Page 60 of Heart of a Witch
He wobbled, drooping his head forward. He’d had it ten times worse than me.
“Let’s get you back home.” I eyed him carefully. If he did know anything, he didn’t show it.
***
Once we arrived back at the mansion, I slumped him into an armchair in front of a crackling fire.
A maid approached us. “Oh my goodness.”
“Get him something sweet and some tea, please,” I ordered. “He’ll be fine. He’s just in shock.”
She nodded, wringing her hands against her apron. “Tea. Yes.”
“Hurry, he’s not well,” I said when she didn’t move.
After a minute, he rubbed his head, exhaling a tense breath. “Whiskey.”
I gave him a look. “Alcohol? Is that a good idea?”
“Please.” He coughed, holding out his healthy arm.
I poured him a glass from the decanter on the side table, then passed it to him. He drank it in one gulp, then rolled his shoulders back. “I’m going to kill that thing.”
The corner of my mouth twitched. “You don’t need to.”
“It almost killed me.”
A shudder ran the length of my back. “She’s already dead,” I lied. I’d need to keep her hidden.
He arched an eyebrow. “You killed her?”
“No. Eva did.”
He raised his eyebrows and sighed. “Good.”
He didn’t even say thank you for saving his life. Fucking prick. I took the seat across from him. “You were passed out there for a bit. How are you feeling?” I prodded tentatively. “It looked as if you were hallucinating at one point,” I said, in case he did remember anything.
He shrugged. “I don’t remember a thing. I guess I should be glad.”
Relief lightened the heaviness in my chest. “Yes, you bled a lot.” I pointed at the blood on his shirt. I mean, some of it was indeed his, but some belonged to me.
“I need something to eat.”
“The maid will be back in a minute.”
He paused. “I should thank you.”
I suppressed a scoff. “You should.”
“I’d be dead if you weren’t so… proactive.”
I opened my mouth, then closed it again. “It was my duty,” I finally said. “It was my snake that bit you.”
“You didn’t know it would happen.” He looked me up and down. Fortunately, my dress covered the cut on my leg, and the black hid the blood, but I could feel its burning presence with each movement. “You’re soaked.”
“As are you.”
“I can have dry clothes brought for you.”
