Page 1 of Skulk of Foxes
Chapter One
It was the beeping that told me I wasn’t dead. Unless hell had a special section set aside where you were driven mad by the incessant sound of human technology. It was unlikely.
I groaned and tried to turn onto my side to get away from the sound, which was starting to feel like it was reverberating around my skull. As soon as I shifted, however, there was a clink of metal upon metal and I realised I couldn’t move. I opened my eyes and glanced down. Gasbudlikins. I was in a hospital bed – and, not only that, I was cuffed to it so I couldn’t escape. If it weren’t for the pervasive smell of antiseptic, it would have been kinky.
‘Welcome back to the land of the living.’
I glanced to my left, spotting the white-coated doctor who wasn’t quite able to meet my eyes. ‘What…’ I croaked. ‘What happened?’
‘You pulled out a gun in the city centre and tried to use it,’ he said. ‘It wasn’t a wise action on your part. If anything, I’d say it was quite mad.’
Well, I thought, wishing I didn’t hurt quite so much, Iwasthe Madhatter.
‘You’re healing remarkably quickly. The police shot you. The bullet missed your heart by centimetres. All the same, the shock alone would have killed a normal person. You are some sort of medical miracle. You should be glad.’
I was beyond thrilled. I looked around. ‘Where are my clothes?’ And, more to the point, where was the sphere? The magical one created by a dragon that had the potential to destroy this world? It had been in my possession just before the armed police made their move. If they hadn’t impounded everything I owned for forensics and further investigation then all this had been for nought. ‘My belongings?’
‘We had to cut you out of your clothes. But we’ll rustle up something else for you to wear before you leave. As for your belongings, the police have them. I doubt you’ll get them back any time soon.’
I breathed out. Praise be. It had worked.
I’d been out of options. Confronted by Rubus and his minions, suicide by cop had seemed to be the only way to keep the destructive magic out of his hands. Maybe it wasn’t my finest hour but it had served its purpose and the sphere was safe – for now. All I had to do was get the police to arrest me properly and throw me in jail, and the sphere would be locked away as evidence for good along with me. Then I froze.
‘Wait a minute!’ I half screeched, as the doctor’s words finally filtered through my fogged brain. ‘You cut me out of my clothes? Even my sexy-arse leather trousers?’
He nodded. ‘Yes.’
‘And my gorgeous leather corset?’
‘Yes.’
I hissed in annoyance. Screw the damn dragon-created, apocalypse-inducing, magical sphere. I’d looked bloody good in that outfit.
The doctor looked unconcerned at my fashion-related loss. He pursed his lips slightly before turning to the IV drip by my side and fiddling with it. I sighed. It was lucky I looked fabulous in just about everything I wore. It would be hard but I’d get over it. With time.
‘So I’m going to be alright?’ I asked.
‘It appears that way,’ he said. He glanced at the door. ‘Your barrister is here to see you. Are you feeling well enough to talk to him?’
There was a lingering cloud of confusion misting my mind but I nodded anyway. When the doctor exited and Morgan appeared in his place, I almost cried.
‘You’re a bloody idiot, Madrona,’ Morgan said, striding over to my bedside and grabbing my hand.
‘Yeah,’ I sniffed. ‘And it seems like I’ve got a bartender as a lawyer, too.’
He smiled slightly, although it didn’t reach his eyes. ‘They are only going to keep you here until you’re well enough to be moved to prison. You’re being investigated on suspicion of murder, as well as discharging a firearm illegally.’ His face darkened. ‘An anonymous source sent them the CCTV clip of you with Charrie the Bogle.’
I bit my lip. ‘You mean,’ I whispered, ‘the CCTV clip of me cutting off Charrie’s head. Iama murderer, Morgan. I deserve this.’
He shook his head. ‘We still don’t know what really happened between the two of you. Not to mention the fact that there’s no body. Finn and his brothers ensured that. We’ll find out what happened and get you out.’
‘The sphere…’
‘The police have it. It’s safe for now.’
I swallowed. ‘And Rubus? Your evil brother who’s seeking to destroy the world? What happened to him?’
‘He was questioned and let go. We all were. I’ve not seen him since.’ Morgan’s fingers tightened round mine. ‘He swore blind the gun had nothing to do with him and he can be a convincing bastard when he wants to be. The only good thing is that he’ll still be recovering from the effects of the rowan poisoning. I was an idiot for not realising what he’d done sooner.’
