and helped her sit up. The simple wooden cup frothed with smoke and smelled like a dead moose’s butt.
“Ugh, I’m not drinking that.”
“Pour it down her throat,” Lochlan ordered.
“Ignore him.” Finn shot him a glare. “It will make you feel better, I promise. And it doesn’t taste as bad as it smells.”
Brea held the cup up to her lips and winced.
“It’s best if you chug it,” Finn said.
Brea took a tentative sip and gagged. “Ugh, that’s worse than it smells, Finn!”
“That’s why I told you to chug it.” He rolled his eyes. “Just pretend it’s wine and don’t stop till you see the bottom of the cup.”
“Fine. But this better make me feel better.” Brea tipped the cup back and choked down the brown smoky concoction. “That was vile.”
Brea burped and smoke flew out of her mouth. She’d normally be embarrassed but a warm fuzzy cloud settled over her.
“Oh, that’s nice.”
Finn helped ease her back onto her bedroll. She stroked his smooth face with her good hand.
“You’re a nice person, Finn. Not like Mr. Grumpy Pants over there with his grunts and scowls.”
Finn chuckled, brushing the sweaty strands of hair from her face. “I know I shouldn’t laugh, but this girl is hilarious.”
“She’s a menace,” Lochlan said.
Brea hummed in satisfaction. “My complements to Mr. Lewis. He should p-put that stuff on t-ap.” She yawned, belched, and fell asleep.
“No! Myles!” Brea cried out, trying to reach her friend but the police officer refused to let her near him.
“The boy probably won’t survive the ride to the hospital.”
Those words gutted Brea all over again.
“She’s burning up,” Finn’s voice reached her through the fog of her fever.
“Cut her bandages off,” Lochlan ordered.
“Ouch,” Brea muttered as the fabric peeled away from the crusty burned flesh on her arm.
“The wound is infected,” Finn announced. “The medicine should have prevented this.”
“I don’t think my human half liked that stuff,” Brea managed.
She screamed when Lochlan came at her with a knife. He held her down as he slipped the tip under the massive scab on her arm. Infection oozed out, and her stomach churned.
“We have to cool her down.” Lochlan gathered her up in his arms.
“We’re in the middle of the desert, Loch. How are you going to get her temperature down?” Finn followed them out of the tent.
Lochlan handed Brea to Finn and mounted his horse. Reaching down, he took her back into his arms.
“Ugh, no more riding. Take me to see Myles. He’s in the hospital. They can give me a shot of antibiotics.”
“What is she saying?”
“More human nonsense,” Lochlan said. “I’ll ride for Loch Langt. Meet us there.”
“Will she make it that far?” Finn asked.
“What?” Brea struggled to fight through the fog of her mind.
“Shh, Lady Brea,” Lochlan said in a soothing voice. “You’ll be better soon. The cool waters of Langt is our best chance.” He gathered the reins in his hands and took off, galloping across the dusty desert plains.
“Stay with me, Brea,” Lochlan refused to let her sleep. “Tell me about your favorite Harry Potter movie.”
“Goblet of Fire,” she groaned. “Shoulda been two movies.”
“That was a great book.”
“I don’t feel good, Loch.” She curled against him, her skin on fire.
“We’re almost there. I can see the lake just over the next rise. Once we get you cooled off, we’ll have to work on that infection.”
“Promise you won’t cut off my arm.” Brea blacked out before she heard his promise.
Cool water splashed against her legs as Lochlan rode his horse straight into Loch Langt.
“That’s freezing,” she complained.
“It’s about to get a lot colder.” He slid off the horse and carried her into the deep cold waters of Langt.
“Too cold.” She squirmed against him, her teeth chattering.
“Take a deep breath, Brea.” Loch held her against his chest, plunging them under the surface.
The water stabbed like a thousand tiny needles. But that wasn’t good enough for Lochlan. Brea gasped for breath when they broke the surface, but he only stripped away her tunic and trousers until she was down to her undergarments in the icy water.
“Why are you doing this to me?” Tears slipped down her cheeks.
“To save your life. The water is freezing because your temperature is too high. You’ll die if we don’t get it down. Now, take another deep breath for me.”
She barely got a breath in before they plunged beneath the surface again. Brea thrashed around until Lochlan pressed his palm against her chest, right above her heart. Everything slowed with the blue glow of his magic. They sank to