Heir of Night (The Thorne Hill)

“How long will that take?” I rush out.

She looks at the bag. “You probably have another hour left. She also wants you to take some Benadryl to help lower your blood pressure. If we can get you down to normal range, she feels safe discharging you.”

“I need to be out of here before sunrise,” I say, looking up at Lucas. There’s no way I’m staying without him. “I can’t stay that long. I need to go home.”

“Um, I can’t force you to stay,” Cassandra says slowly. “It is in your best interest to let us help you.”

“Cassandra.” Lucas has her spellbound as soon as she makes eye contact with him. “Close your eyes and count to one hundred. You won’t hear anything we say in that time.”

“Okay.” She slowly nods and closes her eyes, quietly counting.

“It’s going to be okay,” Lucas tells me. “Kristy or Tabatha will come right away so you won’t be alone.”

“I want you,” I say, voice breaking. “Here with me.”

“I want to stay.” He looks pained.

“Then stay.” I blink back tears. “I have what I need to cast the spell on the window in my purse.”

“Callie,” he says gently, and my tears start to fall. Lucas takes me in his arms, holding me carefully so he doesn’t pull on the IV lines. The rest of our hundred seconds passes too quickly, and Cassandra gets out a syringe of medicine to push through the IV line.

I’ve never taken Benadryl before. The anti-itch salve Kristy makes is much better for treating pesky bug bites, and I’ve never had allergies. I’m not prepared for how tired and loopy it makes me feel, and I fight against the pull of the medicine, clinging onto Lucas’s hand.

“I’m scared,” I admit, voice a thin whisper.

“It’s going to be okay,” he tells me. “Go to sleep, my love.”

My eyes flutter shut, but not before I catch a glimpse of the rising sun in the window behind Lucas.

Chapter 26

The sound of muffled voices wakes me from my drug-induced sleep. I blink my eyes open, struggling to stay awake. Then I remember where I am—and realize that the room is full of sunlight.

“Lucas,” I call and sit up too fast.

“I’m right here.” He moves from the window to the bed, cupping my face and kissing my forehead. “I’m still here.”

“How?”

“You can thank Kristy for that.” Lucas motions to her. Disoriented, I didn’t realize anyone else was in the room. She’s sitting in the uncomfortable-looking lounge chair on the other side of the room.

“Seriously?” Kristy gets to her feet and crosses her arms. “You didn’t call? I found out what happened when Melinda called asking if you were okay because she hadn’t heard from you.” She widens her blue eyes. “If you weren’t in the hospital, I would be yelling, just so you know.”

“Why don’t I believe that?” Lucas says with a smirk. Kristy is soft-spoken, calm, and collected—opposite of me—most of the time. But cross her and there will be hell to pay.

“I didn’t want to bother you,” I tell her. “But I’m glad you’re here.”

“It was more of a bother doing a locator spell at five a.m.” She stops at the foot of the bed. “You’re my best friend, Cal. Next time a Horseman attacks and you end up in the labor-and-delivery ward, call.”

“Okay,” I say in a wavering voice.

“I’m not really going to yell at you,” she assures me.

“I know.” I sit up. “Thank you for coming and doing the daylight spell.”

“Of course.” Kristy reaches forward and takes my hand. “Lucas filled me in on everything. We’re all here to help, Callie.”

“Wanna help me out of bed then? I have to pee.”

Kristy smiles. “I said I’d do anything, though Lucas is much stronger than me to help you get there.”

“I can walk,” I say firmly, looking at both her and Lucas. “I agreed to hang up my demon-hunting hat as much as I can, but I’m capable of walking.” I pull back the blankets and unhook the monitors. Cassandra must have unhooked the empty IV bag while I was sleeping. The port is neatly taped to my arm, making it much easier for me to get up. Feeling a little weak and a whole lot tired, I do accept Lucas’s arm just to cross the freaking room.

Then it’s back to bed for me. The daytime nurse comes in for an assessment and says my blood pressure is back down, which means I get to leave.

“How are you going to get home?” I ask Lucas, feeling panicked all over again. I didn’t think about it last night when I was desperate for him to stay with me. Before he can answer, the air shifts, and I turn my head just in time to see Julian appear.

“I can help with that,” he tells me. “Hello, Callie. And Lucas. And Kristy.” He’s not dirty today and looks oddly normal in dark jeans and a gray t-shirt. I’m calmed just by him being here, and Elena starts moving around like crazy. I think she seeks out divinity like I do. “I am sorry I wasn’t able to answer you last night. Famine targeted rice farmers in Asia yesterday. Alona and I attempted to intervene.”