Page 62 of Taken By Raider Kings
How strange.I don’t feel that at all.
Odder still to think she could take two steps in some new, barely discernible direction, leave the room.There might be somewhere else, after all.Werewolves, vampires, shamans—why not heaven?Or hell?
She could be done with the whole thing, with a life spent cowering in fear.It didn’t seem so difficult.
But there was Zach.He’d kidnapped her, and saved her life.He’d found her, and it sounded like he’d killed a lot of vampires to do it, too.What else had he done?How had he gotten her out of that cellar?Was he hurt?
Dying, maybe?
She hesitated.The spirits were silent.Just when she’d gotten used to their chirping all the time.
How on earth was she supposed to get back in her body?
Just as she thought it, themajirturned away from the bed.They streamed toward her; Sophie found herself reaching out with her own insubstantial hands to clasp theirs.They felt warm and tangible, just like real skin, and for a moment all their faces flushed with warmth, their mouths becoming littleOs of surprise.
A moment of soft confusion, heat folding around her like the blooming of an orchid, and she sank into hot darkness full of thudding.
For a moment she panicked, thinking she was back in the cellar again.But her eyelids snapped up, the light striking to the center of her head, and she realized the pounding was her own pulse, a heart working steadily, marking off time.
Her throat burned.Her body ached, her head and ribs most of all.The sheets rasped against her skin like heat on a fresh sunburn.Her scalp crawled; she couldsmellherself, sick and unwashed under a rush of musk and queer silvery perfume.
Dizziness poured through her.Then someone was there, a gentle arm lifting her shoulders.A cup hit her lips, liquid filled her mouth, and she was so thirsty she drank until a burning sourness reached her stomach, made her eyes water.Deep retching coughs pulled at her tender ribs; she flinched and tried to escape the liquid still poured relentlessly past her teeth.
“Easy there,” Cullen rumbled.
“Goddamn.”Julia was the one holding her up, but the bear-man leaned close, kept pouring whatever was in the cup past despite Sophie’s spluttering.“That smellsfoul.”
It did.And itburned.
“It’s good for you.”Cullen’s eyes twinkled.“Want some?”
“No, thanks.”Julia’s long silken hair brushed Sophie’s face.“Shaman brews.Worse than distemper.”
“What would you know, cub?”The bear-man grinned.“Hello, Sophie.Glad to see you among us again.”
Whatever he had sloshed down her throat burned and smelled like rocket fuel and wet seaweed, with a healthy dose of damp fur and nose-stinging mint.It was like gasoline toothpaste, for God’s sake, and he kept tipping the cup until she spluttered again, splashing the dregs over her face.
“Don’tdrownher, you moron!”Julia snatched her away, Sophie’s body limp as a rag doll.Her muscles were all unstrung, the heat of the drink filling her belly and exploding outward.Unsteady warmth, as if a wire had run through the middle of her bones and started glowing.
The girl held her up, hugging her close.She was warm, and her musk-perfume oddly comforting.
Sophie coughed.Themajirgathered, watching solemnly.They had done what they could for now.
The rest was up to her.
Her lips were chapped.She licked them, a residue of bitterness coating her tongue.Her mouth tingled, numbness slowly receding.
“You need more.”Cullen straightened reluctantly.
“For Christ’s sake—” Julia didn’t think much of this notion.
“Quiet, cubling.”The bear-man rumbled deep in his chest.
Sophie found her voice.“Z-Zach.Where’s Zach?”
They both went completely still.
“Just relax,” Julia finally said, steadying her.“Shaman-healing’s hard on the body.You were in bad shape.”
