Page 55 of Destined for Shadows
Cori winced as Micah worked on her shoulder. “I’ll cook you as many meals as you want if you eat at my house instead—naked.”
Lucas made a choking noise. “I believe I’ll go give my wife an update now.”
Bartol watched him go and turned his attention back to Cori. “Vow to me that you will not leave your house—for any reason—until we dispose of your former husband, and I’ll eat dinner with you naked.”
“Yeah, right. You know I won’t ever take that deal,” she said, then groaned in pain. “I won’t live in a cage for anyone.”
“Keep her still,” Micah warned.
Bartol pressed down on her good shoulder and leg a little harder. “You must still cook me a meal regardless.”
“Fine.” She rolled her eyes, then turned her face toward Micah. “I need you to help one more person after me.”
“You are going to take all of my powers to fix,” he said, giving her a stern look.
She struggled under Bartol’s hold. “Then don’t fix me all the way. My customer, Hayden, is hurt worse and needs you more.”
“We’ll call in a vampire.”
Cori’s gaze turned frantic. “No vampires—ever. It’s too dangerous. You will fix him with your magic. Hayden told me to run to safety even after he was already injured and the attacker was on him. It’s my fault he was hurt at all.”
“He’s not my responsibility,” Micah argued. “You are.”
She turned her attention to Bartol, desperation all over her face. “Please tell him he has to help Hayden. I had to kill an innocent man today because of Griff. I can’t handle it if another guy suffers because of me, too.”
Bartol stood there in indecision. He wanted all her injuries healed now, but he also didn’t want to see her suffering from guilt. Cori hid her pain so well most of the time that it made it that much more difficult to see her begging like this. For her, the injured customer came first, which he supposed he could understand even if he didn’t like it.
Bartol met Micah’s gaze. “Heal her enough to help speed her recovery, but after that, do what you can for the other guy.”
“Are you certain about this?” Lucas’ brother asked, doubtful.
He nodded. “Yes. Because she’s going to consent to letting us put her into a healing sleep after we take her home.” Bartol addressed Cori, “Aren’t you?”
She swallowed, taking a moment to think about it. “If it means you guys will help Hayden, but there will be a time limit, or I’ll find a way to kill you both after I wake up.”
Micah sighed. “Very well.”
Cori relaxed, satisfied she’d gotten her way. Bartol looked forward to putting her to sleep so she’d be quiet and easy to keep safe for a while.
