I sighed and pretended that the motion didn’t cause me pain. If I wanted to get out from under Kaye’s care, I’d have to pretend I was well enough to return home. She narrowed her eyes at me and I blushed. Right, trying to trick a witch was probably a dumb idea. Kaye was no fool.
With another penetrating look, Kaye lowered herself onto the low stool beside me. She took her time settling her skirts and I tried not to fidget. I didn’t like lying here prone, but I figured Kaye would turn me into a toad, or worse, if I tried to sit up without permission.
I ran a gloved hand over the small wooden frame beneath me. Since the kitchen didn’t have a bed, I figured they’d set me on a portable cot while Kaye nursed me back to health. When Marvin had stayed here, he’d slept in a pile of blankets on the floor. The troll was too big for a bed.
“Is Marvin alright?” I asked.
My heart raced and a cold sweat beaded on my forehead. Marvin had unexpectedly shown up during the Danse Macabre, but I couldn’t remember if he made it out safely. I tried to think back to the end of the cemetery battle, but my memories were hazy.
I remembered Sir Torn arriving, leading the cat sidhe to attack the rat horde. I had uttered the Latin words just as Father Michael had instructed, weakening the compulsion of the endless dance and loosening the hold of the Danse Macabre. Ceff had battled Melusine, keeping her busy while Jinx tried to rescue children from the circle. I had fought with The Piper…and Marvin had appeared, joining the attack. But the details were fuzzy after that.
“He be fine, lass,” Hob said.
The brownie patted the blanket beside me, trying to comfort yet careful not to touch. My eyes watered and I blinked the tears away. I must be allergic to something in Kaye’s kitchen. I didn’t cry over bridge trolls. It wasn’t my style.
“Your friends and subjects are safe,” Kaye said.
Subjects. I don’t think I’ll ever get used to that. I let out a breath and turned my attention back to the gauze bandage taped to my side. Whatever was under the wrappings itched and burned like crazy. I felt like I’d been pixed. Maybe I had. Marvin had used a pixie nest to incapacitate The Piper long enough for me to disrupt the spell.
Memories of the battle were returning in fragments, but I still couldn’t remember what I’d done to my side. I lifted my good hand and pointed at the gauze taped to my side.
“So what’s up with the bandage?” I asked.
I bit my lip waiting for Kaye’s reply. Hob looked worried and continued to pat the blanket beside me.
“It’s time to remove the poultice,” Kaye said. “I’ll show you how to change the dressings and you can see for yourself.”
She slid on disposable, surgical gloves and removed the medical tape from my skin. I held my breath, heart racing. My eyes slid to the black tattoos climbing up Kaye’s neck, down her arms, and onto her hands; hands that were dangerously close to touching me. My heart raced, leaving me lightheaded and my skin glowing pale yellow.
“I’ll be careful to avoid touching you, dear,” Kaye said.
Kaye didn’t look up from her work, just wiggled a gloved hand at me and continued removing tape from the edges of the bandage. She peeled back the layers of gauze and herbs to expose two round puncture holes. Jagged rips in the skin streamed out from the punctures where the flesh had been torn. A half-memory returned of Melusine shaking her head, fangs caught in my side. But was that truly memory or nightmare?
I tried to lift my head for a better look and grunted as the movement pulled at the wounds. It looked like a snake bite, if the snake was the size of a grown man, or woman.
“Melusine?” I asked.
“Yes,” Kaye said. She still didn’t meet my eyes. “The tips of her fangs caught you in the side as you tried to protect Ceff. If you hadn’t killed her with that silver and iron blade, the lamia would have murdered you both. You are lucky to be alive.”
I lay back against the pillows and squeezed my eyes shut. I’d killed my boyfriend’s ex-wife. I wasn’t sure how he’d feel about that. Heck, I didn’t know how I felt about it. The woman was evil, but I’d murdered her in cold blood, leaving her no chance for redemption. What did that make me?
Not for the first time since discovering my Unseelie blood, I wondered if I might truly be a monster.
“Marvin say ye had no choice, lass,” Hob said.
I knew the brownie was trying to help, so I nodded. But deep down inside I felt broken. Even if Ceff forgave me, which was a big if, I didn’t think anything would ever make me feel better about taking a life.
I tried to swallow, but my mouth was dry and I felt like my heart was stuck in my throat. I coughed and looked away. Kaye handed me a glass of water and I sipped it slowly, postponing my next question.
“Where is Ceff?” I asked.
I’d been lying here, maybe dying, and Ceff was nowhere in sight. Lamia fangs are venomous; it was a miracle I was alive. I’d never had a boyfriend before, but I was pretty sure they were supposed to sit beside your deathbed. If he wasn’t here, then he was leaving me. I’d really screwed things up this time. My insides were achingly hollow and I imagined myself falling into the void Ceff had left there.
“Calm yerself, lass,” Hob said.
I opened my eyes to see Hob hovering near my shoulder and wringing his hands. My skin was glowing so bright it made my eyes water. I took a deep breath and tried not to think about Ceff and Melusine. The glowing dimmed, but didn’t go away. I was too upset and had no way of hiding that fact. I was caught with my heart unguarded, raw and exposed.
“Ceff is grieving, dear,” Kaye said. “Do not judge him for that. He has been here watching over you for days, but this morning I told him you were safely recovering and would be going home today. I told him to go and get some rest, but I saw the haunted look on his face when he left. At a guess, I’d say he is at the cemetery. He said he’d see you later at your apartment.”
I pressed a gloved hand against my eyes and let out a shaky breath. Ceff had been at my side for days. Thank Mab. He hadn’t left me forever. He’d left me to grieve.
“Melusine was a lot of things, but she was also the mother of his children,” Kaye said. “Let the man grieve. Give him time.”
Melusine was a lot of things alright—like the murderer of Ceff’s sons—but Kaye’s words were filled with wisdom as always. If Ceff required time to grieve, then I’d back off and give him the space he needed.
Then my sluggish brain caught up with what else Kaye had said. He has been here watching over you for days. I blinked rapidly and turned my head back and forth from Kaye to Hob. I’d been here for days?
“How long have I been unconscious?” I asked.
“Nearly a fortnight, lass,” Hob said. “But ye be goin’ home now. The Madam says so.”
A fortnight was two weeks. That was a long time to be out cold. Plenty of time to lose strength and muscle tone.
“I’m going home?” I asked.
I pursed my lips together and my stomach quivered. I wanted to go home, don’t get me wrong, but I wasn’t sure how I was supposed to manage that with two gaping holes in my side. Monsters walk the streets of Harborsmouth and I felt as weak and vulnerable as a cat sidhe kit. I clenched my good hand, longing for my weapons. Maybe I should stay a few more days after all and build up my strength.
“You doubt my skills, girl?” she asked. Kaye lifted her chin, but there was a teasing twinkle in her eye. “I was able to draw the lamia venom from the wound at your side and administered anti-venom for the viper bite at your wrist.”