Chapter 18
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
ORION
Iscreamed in frustration, water flooding my throat. It triggered a violent cough, my eyes blurry from the constant barrage of river spray.
“Basil!”
Arms wrapped around me. I wailed, trying to wriggle free.
“It’s me.”
Miko’s baritone hit me like a separate wave of magical water, shocking me into tears.
“M-Miko?”
He punched an approaching zombie so hard in the face it sank out of sight.
“Climb on my back,” he said.
I obeyed, eyes hot with tears of relief. “Basil…”
“Cate’s on it.”
His powerful body tore through the water, working both with and against the current. He was like a boat himself, gliding through the liquid shadows until we reached the north shore.
I held on tightly as he waded out of the river, dashing up a concrete boat ramp, pausing at the edge of a residential area spreading inland from the water’s edge.
I slid off him. He spun, grabbing me into a solid hug. “I’m here.”
More tears ran free, but I couldn’t do this right now. Not with Basil’s injury.
“Basil’s hurt,” I said, breaking free.
He took me by the shoulders, inspecting my face. “Are you?” His eyes roamed my exposed chest. “Who cut you? The magi?” He growled. “Where the fuck are they?” He noticed my wrists. “What the fuck?”
The burns on my wrists flared, reminding me they were in a bad way now that my panic rolled in adrenaline had subsided.
Cate bounded up the boat ramp carrying Basil. “His shoulder…”
“Lay him down,” I said.
She did.
“Thanks.” I got to work on the messy wound.
Stage one consisted of my spit. I gathered a good amount of saliva into my mouth, releasing it onto the wound. A still conscious yet sickly Basil shuddered as the spit glittered, getting to work on the damage, preparing me for the next part.
I closed my eyes, pressing my lips to the wound. A healing kiss, my tongue tracing every part of the damage from the teeth marks to the exposed sinew. I took my time, checking as I went, leaving no part of him untouched.
My mind flashed back to a time when we’d been this close, this intimate. On the beach, his hands all over my body, his mouth exploring every cell of my skin, sending me into delicious spirals.
How different things could have been. I might have never come to Earth if he hadn’t slept with those men. Safe in Faery with him, living our zombie-free lives, being regular fae in love.
Stars, the idea turned my stomach. A life without Miko? No thanks.
Blissful warmth bloomed in my mouth, vibrations telling me Basil would be fine. The flesh began to heal, the antibacterial properties of my saliva fighting off any potential infection.
I kept my lips pressed there until I felt the skin make its final, closing knit.
Done, I lifted my head to check. Yes. Definitely done. All better. Well, the bite at least. The iron burns were another matter. Our healing skills combined wouldn’t fix those injuries. But a good clean, some decent salve, and sturdy bandages would do the trick.
Basil blinked at me, mouth hanging open.
“You’re alright. You’re alright.” I collapsed beside him, hit with heady relief.
Miko landed beside me, the back of his hand on my forehead. “Are you okay?”
“Give me ten minutes…”
“Eat!”
Pixie balls!
“Not here.” Miko picked me up.
“I’ve got you,” Cate told Basil, scooping him up.
Stars, he would hate that.
“I can walk, madam,” he complained.
“I’m quicker.”
“I’m no slowpoke.”
“Being in my arms is better,” Cate countered.
I giggled, happy to hear Basil alive and huffing.
The wolves took us further inland, pausing in a dark alleyway between two boarded-up houses. Shafts of moonlight highlighted weeds sprouting from the cracked concrete.
“It’s clear here,” Miko said.
“You can put me down,” I told him softly.
“You sure?”
“Yes. Thank you for the lift.” I kissed him on the cheek when I was upright again.
“You’re welcome.”
I craved a tumble into his arms, embracing him until sunrise. Maybe I’d cry a little, then praise every single star for sparing my life again. Just when things were skirting the rim of total devastation, here we were. Still alive to fight on.
“A miracle,” I whispered.
Miko stroked my spine in answer.
“Where are the others?” I asked, leaning into his touch.
“Safe. We’ll get back to them as soon as we can.”
I nodded. “We need to talk about the speedies.”
“I’ll say. But not here.” Miko gently took hold of my arms, inspecting my wrists. “This is bad. For both of you.”
“Iron,” Basil answered curtly.
“I assume your healing skills won’t help?” Cate asked, projecting some of her warmed up steeliness.
Basil shook his head. “I can fix the cut on your chest, though.”
I wrapped my arms around myself. “I’m fine. It’s not deep.”
“You’re not fine. You’re freezing.” Miko wrapped me in a hug. “And I’m soaked and not helping with warmth.”
My teeth chattered. “I’m f-f-f-fine.”
I backed away from the soggy werewolf, yearning for a jumper, a thermal vest, and the thickest coat on the planet.
My boot stood on something solid. I lifted my foot. Wendy sat undamaged on the ground.
“What…” I bent down, picking her up by her wet chain. “Wendy?”
She still worked, the blob with ears and eyes staring back at me as always. Moving from left to right in her animation, asking for food.
“But…”
“What’s wrong?” Miko asked, putting an arm around me. “Is she broken?”
“No. She’s—”
“Eat!”
He growled. “Let’s get to shelter.”
I slipped my pet into my pocket, jumping onto Miko’s back. Without protest, Basil climbed onto Cate’s, and we were off.
Okay. This new development really made my temples pulse.
How had Wendy gotten from the middle of the river to the alleyway?
The current might be strong, but the laws of nature didn’t bend to teleport her from the water to dry land.
And she couldn’t sprout legs and run inland up that boat ramp, right?
I presumed the answer was no.
There had always been more to Wendy, but this went to the next level. She should have run out of battery power so many times, or been left broken from being in my pocket during sticky situations. Even suffered water damage.
Yet she always came out as right as spring rain, as my mama always said.
Miko turned left, picking up his speed. He went down a street free of debris and bodies. Had to be a first.
What are you, Wendy?
For a moment, I thought I heard her beep the answer in my head.