Page 30 of A Skirl of Sorcery
I turned to Tiddles. ‘What about you?’ I demanded. ‘What’s your excuse?’
Obviously believing that I didn’t deserve an explanation, she ignored me. He Who Roams Wide strolled up to her and she ignored him too.
Something wet touched my hand and I glanced down. Thane was licking my fingers. He huffed slightly and performed a slow spin so I could see all of him. ‘Your wounds are minor,’ I told him. ‘You’ll be fine.’
He spun again.
‘There’s hardly any blood.’
He tossed his head and turned yet again, this time more slowly. He added a butt wiggle for good measure. I yielded. Alright. ‘Yes, you’re very handsome. You make a good-looking wolf.’
Looking pleased with himself, he sat on his haunches and licked his lips. ‘Don’t push your luck,’ I warned him.
I stalked over to the piece of alder bark and picked it up. My fingers were shaking; I was well aware that this could have gone very differently for Thane. He’d been lucky – and that meant I had been, too.
‘I can see you home,’ I said in a clear voice. Thane shook his shaggy head. ‘You’re not badly hurt and I’m not trying to offend your sense of male superiority…’ His eyes narrowed. ‘But you might need me,’ I finished.
He didn’t react. ‘Suit yourself.’ I pocketed the bark and picked up Tiddles. ‘You’redefinitely coming with me.’ She nipped my finger.
‘Enough.’ I checked on He Who Roams Wide. ‘What about you?’ He answered immediately by headbutting my shin. Good: he was coming home too. There was a time and place for roaming and adventures and my lovely black cat knew it.
‘I’ll check in with you tomorrow morning, Thane, as I promised.’ I moved closer to his ears and whispered. ‘You are averygood-looking wolf. Don’t get into any more damned fights.’ Then I turned away and finally headed for home. At the corner, when I glanced over my shoulder to check on him, he was in the exact same spot. He wasn’t watching my departure, however. He was staring off into the distance in the direction of the now departed Silver and his bitter pack of antsy werewolves.
Chapter
Fourteen
By dawn the next morning Keres’ condition hadn’t changed. I should have been pleased that she hadn’t deteriorated but I’d hoped the concoction would achieve faster results. I’d brewed it as soon as I’d reached home and made sure she drank every last drop. After that, I’d crashed out for three hours; it wasn’t much of a sleep but it would see me through the day. I’d survived on far less in the past.
‘How long did that fool doctor reckon it would take before she started to improve?’ Dave demanded.
‘He didn’t say.’
My druid neighbour’s mouth flattened. Dave’s default expression was a scowl but it usually implied warmth and general bonhomie; now there was a despairing quality to his expression that indicated his unhappiness. He delved into his back pocket and yanked out a bulging leather wallet. ‘I have savings,’ he declared gruffly.
I didn’t immediately understand what he was telling me. ‘Uh, okay.’
Dave waved the wallet in my face. ‘I’ll hire a private investigator – I know a few druids who do that sort of thing. I’llhire one of them to find out what happened to Keres and find the bastard who ripped her powers from her.’
‘Don’t do that,’ I said softly.
He bristled with anger. ‘It’s my money.’
‘Yes, but?—’
‘I owe ban sith community far more than money.’
‘Okay, Dave, but the thing is?—’
‘That young woman doesn’t deserve to die like this!’
I reached out and gripped his hands as he drew in a shuddering breath. ‘Put your money away, Dave.’
‘I have to try and help her.’
‘I will search for whoever is responsible for this,’ I told him.
‘Kit,’ he whispered, ‘we need to find someone who knows what they’re doing.’
