“You’re honest, anyway.” Malcolm’s chuckle sounded tired. “Well, I’ll let you two sort it out when she’s awake and healed, or as healed as we can get her. By then, hopefully she’ll let you take her home. She has strong healing spells that will finish the job.”
My wolf curled his lip at the thought of Alice sending us away.
“I’ll try another healing spell when I think it’s reasonably safe,” Malcolm added. “Keep doing your thing in the meantime.”
“I will,” I assured him. Nothing could keep me from it, at least for now.
Thanks to the healing spells and my comfort, tears no longer trickled down Alice’s face. Her breathing was less labored too. She still shivered, but not nearly as badly. The pile of blankets and my body heat were helping.
Fierce, fearless Alice would survive this awful accident. I’d make sure she did. More than that, I felt it in my gut. That was why my wolf had calmed down. But we had many hours and many terrible healing spells to go before she’d be all right.
And I had no idea how she’d react when she woke and found me beside her, especially if Malcolm was right and she didn’t know who she’d called for help. He even seemed uncertain as to whether she’d let me drive her home despite her injuries.
What would I do if she ordered me to leave?
Just as that thought made my stomach lurch, Alice snuggled back against me again. The movement was tiny and I knew she was instinctively seeking warmth and comfort. But just like last night, my breath caught in my chest at how good and right she felt beside me.
I hadn’t gone to Hawthorne’s last night looking for anything more than to relax with a drink after a long day, and yet with a little luck, that spontaneous decision might have changed the trajectory of my life.
I closed my eyes, stroked Alice’s hand, and wrapped her in all the warmth and comfort my body and heart could give.
Chapter
Five
Four interminable hoursand several more healing spells later, Alice finally stirred.
Her skin was pink, as if she’d gotten a bad sunburn, and she still smelled distinctly of pain, but she was in much better condition than when I’d arrived.
My wolf raised his head, his ears tipped forward and gaze bright gold.
I leaned forward slightly to try to see whether Alice had opened her eyes. She whimpered and flinched at even that little movement. Damn it. I stilled.
“Alice?” I asked, keeping my voice low.
She didn’t reply, but I sensed she was awake, or at least semi-conscious.
I wanted so much to hear her voice, and not just because it was reassurance that she was recuperating. It might take her a few minutes to be able to understand what was going on or speak. She definitely needed more rest to recover.
“Alice?” Malcolm prompted from near the bed.
“Let her sleep,” I said, my tone far more rough than I’d intended.
“She’s been unconscious for five hours,” he said, very calmly. “I need to know what to do to help her.”
Alice’s eyes fluttered open. A little of the tension evaporated from my shoulders seeing those beautiful brown eyes as she blinked rapidly, struggling to focus.
Instead of looking up at me, though, she looked directly ahead as if she could actually see the ghost.
“Hey,” she said. To Malcolm. Not to me. Her voice was rough.
The chill of Malcolm’s presence came closer. “How do you feel?” he asked.
She took a deep, shaky breath. At least it wasn’t a wheeze. “Hurts.” She coughed.
“I know,” Malcolm said, his tone somber. “Natalie nulled you, and your binding spell failed.”
“I remember fire.” Alice coughed again.
