Heart of Vengeance (Alice Worth #6) - Lisa Edmonds Page 0,55

I’m fine and hopefully she’ll just leave.”

“If she gives you trouble, I’ll hit her with a sleep spell and we can skedaddle,” Malcolm said.

“No you won’t,” the woman said, her voice amused. She put her hands on her hips. “Come out, both of you, and let’s talk.”

Malcolm’s mouth fell open.

“We’re coming out,” I called. Backpack in hand, I made my way out of the trees. Malcolm followed. I didn’t look around for my wolf, but she was probably nearby, hiding and watching.

The young female soldier wore a black T-shirt and BDU pants with boots, her long black hair in a ponytail. Her only visible weapon was a handgun in a thigh holster. I saw no insignias that might explain which branch of the military she represented or what her name was.

Her sharp green-eyed gaze raked me from head to foot as I emerged from the trees. “You look like hell.” She unzipped one of the pockets in her pants and took out a little first-aid packet. She tossed it to me. “You busted your chin when you fell.”

“Thanks.” I set my pack on the ground and tore open the packet. As I wiped my bloody chin with an antiseptic wipe, I glanced up. Sure enough, no sign of the dragon.

She followed my gaze. “Yep, she’s going to be out of commission for a while. Should be a lot safer around here for at least a month or two. I got her good.” She grinned. “I’m two for two this year, both of them on my own. Personal record.”

“That’s impressive.” I stuffed the soiled wipe in my pocket and pressed a folded-up piece of gauze to my chin. “That dragon was huge.”

“Pretty average for the ones they get around here.” She glanced behind me. “Hi, I’m Lucy, by the way.”

“Um, I’m Malcolm,” he said, floating back and forth in consternation. “You can hear me?”

“And see you,” Lucy confirmed. “I like the glasses. Not really necessary for a ghost, but they suit you.”

“Are you a medium?” he asked.

She shook her head. “My mother’s side of the family has…gifts, you could say.”

“You feel different.” Malcolm floated closer. “Sorry to be nosy, but why do you feel a little like a ghost yourself?”

Her mouth twisted in a wry smile. “I’m a little bit dead, Malcolm—everyone in my mom’s family is. And the ones who are dead are still a little bit alive. Our family has always been weird that way.” She turned to me. “And you are?”

“Alice.”

She waited, but I didn’t supply a last name. “How’s your chin, Alice?” she asked finally.

I checked the gauze, folded it a different way so I found a clean side, and put it back to my chin. “I’ll live. So, is this something you do often? Go after dragons by yourself?”

Lucy smiled. “It’s against regulations, technically, but doing things that are against regulations is pretty much my greatest pleasure in life.” She paused. “Well, my second greatest pleasure, anyway. The League goes where we’re needed, you know.”

“Of course,” I said, as if I knew who or what she was referring to.

“Those wounds on your shoulder and leg look serious. How’d you get them?”

“I fell down some stairs.”

The corners of her mouth turned up. She didn’t believe me, but she didn’t call me on it. “Do you need a doctor or a healer?”

“No, I’ll be fine. We need to get going. Thanks again for the first-aid kit.” I stuck the gauze in my pocket.

“Where are you headed?”

I nodded at the hill in front of us. “To the city.”

“I’m not really supposed to give rides to civilians, but like I said, I live for breaking the rules, and this is a dangerous stretch of road. I’m headed south myself on another job. Want a lift as far as a roadhouse? You can probably find another ride there to wherever you’re headed.”

I wondered if the term “roadhouse” had a different meaning here, or if roadside dives were like Broken World truck stops or transportation hubs.

“All right,” I said, though part of me worried it would be a mistake to get in a vehicle with someone from the military, regardless of how pleasant she seemed.

Malcolm shot me a startled look. I was a little surprised myself, but she seemed nonthreatening and truly concerned for our safety.

I had to get my wolf to return to my body, however, since I doubted Lucy would let her anywhere near us. “Um, I need to take care of something before we leave.” I gave her a