Forever Broken

“Just do it,” she insisted. “Shifting to your inner wolf should be enough to put you right again.”

“Oh yeah—why didn’t I think of that?” Maybe because it was hard to think with his brain so fuzzy. Taking a deep breath, Paul closed his eyes and called to the Mother Moon. But instead of the immediate surge of power he usually got, he only felt dizzier as though he’d been straining to accomplish some impossible task. Like he was trying to push an immense boulder up a steep hill and couldn’t even begin to shift it. And though he normally shifted forms in a heartbeat—an alpha trait—now he couldn’t even get his hands to turn into paws. He opened his eyes and looked down at himself uncertainly. “What the fuck? I can’t do it. I’ve been shifting since I was twelve and now I suddenly can’t do it.”

“I was afraid of this.” Lucia looked grim. Paul thought it was a measure of how worried she was that she hadn’t gotten onto him for swearing.

“Afraid of what?” he demanded. “It’s in your bloodstream now. You should have shifted immediately, the minute she clawed you.”

“Well how was I supposed to know she’d dig up some weird plant from the old stories and use it on me?” he complained. “Look, Lucia, I have to get this fixed. I have a challenge with Chulo tomorrow and I have to be able to shift.”

“Paul…I don’t think you realize how serious this is.” His stepmother put a hand on his shoulder. “Forget about your challenge. We have more important things to worry about.”

“What?” Paul tried to focus on her but she kept wavering in and out. Surely he’d heard her wrong. “What are you saying?”

“That if you don’t do something quickly you’re in big trouble.” There were tears in Lucia’s big brown eyes.

“What am I supposed to do?” Paul stared at her stupidly. “Go to the human hospital?”

“No, they can’t help you there.” She shook her head. “I wish we could have gotten you to a were treatment facility.”

“Yeah, but the closest one is in Pensacola at the other end of the fucking state.”

“It wouldn’t matter if it was down the block now that the poison is in your bloodstream.”

“So what am I going to do?” he asked again.

“You have to get the poison out of your system as soon as possible—before it starts to cause permanent organ damage and shutdown.”

“Organ shutdown?” Paul couldn’t believe what he was hearing. “You’re telling me I’m going to die?”

“If you don’t get the Wolf’s Bane out of your system, yes.” Lucia was crying openly now.

“But what…how…?”

“You’re going to have to ask for help from that vampire I smelled on you last night.”

“What?” His first instinct was to deny it but Lucia gave him a level look through her tears.

“Don’t play games with me, Paulito. I know what I smelled. If he let you get close enough to do…whatever it was you two were doing, then he ought to be willing to suck the poison and tainted blood out and save your life.”

“But I barely know him! I just met him last night.” And I was going to never ever see him again.

“But you know where to find him?”

“Well…yes,” Paul admitted begrudgingly. He thought of Laurent—those pale green eyes fringed with thick black lashes staring at him, filled with need. If you have need of me, if there is anything I can do to repay your kindness, or if…if you just want to see me again as I am already longing to see you, please come and find me. “He does owe me one,” he added. “I, uh, saved him from the pack last night.”

“Bueno. So go call in your favor before it’s too late.” Lucia was taking a wickedly sharp-looking hypodermic needle out of the small, battered leather satchel she used as her nurse’s bag. “I can give you a mild stimulant that should keep you alert for an hour or so. I’d take you myself but if this vamp revealed his daytime resting place to you he might not want you bringing another were with you.”

“Good point. Ow! Mierda! ” The needle stung fiercely but he began to feel more awake almost at once.

“Hurry.” Lucia pulled him into a quick, hard embrace and he could feel her shaking. “Hurry, Paul. I don’t want to lose you.”

He tried to smile. “I don’t want to lose me either. Don’t worry, I’m sure I’ll be fine.”

“Dios, I hope so. From your mouth to the holy virgin’s ears.” She made the sign of a cross over him and then pointed to his bike. “Go—the sooner you get the poison out the better your chances are.”

“I’m going, I’m going.” He was still clumsy but at least he could make his arms and legs do what he told them. Straddling his cycle, he gave her a little wave. “Love you, Mom.”