Page 52 of Soar

“But how long was he injured?”

“Well, it happened at the tail end of the Dragon War, so…”

Salem’s eyes crossed. “Five-hundred-year-old injury?! And they cured him?”

“To the point he can fly again, at least. I’m told he’s still not a hundred percent, but given how old the injury was, it’s still something of a miracle.”

“Not something of, it’s an absolute miracle.” Salem flopped back down, eyes still blown wide. “My god. I had no idea this information was kept alive after the war. I know Sam was able to do some serious magic after his core was fixed, but…”

“Pretty sure the Abe Clan has forgotten more about medicine than the collective world has ever known.”

“Can they do surgeries without needing to actually cut someone open?” Salem pressed.

“Uhhh, you’re asking questions I don’t know the answers to.” Gregori paused, thinking hard, then ventured tentatively, “I think so? At least on some things. Yeah, I’m not sure. I do know a lot of our ailments are getting fixed via either spells or potions. It’s honestly been really nice. I feel like I’ve gone back to the old days.”

“Fuuuuck,” Salem whispered. He put a hand over his eyes, visibly agitated. “If I had known any of that, I might not have almost lost a patient today.”

Gregori saw an in, and he wasn’t above taking it. Anything to convince Salem to give magic a chance, a real chance. It might be the right lure to pull him out of this insane work schedule of his and into the clan. Gregori was not above twisting arms.

“I do know Amaru and Sora are taking on students.”

Salem snapped upright, looking just as excited as he had been a second ago. “You’re pulling my leg.”

“Absolutely am not.”

Gregori stroked his back, loving this excitement from Salem. It was such a rare thing to see. Most of the time, he was so jaded and beaten down with exhaustion, he barely smiled. It was part of the reason Gregori tried so hard to get him out of this place.

Feeling like he was winning a long-standing argument, he tacked on, “I’ve got both Amaru’s and Sora’s numbers. Want to call them? They’d love to talk medicine with you. Amaru especially doesn’t know how to shut up if medicine is the topic.”

“I…” Salem paused, brow furrowing. “Yeah. Yeah, I think I should. I don’t even know what I don’t know, if that makes sense.”

“Sure. You know modern medicine, but magical medicine isn’t something you grew up learning.”

“No. No, it wasn’t. It wasn’t something the Hunters knew. Shit, I’m…I’m both vexed that this information has already been out here for hundreds of years without my knowing, and excited at the possibility I really could use magic to help my patients.” Salem frowned before asking, “Wait, how does one have a medical license to practice if you’re using magic?”

“Sora question.” Gregori had no clue. “I heard he traveled the world as a nonprofit doctor before meeting Ravi. If anyone could answer the question, it’d be him.”

It didn’t take two seconds for Salem to make a decision. “I want to talk to them.”

“Sure. I’ll text them both, see who’s got time to chat and when. Amaru’s up to his neck in projects, so it might not be him. Honestly, Sora’s not much better, as he’s juggling projects, twins, and Ravi, but I have more faith in him finding an hour to talk to you than Amaru.”

“Because he can stay on topic?”

Gregori snorted a laugh. “Pretty much. Amaru’s excitement runs away with him.”

“Got it. Well, regardless, I have a lot of questions. In fact, I might have triple the questions once I sit and think on this for a second.”

“That’s fine.”

In a rare moment, Salem tilted his head back to look at him, gaze almost penetrating. “And what’s wrong with you?”

Gregori’s dragon sat up and did a little happy dance at this question. Such a lovely moment, having his mate focused and worried about him. He felt like throwing a party.

“Homesick,” Gregori admitted. He didn’t want to worry Salem or give him any grounds to argue with Gregori about returning to Brazil, but he did want to be honest with him. It was something of a fine balancing act. “I’m just really missing everyone. Plus, I’ve been feeling a little off.”

Salem’s face saidI knew it, but he didn’t look happy or vindicated with this answer. Quite the opposite, like it worried him more. “Are you coming down with something?”

“No, I don’t think so. No sore throat or fever or anything. Just really tired and not feeling myself.”

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