Sinister Magic: An Urban Fantasy Dragon Series (Death Before Dragons #1) - Lindsay Buroker Page 0,104
elves lived in those tunnels. I had a feeling I hadn’t seen the last of those people.
“Also,” Willard added, “Sudo loathes you.”
“We only met once.”
“At which point you stole his car.”
“Because he wouldn’t arrange for me to borrow one when my vehicle was clearly obliterated. I’m dismayed at the all-around lack of sympathy I’m getting from people in regard to this dragon I keep having to deal with.”
Zoltan wandered around the room to poke into drawers. He found an IV bag and returned to his chemistry set to fill it with the concoction he’d made. My stomach did a nervous flip-flop at the idea of this strange person—strange undead person—siphoning some weird alchemical potion into Willard’s veins.
Judging by the skeptical curl of her lip, she wasn’t pleased by the idea either. I reminded myself that Zoltan’s advice about manticore venom clearing lungs had been accurate. If that dragon blood was as valuable as he said, he had a reason to be thankful to me, so hopefully he didn’t have any treachery planned.
“I can’t drink your concoction instead?” Willard asked as Zoltan returned to her side, preparing the IV rack already in place from some earlier fluid delivery.
“This will be far faster. Besides, my formula would find the inhospitable acid of your stomach a challenge to deal with.”
“This vampire thinks everything about me is unappealing,” Willard told me.
“Next time I see the dragon, I can have him rub some of his aura on you if you want. Zoltan is into that.”
“Next time?” Willard didn’t watch as Zoltan set up the IV. I watched, making sure there were no vampire shenanigans. “Are you seeing him regularly? This sounds like the start of a relationship.”
“It’s a long story. He wants to use me for bait to help catch the criminals he’s after here on Earth.”
“Do you have a favorite song yet? A place to make out? Do I need to book a wedding on my calendar?”
“You’re hilarious for a mortally ill person.”
“I’m always hilarious.”
“That’s not what your neighbor said. He thought you were a humorless drill sergeant.”
“You have to be appropriately firm with young people.”
“That should do it.” Zoltan left the IV draining into her vein and returned to put his equipment away and fold up his table.
“What exactly is it doing?” Willard asked.
“Removing the magical triggers embedded in your system that told the DNA in your replicating cells to unravel while refusing to obey their programming for apoptosis,” Zoltan said. “You’ll still need your conventional treatment to get rid of what’s there, but it should be much more effective now. I also used a drop of the dragon blood to mix into a potent immune system enhancer. The dragon blood alone would fill you with youthful vigor. If I had more of it, I would be tempted to hook up an IV for myself.”
“Can vampires feel youthful vigor?” I asked.
“The better the quality of the blood we consume, the better we feel.”
Willard prodded my arm. “This is the same reason I always tell you to eat organic.”
“You and my mom would get along great.”
“I’ll see myself out.” Zoltan picked up his suitcase and started to open the door but lurched back, crying out in distress. He pinned Sindari with a disapproving look. “The lights are back on.”
I didn’t do it, Sindari told me.
If there’s nobody out there, would you mind turning them off again?
It’s a long hallway, and I’m past the time I should be returned to my realm.
A service animal would do it. And bring a couple of beers back on the way.
Funny. Sindari padded into the hallway, and it soon grew dark.
Zoltan, mumbling something about his burned retinas, walked out.
I texted Dimitri. If the vampire comes back to your van, will you drive him home?
Without you?
I want to stay and keep an eye on Willard.
It’s a good thing Nin let me borrow one of her weapons. I was hesitant to take it, but now I’m glad I did. I’m not convinced the cervical collar is enough to save me.
I’m not either. Carry whatever weapon she gave you in your lap.
Actually, it’s on my finger. It’s a pistol ring.
Is that more manly than it sounds?
No, but she wasn’t willing to lend me the submachine gun since I only had forty dollars for a deposit and she doesn’t take credit cards. She promises it packs a big punch though.
You can trust her. But make sure to take pictures if you have to use it. I snorted, imagining a pistol ring on one