto’s lips.“But it’s not going to be pretty.”
“What do you mean?” Andro asked.
“Hellbate poisoning is a bitch,” Gillian said with a heavy sigh as she poured the antidote into Alecto’s mouth. “She’s going to be sick until it’s fully out of her body. So, one or two of you should keep an eye on her.”
They all exchanged glances.
“So she doesn’t die during the detox,” Gillian added.
Blaze ground his teeth, his fingers curling into fists. He hid them by crossing his arms tighter over his chest.
Just as quickly as Gillian came in, she left. Val instructed her to check the basement and another witch, also apparently hurt by the Hellbates.
Then, they waited.
Alecto didn’t wake for a good ten minutes.
But when she did, all Hel broke loose.
Her whole body spasmed, her back arching as she bared her teeth to keep the screams of agony inside.
“Fuck,” she hissed, a vein in her neck bulging. Her forehead was already slick with sweat, eyes unfocused as she scanned the room. “That hurts like a bitch.”
Jolene managed a chuckle, even if it was a nervous one, as she pushed Alecto’s hair away from her face and secured it with a clip. “But you’re a tough bitch.”
Alecto managed a half smile before her body was sent into another wave of pain, her palms fisting the sheets underneath her.
“I’m going to get some water,” Andro said and left the room.
Val paced at the foot of the bed, her eyebrows drawn together.
“Can you help me keep her still?” Jolene asked. “She can sprain her fucking neck when her muscles are spasming.”
Rogue was the first to spring into action, stepping closer to the bed to help Jolene.
Before Blaze even knew what he was doing, he surged forwards, coming face-to-face with Rogue. He planted a hand on his chest. “I don’t fucking think so.”
Rogue arched a brow.
“Blaze.” Val’s voice was full of warning.
“I’m not the enemy, Leveau. It wasn’t me who left her to die in the forest, was it?”
