Page 110 of Magic's Dawn

I pluck at the ugly hospital shirt I wear. A giant opening at the back allows cold air to blow on my ass every time I get out of bed to use the bathroom.

Which is a small blessing. At least I’m not in a diaper or have a catheter.

But my request for real clothes was met with a resounding denial. There seems to be a fear that real clothes will free me to get up to mischief.

My, how my mates continue to underestimate me.

Sliding out of bed, I pull off the sheet and wrap it around myself like a toga. My aim is Greek goddess, but the reality is probably closer to a drunken Alpha Phi girl.

Mmm, pie.

I poke my head out of the doorway to make sure the coast is clear before I hurry down the hall toward the entrance.

With how little free time I’ve had lately, I need to hustle before my next babysitter shows up.

I don’t spot Westen pouting in the reception area. Hopefully, that means Mrs. Smith’s heart grew two sizes today, and she took him home with her. With somewhere to live, the poor pup may decide to become a real boy once more.

Zane’s shock of tangerine-red hair paces past the glass doors, but he freezes as I near, spinning back toward the clinic.

His hand touches the door at the same time mine does, and I have to sidestep as he pushes it open. “Thank god you finally came out.”

“Why aren’t you at home?” I eye the overcast sky. “Do you want to be a crispy critter?”

“No, I want this bond broken.” He shoves an old book at me. “Hurry up, before Ambros recovers enough to kill me.”

I fumble to catch the book, which I recognize as one of the old grimoires from Books & Blots. A piece of paper sticks out of the top, and when I open it to that page, I find a translation of the spell written out on notebook paper.

“My German isn’t as good as Drake’s was, but that’s the spell we need to undo this link.” He gestures between us. “So, get with the magic making.”

“Well, hello to you, too,” I grumble. “Nice to see you’re unharmed and that the sleeping meds wore off.”

“Yeah, glad you’re not dead, too.” He peers over his shoulder. “Just hurry. I saw Haut go into the diner a few minutes ago, so he’ll be here soon.”

My head jerks up. “Do you think he’s getting me a milkshake? Please don’t say it’s vanilla. Don’t get me wrong, I’ll drink it, but I won’t like it.”

Zane turns back to stare at me. “How do you get anything done with so much noise in your head? It’s like having a hundred radios on all at once.”

I wrinkle my nose. “No one listens to the radio anymore.”

He taps the spell book I hold. “Please, focus.”

As directed, I glance down at the spell. “Will Ambros really kill you?”

“We’re not family, and I bonded his mate.” Zane dances from one foot to the other. “That’s grounds for death among our people, because that’s usually the only way to sever a bond without going before the paranormal council. But I found this in your books.”

No wonder he’s been an anxious thorn in my side. Or, rather, my mind.

This spell is a pretty big deal, though, and may win Zane a hearty pat on the back. “So this will break the bond between a vampire and the person they bonded with?”

“That’s what it says.” He jabs a finger at the title. “To Undo a Bond Forged In Blood.”

Excitement zips through me. This means we can undo the bond between Bryant and the witches.

“It looks simple enough,” Zane continues. “Just say some words, spill some blood, and voilà, we’re divorced.”

“Divorced? Are we married?” I screech before the rest of what he said sinks in. “Wait, what blood?”

“Yours and mine.” He rakes frustrated hands through his hair. “The two who are bonded. It’s all right there if you’d just read the spell.”

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