Page 59 of Dark Shadow of Guilt

“No. Where we’re from—Scath—we don’t have Mind Rats who can create the injury. If that’s what it is.”

Madeline trembled until a cool breeze blew across her skin. When it did, she calmed.

After flicking his wrist, Alarik smiled. “A slight spell to settle your nerves, dear.”

Nice. Better than anxiety drugs.

Relaxed, she faced Rath again. “Tell me exactly what you plan to do.” The man was an unlikely-looking medical professional. He was muscled, with huge hands, almost clumsy in size.

“I won’t know until I examine you. After that, I will give you a step-by-step.”

Madeline glanced at Dom, who supported her with a nod. “Okay. Where do you want me?”

“Where you are is fine for now.” He unfolded from the floor with more grace than Madeline expected from such a bulky man and stepped toward her.

Dom shot up but didn’t confront Rath. He held himself in check, his hands fisted at his sides.

The healer, though glancing at Dom with uncertainty, crouched beside Madeline. “When I touch you to cast a spell, you may feel a chill.” He set a palm on her forehead, closing his eyes.

Maddy didn’t know if she should breathe. So she held her breath as long as she could. Finally, she gasped for air. She crossed her ankles. She uncrossed her ankles. And he was right. She shivered from a chill.

Apparently finished after a long ten minutes, Rath shoved onto his feet and paced the salon, having a chat with himself. His lips moved, but Madeline couldn’t hear what he was saying.

When the mage resumed sitting on his pillow beside the fire, he latched onto his mug of wine and took a pull. Setting it down, he leaned back, his arms locked around a knee. “Someone has messed with her mind. No question about it. And the problem acts like a brain injury, but her body is fighting it. Quite successfully. Unfortunately, there are patches of ... um ... resistance. I’m assuming these spots may be what you called triggers.”

“Interesting,” said Alarik.

Freki joined them by the fire, curling up near its warmth. He raised his head. “Sounds dangerous to me. You got this guy’sbona fides?”

“Nobody asked you,” said Dom. “But Alarik says he’s good.”

Freki snarled, his snout resting on top of his paws.

Madeline crossed her arms, listening closely as everyone talked around her. “If untreated what will these triggers do?”

Rath shrugged. “First, I need to ask a question. What are the symptoms of this injury?”

Maddy blushed, biting her lower lip while she wondered how to explain the whole mess. “I guess you could say they make me very compliant. I have a strong need to please.” She glanced at Dom whose frowning lips curved into a smile.

“Everyone?” asked Rath.

“No. Only him.” She pointed at the black-winged assassin.

“Okay. Here’s my guess. They could keep reinforcing original commands. Or I could be wrong. They could be new commands, lying in wait until your body no longer fights them. Then, they could go kablooey. Whatever they are, they appear rather stubborn. But the truth is, I have no idea.”

Dom said, “She showed no signs of being a Syc at the beginning.”

“Probably means a trigger kicked in,” the healer suggested.

“That’s what the Feard thought.” Madeline chewed on her thumbnail. “Rath, I want all things Praevus wiped out of me. Obliterated. Disinfected. Untangled. Whatever you have to do.”

Rath glanced at Dom.

“Don’t look at him. It’s my mind. My decision.” She glanced at Dom but held firm.

“How much latitude am I given?” asked the Aeternal healer.

Madeline shifted her position on the pillow and sipped her heated wine. “Enough to fix me. Not enough to leave me a blathering idiot.”

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