Total pages in book: 99
Estimated words: 94582 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 473(@200wpm)___ 378(@250wpm)___ 315(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 94582 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 473(@200wpm)___ 378(@250wpm)___ 315(@300wpm)
“You’ve given us a lot of valuable information, Mistress Mirabella,” Torin told the girl. “We’re going to leave as soon as my partner feels better.” He nodded at Sky. “And go catch this bastard.”
“I’m feeling fine right now,” Sky said firmly.
“Really? But you lost so much blood!” Mirabella went instantly into Healer mode. “Can I see the wound? I need to examine you before I can let you go and make sure the glue is holding,” she said.
“Sure.” Sky scooted to the edge of the bed and let the girl examine her. She was a tiny little thing, she thought as Mirabella bent over her thigh. But she had a lot of self-assurance.
“Well—this looks really good!” Mirabella sounded surprised. “But are you sure you’re not too weak? I had your partner give you some blood-growth capsules but they usually take a little while to work.”
“I’m fine,” Sky insisted. She didn’t want to explain that her rapid healing and renewed strength were due to the fact that she’d sucked down a good amount of the giant Kindred’s blood. It felt like admitting something intimate…something sexual.
“Are you sure, Darlin’?” Torin was giving her a worried look. “Because that crowd out there—”
“I can handle them if I still have my blaster. Do I?” Sky looked around and saw her weapon sitting on a bedside table. “There it is! I’m glad I didn’t lose it.”
“Put it there after I put you on the bed,” Torin said. “But I’m afraid your stun-stick is gone.”
“I can manage as long as I have my blaster,” Sky said. Though it hadn’t done much good against the Trollox, it was sufficient to hold off the rest of the cast-offs waiting outside the panic room stronghold.
“Why don’t you stay just a little while longer?” Mirabella asked, and was there a note of pleading in her tone? Sky thought there was. “You can get cleaned up and I can keep an eye on you. You’ve made an amazing recovery but I don’t like to let a patient who was so close to death go so quickly.”
“I’m sorry,” Sky said firmly. “But every minute we spend here is another minute we could be using to track this bastard.”
“All right.” Mirabella sighed. “If you were at my House of Healing, I wouldn’t let you go, but I guess I can’t do anything to stop you.”
Sky felt a rush of sympathy. The girl was probably lonely—the attack on the Sacred Seven had been days ago and Mirabella had been stuck here all this time with no one but her automaton for company.
“I’m sorry we have to go, but I promise I’ll send you some Kindred warriors to keep you safe, Mistress,” Torin rumbled. “I’ll ask my Commanding Officer, Commander Sylvan, to send the very best, so you can feel secure and protected.”
“Thank you.” Mirabella still looked doubtful about this, but she nodded anyway.
“Thank you for letting us in and for helping to save my life,” Sky told her seriously. “I owe you a debt I can never repay.”
Mirabella lifted her chin.
“There’s no debt. I’m a Healer—it’s what I do. I’m just glad you’re feeling so much better. But I don’t want you leaving her alone,” she added, turning towards Torin. “She’s still at risk, no matter how much better she feels. Keep an eye on her for me, will you?”
“I promise I will,” Torin said seriously. “She won’t go anywhere unless I’m with her.” He glanced at Sky. “Hear that, Darlin’?”
“Yes, I heard it,” Sky muttered. She really needed to make him stop calling her that ridiculous nickname—it wasn’t professional at all, she told herself. Except…it gave her a warm feeling all over when she heard it. Why was that?
You’d better be careful, whispered a little voice in her head. You’re letting that big Kindred get under your skin. You need to do something to get over him.
Again she wondered if it might not be better just to get the physical attraction between them over with. If they had sex, maybe they could put this tension behind them and concentrate on the case…
It was definitely something to consider.
TWENTY-FOUR
SKY
“It’s good to be back on board,” Torin remarked, as they climbed in the ship and the door shut behind them.
They’d had to shoot their way out of Mirabella’s panic room, but it hadn’t been much of a battle. When the ragged gang of cast-offs had seen both of them side-by-side with their weapons drawn, they’d put up only token resistance. A few well-placed shots and they’d scattered to the winds, leaving a clear path back. And thank the Mother of Serpents, there had been no more Trolloxes to contend with.
“I’m glad to be back as well,” Sky admitted. She took a step into the living area of the ship and frowned as her boot squished yet again. “But I really need to get cleaned up,” she added with a grimace. “Do you think I have time?”