“Not that kind of pain.”
“Help with Sawyer, will you?” Bran scooped Sasha off her feet. “Let’s heal the flesh, then deal with the spirit.”
“I’m okay. Just a little . . .” Sawyer swayed in Annika’s hold. “Rocky.”
Since he was pasty white, and his pupils wid
e as saucers, Riley realized he was far from all right. “Gotcha, dude.”
Grateful for the support, he swung an arm around her shoulders, felt the wet. “That’s not my blood, Doc. It’s yours.”
“I took some hits. Anni?”
“I have some hurts, but it would be worse. Sawyer blocked them from me, and one dug into his back. Then Doyle . . .”
“Yeah, saw that part.”
They dragged themselves in, and back to the kitchen where Bran already tended wounds on Sasha’s leg, her arms with Doyle’s help.
“Want a beer,” Sawyer managed as he slid onto a chair.
“Who doesn’t? Get his shirt off, Anni. I bet you know how.”
Annika sent Riley a wan smile as she gently drew off Sawyer’s torn and bloody T-shirt. “Will you help me . . . Oh! Oh, Bran, it’s very deep.”
Riley took a look, hissed. “Looks like a raging infection already.”
“One moment. Drink this, a ghrá.”
“It’s already easing.” She drank. “Honestly, it’s better. Deal with Sawyer.”
“Annika, work with Doyle—and, Doyle, help Annika treat herself as well. She just needs the balm now, Anni,” Bran told her. “Even the small cuts. There’s poison.”
He stepped to Sawyer, sent Riley a grim look over his head. From his kit he took a knife, a vial, three candles. He lit the candles with a thought, then reached for a small bowl.
“I have to drain the poison first.”
“He’s shocky,” Riley said as Sawyer’s teeth began to chatter.
“Hold on to him, as this is going to hurt like a thousand hells. You brace yourself, Sawyer.”
“Right. Yeah.”
“Look at me.” Riley gripped both his hands. “I’ve got a question. Iron Man versus Hulk. Who wins?”
“Iron Man.”
Riley shook her head. “Hulk smash.”
“Yeah, sure. Stronger, but no strategy. Iron Man’s got the smarts, the intellect.”
“Hulk’s got the instincts. Primal.”
“That doesn’t— B’lyad. Holy fuck. Fuck!”
“Hold on.” Bran spoke between his teeth as he used the treated knife to drain poisoned blood into the bowl.
On a sob, Annika broke away from Sasha, threw herself down beside Sawyer.