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.
“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.
“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.”
Kaye pointed to the wrist I’d assumed was broken. It was wrapped tightly and hurt like the devil, but when I attempted to move my fingers they wiggled stiffly. I’d been injected with both lamia and pit viper venom. Some girls have all the luck.
“The venom brought on a terrible fever as your body tried to heal, but the fever finally broke last night,” Kaye said. “You’re at no risk of death now, but you’ll need to rest until you recover your strength. You’ll be weak as a babe, at least for a few more days.”
I looked around the room, feeling lost. I was going home, but I had no idea where to begin. I wasn’t used to being so dependent on others for help. There was only one person who looked after me like that, and she wasn’t here.
“Where’s Jinx?” I asked.
I understood why Ceff had left my side, but Jinx’s absence was odd. I would have expected her to hover. For once, I would have gratefully accepted a helping hand, but my friend was nowhere in sight.
“She’s back at the loft getting your room ready,” Kaye said. “You know how she likes to fuss over you. The silly girl.”
Kaye wasn’t a big fan of my roommate. If Jinx had found a way to be of help and escape Kaye’s watchful eye, she’d have been out of here in a flash of dyed hair and platform shoes.
I smiled and started the painful process of pulling myself upright. It was more difficult than I cared to admit, but with Kaye’s help, I was able to stand and gather my things.
I grunted and double-checked the blades strapped in their sheaths. The leather sheath on my right arm overlapped the bandages there, but I tightened the straps and embraced the pain. Hopefully, it would keep me awake long enough to get home.
I pulled a new leather jacket over the sheaths and checked the fit in one of Kaye’s scrying mirrors. The coat was a gift from Jinx. It had been folded beside the bed with a clean t-shirt and pair of jeans. A note on top of the pile said she’d procured the jacket from the clurichaun tailor…and that I owed her a new pair of shoes. Looked liked I’d be making a trip to the clurichaun’s cousin soon enough.
I smoothed out the jacket, satisfied that the leather hid my weapons. I hesitated before taking up the blades. There was no way I was getting close to the weapon that killed Melusine. I would relive that moment over and over in my dreams. I didn’t need visions of that night threatening to intrude into daylight as well.
I was finally convinced to take them up when Kaye assured me that the throwing knives were new. Jenna had sent them over as a get-well gift. Some people send flowers, my friends send leather and weapons.
“Time for you to be off,” she said. “Humphrey will make sure you get home safe.”
I limped to the door, sweating with the exertion. Kaye had warned that I’d be “weak as a babe” for a few days. Weak as a babe? That was an understatement. I was as boneless as a brollachan and pale as a vampire. Whoever Humphrey was, I hoped he walked slowly.
I’d be lucky if I made it home without passing out.
Chapter 25
As it turned out, Humphrey was a gargoyle. I was pretty sure he was the same gargoyle from the other day, but it was hard to tell. He sported a familiar combination of features, a mutation of dog, goat, and bat, but I had trouble examining him closely. The gargoyle was flying a few yards above me and I started to fall over each time I tilted back my head.
I shook off a wave of dizziness, put my hands in my pockets, and started the long walk home. My wrist throbbed and a burning pain stabbed my side with every step. I was pretty sure that if I had to raise my arm in a knife throwing stance, I’d pass out.
Thankfully, Kaye had provided the gargoyle escort. I may be too weak to defend myself, but I had no doubt that the half ton of living stone could keep me safe. Still, it was a long-ass walk to my apartment.
I limped along slowly, avoiding looks from passerby. When I was nearly home, my phone rang. I jumped at the sound and hissed at the pain the movement caused. The gargoyle glanced down and snorted. He seemed to find my predicament amusing.
I winced and pulled my phone from my pocket. The number to our office flashed on the screen.
“Hey,” I said, answering the call. “Miss me already?”
“Kaye said you were on your way home,” Jinx said. “But we got a problem. I need you to stop by the office.”
“Seriously?” I asked.
“Dude, I need you down here,” she said, and hung up.
I stared at the blank screen and sighed. Shoulders slumped, I trudged to the office. All I wanted was my bed, but there was no rest for the wicked. Some days it sucked to be me.
I turned the corner to see a crowd assembled in front of Private Eye. The gargoyle gave a rumbling growl of warning and I looked up to see his ears lay back flat against his head. I reached into my sleeves, making sure my blades were one flick away from my hands. My right wrist was stiff, but if I ignored the pain, I could grab the throwing knife. I just hoped I didn’t need my weapons. I’d be able to fight, but it wouldn’t be pretty.
Faces turned toward me and I stopped dead in my tracks. For a moment, I felt a sense of deja vu. The crowd was made up of the same fae parents from a previous morning, but the assembled fae were no longer gnashing their teeth and wringing clawed hands. This time they were smiling and waving at me, though many had
