Page 132 of The Demon's Spell

From what I knew, people could recover from a diabetic coma fairly quickly if treated immediately. We were lucky we got out of the stairwell when we did.

“How are you doing?” I asked.

Grant plastered on a big, silly smile. “Never better.”

“Yeah, because that’s the appropriate response after a diabetic coma,” I said with an eye roll.

He shrugged. “I like to keep things interesting.”

“Where’d the cat come from?” Nadine asked, gesturing to the orange kitten. She took a seat at the foot of Grant’s bed since all the other chairs in the room were taken.

“She found her way in last night,” Grant said, stroking the kitten’s head. “I woke up to her licking my nose.”

“Finally, thank the Goddess,” Miles said. “I was wondering when your cat would finally show up.”

“She was holding out for the proper incarnation, weren’t you, Smelly Belly?” Grant scratched behind the cat’s ears.

“You’re naming her Smelly Belly?” I asked, cringing a little.

“It’s short for Bella,” Grant said.

Miles laughed. “Short for?”

“She likes it, okay!” Grant insisted.

“Do you have any idea who she’s reincarnated from?” Chloe asked. Marley sat on her lap, purring.

“I’m not sure,” Grant said. “No one close to me has died. I think she’s an ancestor from a few generations back. I get the sense she’s my great-great grandpa. A psychic once told me he was one of my spirit guides, and Bella gives off the same energy.”

“She must’ve sensed that you needed her after you got stuck in the stairwell and passed out,” Chloe said.

“Yeah, but it was worth it,” Grant replied.

“Worth it?” I balked. “Grant, you went into a diabetic coma!”

“I got better! And we got the Wand,” he pointed out.

Talia conjured the Seer Wand and twisted it around in her hands. “I’m really going to miss this Wand.”

“What do you mean?” Nadine asked.

Talia shot her an incredulous look. “You’re giving it to the Imperium Council, of course.”

“No!” Nadine protested. “They already have one Wand. I’m not handing them another.”

“But you have to!” Talia argued. “You need your transplant.”

“That is the only way the priestesses will allow it to happen,” Chloe added in agreement.

“I handed over the Alchemy Wand to pardon all of you,” Nadine reminded them. “We’ve already failed to obtain one Wand. I’m not giving this one up.”

“We’ll find a way to get it back,” Chloe insisted.

“Unless they continue to manipulate me,” Nadine said. “They already know I’ll hand over a Wand for my friends. If I give them this, they can use anything against me. This Wand belongs to the coven, and it’s selfish to use it for my own gain.”

“It’s selfish of the priestesses to use it against you to get what they want,” Chloe protested. “You need a kidney, and we’re not settling for anything less.”

“Chloe’s right,” I stated.

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