Page 72 of Aberrant Monsters
“This is no city creature,” the gargoyle said, his gaze on Telarion.
I felt my aberration at my back, his solid heat and his lethal intent vibrating against me. He’d come when I’d called. He’d saved me.
“Telarion is with me,” I repeated. “He’s my…friend.”
“You called for help,” the gargoyle said.
Devyn joined us. “Looks like your friend handled the problem.” She swept her gaze over the viper body parts littering the dock.
“That wasn’t why I called. Nandi was bitten by one of them. She’s dying. I need your help. Please, say you know someone who can help.” The words tumbled out in a rush before my voice broke on a sob. “I can’t lose her.”
Devyn looked up at the gargoyle. “Caleb?”
His chest rumbled and he inclined his head.
What did this mean? I looked from one to the other. “Can you help me?”
Devyn nodded. “We’re going to try and then you’re going to explainhimto me.” She glanced behind me at Telarion.
“Deal.”
* * *
Nandi was barely breathing.Her skin was pale and cold. The gargoyle cradled her in his arms and pressed his huge hand to her chest.
“What is he doing?” Archie asked.
“Checking to see if he can help.” Devyn kept one eye on Telarion, who stood at a slight distance from our party.
He hadn’t said a word to me since arriving to save my ass.
“How can he help?” Archie asked Devyn.
“It’s not a known fact, but gargoyles are able to absorb venom and toxins. They’re immune to the nasty effects and their bodies can metabolize it.”
Her words gave me hope. “So he can get it out of her.”
“It depends how much there is and how far it’s spread,” she said.
I crouched beside the gargoyle, pulse beating hard in my throat. Please, please, let this work.
The gargoyle closed his eyes and began to hum, a low, vibrating sound that made the hairs on my arms stand to attention. I looked from his calm stone-gray features down to my best friend’s ashen ones. Her lips were bloodless. She looked dead.
A fizz and crackle teased the air. An indicator of magic. Was it working? Please…
I kept my gaze on Nandi as if I could fix her with the force of my regard. Were her lips regaining color? Were her cheeks pinker?
Her mouth parted on a deep breath and the sob I’d been holding in my chest broke free.
Caleb removed his hand from her chest. “She will live.”
Archie put his arm around my shoulder and I collapsed against him, allowing the tears to come.
Nandi was safe. She was going to be okay.
* * *
I tuckedNandi into bed and smoothed her hair back. The venom was out of her system, but she was still pale and exhausted. She needed sleep.
