From the middle row, Archer cradled Cecilia’s head and kept watch. They had laid her flat, knees bent. Because Cecilia was passed out, Mercy suggested that elevating her legs might stabilize her. They didn’t have time to drive home, so instead, they went to see Milly.
Noah had clocked her good in the left eye, leaving a gash on her eyelid. Blood had dribbled into her swollen eye and was drying on her face. He wanted to wipe it away, but he also didn’t want to cause her unnecessary pain. Bear had turned on the interior lights, leaving Archer to notice the rips in her dress and scratches on her hands and knees where she must have fallen.
The thought of Noah chasing her down that dark road made Archer wish he still had his left arm. He would get out his finest bow and show that tiger what it felt like to be hunted.
When they arrived, the light switched on in the house. Krys and Mercy got out of the vehicle while the small woman approached.
After opening the back door, Milly peered in and gave Cecilia a cursory glance. “Won’t be the first time I’ve seen this one. Bring her in.”
Archer glanced up at Krys.
“I got her,” Krys said. “Get out.”
As he watched Krys pull Cecilia out and carry her in his arms, Archer felt a stab of guilt that he couldn’t do the same. Instead of dwelling on it, he charged up the steps and held the door open.
“What happened?” Milly asked from an open elevator.
Krys got in first, followed by Archer and Milly. “Her boyfriend beat her up.”
“I’ll stay up here and call Tak,” Mercy said as the doors closed.
When the slow-moving elevator opened again, Milly walked out. “Come, come. Hurry up.”
Archer had never been down here before, and he was shocked she had a full medical facility underground. It reminded him of an emergency ward with rooms, medical equipment, and medicine.
They stopped when Milly pulled back a curtain on the right.
“Put her down on the table and then get out. I need to do a quick X-ray to check for broken bones.”
Krys scoffed. “Just get her to shift. Isn’t that what you did with Mercy?”
Milly removed her long brown sweater-jacket and fixed her grey bob. “This one doesn’t shift.”
“Why the hell not?”
“That’s her business. Step out of the way, Shifter. I’ve got work to do.” Milly yanked the curtain closed.
Archer and Krys found a row of chairs and sat down.
“Did you know she can’t shift?” Krys asked. “That’s crazy.”
Rubbing his eyes, Archer replied, “The Relic said ‘doesn’t’, not can’t. She’s a horse Shifter, and Noah’s a tiger. What do horses do when they’re scared?”
Krys stretched out his legs and crossed them at the ankles. “You are one crazy motherfucker,” he said quietly. “Stomping on a tiger’s tail? That was your big plan?” He chuckled as they listened to a mechanical sound in the other room. “Good thing you can run fast.”
Minutes rolled by, and they listened to miscellaneous sounds coming from the room. Archer nervously crossed his foot over his knee and fidgeted with his laces.
Finally, Milly ripped the curtain back.
Archer shot to his feet. “How is she?”
Milly held a cigarette to her lips and lit it up. “No broken bones. Minor abrasions—nothing I couldn’t handle. The eye willbe slower to heal, so I gave her a special ointment to reduce the swelling.”
“What’s in it?” Archer asked.
She blew out smoke. “My grandmother’s secret ingredient for banana nut bread. It’s medicine, Shifter. See that she puts it on once in the morning. It works better than ice.” Milly coughed and then waved the smoke away from her face. “I patched up her scrapes and wrapped her wrist. It’s only a sprain and should heal up in a couple of days.”
Krys milled around, hands in his pants pockets. “Should you be smoking in a medical room?”
