Page 81 of Infernal Hearts

I slip on the necklace he gave me, and a warm sensation runs through my heart. A little piece of him with me at all times. I walk out into the living room and give Grover his breakfast, then make a bite for myself. Food is just what the doctor ordered after a traumatic night. Grover, however, is obviously displeased that he had to sleep on the couch last night. He’s acting aloof when I scratch him behind the ears, ignoring me. I swear, he’s more like a person than he is a dog.

I can’t stop wondering about that basement Levi told me about. A trove of magical ingredients and a library of supernatural medical journals? I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t tempted to see it for myself, but the fact that someone rigged it to hurt the finder makes it less appealing.

I’ve never heard of any Dr. Ambrose in town—there’s only ever been my family’s practice. And my dad’s dad before him. I’m a legacy, in a way, but a competitor? I wonder what the connection is.

A dark thought intrudes my brain—someone in town is doing exactly the opposite of the good work my family’s always done. This person is absolutely a danger to the creatures, and if this person is dangerous for the supernatural, they’d absolutely be dangerous for a normal human being. He could have been what happened to my dad—the thought chilling my spine.

After a few minutes, I grab my medical kit on the way out, and I walk Grover over to the guest house. It’s quiet inside. That’s a good sign. Rani didn’t wake up in the middle of the night and panic about where she was. A pang of guilt hits me because we risked worrying her, but with the extent of her injuries, there was no way she would have regained consciousness throughout the night.

In the bedroom, Rani rests peacefully. I sit down on the bed next to her. “Rani?” I gently take her hand. “Can you hear me?”

She yawns. “I’m blind, not deaf.”

A smile creeps over my mouth. “A sense of humor. That’s a good sign.”

“Where’s Levi?” Her white eyes stare at the ceiling above her.

I pull out my stethoscope from my bag and help her sit up. “Sleeping still.”

“I’m assuming he slept in your bed.”

Heat rushes through my cheeks. I didn’t think it was that obvious. I clear my throat, avoiding the question. “Deep breath in.” I listen to her lungs intently. They’re functional.

“I heard your pulse speed up, by the way. There’s nothing to be embarrassed about.”

“Just trying to be professional.”

“I think we’re past professional courtesy here.”

My heartbeat is faster than it should be. Like Levi, I’m sure she can hear it, too.

I pull out a small flashlight and shine it in her eyes. “Anything?” Gorgons turning things to stone is a conscious act—nothing that could happen by accident. I have no worry that I’m in danger if I get a closer look.

“A little.” She sighs, and her body relaxes once she realizes what this means. “I thought I saw a shadow earlier, too. It’s starting to come back.”

I click the button and put the flashlight back in the bag. “That’s good news.”

“Why are you helping us?” Her question comes out of nowhere but is coated in genuine confusion. “I got the impression you aren’t too keen on the supernatural.”

I put my hand on hers and squeeze. “Because it’s the right thing to do.”

Her jaw tenses at my touch, but she soon relaxes. “You make him happy, you know.”

“Levi?” My brow knits. “What do you mean?”

Her lips press into a firm line, really considering what she’s going to say. “I’ll be real with you. He’s flirty, and he’s a good time to be around, but he’s damaged. Then again, so am I, which is why we bonded so well. That fucker is distant in ways that really matter, but I love him despite it. Yet since he found you… Something’s changed. He’s softer. I can’t explain it.”

She doesn’t strike me as the type to mince words, so they pack that much more of a punch. Have I really had that much of an effect on him?

“He’s a good guy.” I close my bag, standing up. “I’m glad we met.”

She turns her head toward me. “Do me a favor?”

“What’s that?”

“Don’t break his heart. We’ve been through a lot together, and I’d like to think that I know him better than anyone. If I’m right about how he’s feeling—and I’m always right—I’m not sure it’s something he could recover from. He doesn’t open up easily. He feels even less easily.”

I swallow hard. “I wasn’t planning on it. But he’s leaving as soon as the deal is done. Not much time left.”

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