Page 40 of The Last Slayer
Fifteen minutes later, I pulled into the firm’s parking lot. Valerie lay as still as a mannequin. I put a hand over her chest to make sure she was breathing. Her lungs expanded, just a little, keeping oxygen in her system. Her complexion seemed paler than before.
I couldn’t believe I’d let her get hurt. We don’t share a blood bond, but I couldn’t have asked for a better sister. She’d been nicer than anyone else when Jack took me in. Poor and homely, I’d been out of my league with the wealthy and glamorous Johnsons, and I hadn’t fit in at the fancy private school Jack had sent me to. Valerie could’ve shunned or tried to humiliate me—like most of the other rich kids at the school—but no. She’d taken me under her wing, showed me the ropes, made sure I’d fit in as well as I could. Then she’d taught me how to survive high school, dating and everything else that didn’t require the use of a weapon. So when I’d gotten my hunter’s license and we’d started working for the firm, I’d made sure I was the muscle that kept her safe from the demons that sometimes took exception to her wardings. She’d never asked me for special protection; it was something I’d chosen to do to even though I was technically risking my life every time. But she was my sister. Even if the firm disappeared tomorrow, I’d still protect her with my sword.
If anything happened to her now, I would never forgive myself…or the dragonlords responsible. I would hunt them down if it was my last act. Even if it cost me my soul.
I turned off the ignition, climbed out of the car and opened the passenger door. Valerie was slim, but unconscious she seemed to weigh a ton. Or maybe I was just too tired to carry her. The sun bore down from directly overhead; I couldn’t believe the day was still so young.
I was struggling to get Valerie into a fireman’s carry when a familiar voice said, “Would you like some assistance?”
It sent a shiver up my spine. I gave Ramiel a sharp look over my shoulder. He still wore the same armor and cloak—sparkling clean, of course. “Were you following me?”
“Only to ensure your safety.” He looked at Valerie. “Your friend doesn’t seem well.”
“Thanks for the tip.” I turned around and faced him fully. I wanted to look him in the eye when he answered the next question. “Did you poison her?”
His expression turned frigid. “I would never do that.”
“Then swear it.”
“I so swear.”
So someone other than Ramiel wanted to kill me and Valerie both. Great.
“Allow me.” He reached out with one arm and picked Valerie up as if she weighed no more than a bouquet of roses. He sniffed her and wrinkled his nose. “This is Semangelaf’s poison.”
The one who’d coated everything around him with silver-white frost. “Why her? You said they want me.”
“His poison is highly transferable and quite fatal. If you are in physical contact with her much longer, you’ll be contaminated as well.”
I took a step back. “How long do we have before the poison…kills her?”
“About sixty hours, if I mark it right. I imagine Semangelaf wants to give you maximal time with her to ensure your contamination. So she’ll remain in a coma until the poison takes its final effect.”
Ramiel’s words scared me, but also gave me hope. If he could identify it, he might be able to tell me how to detox her system. “Do you have an antidote?”
“No.”
Hope dashed. I wanted to yank all my hair out. A woman can ride an emotional rollercoaster for only so long. “Then what do you suggest we do for her?”
He nodded, considering. “Two dragonlords possess the antidote—Semangelaf himself and Enmesaria.”
“Enmesaria? The dragonlady of—Wait a minute. She’s not a member of the Triumvirate of Madainsair. What does she have to do with this?”
“Many dragonlords have powers beyond commanding dragons. Hers is the concoction of potions.”
I crossed my arms. “Why do I have a feeling that there’s a catch?”
A small smile twisted his lips. A mixture of admiration and distaste flitted through his eyes. “So cynical for one so young.”
“Keeps me alive.”
Ramiel inclined his head slightly. “I suggest we return to Besade to discuss this further.” He looked around the gray parking lot. “Unless you prefer to do it here.”
“Why not the office?”
“A dragon or two may come by. Remember, the Triumvirate has marked you for death.”
I hadn’t thought of that, but he was right. Jack would kill me if a wyrm destroyed our office building, and there were our staffers to consider.
