Page 83 of Wolf’s Fated Bride

A clean bucket appears in front of me. I use it. The liquid that comes out of me is pale green, almost gray. I taste alchemy, but something else too. Gunpowder?

“Yes, but where?”

“You’ve almost cleared the poison,” she says. “Don’t hold back. Your gut will get rid of the alchemy they poisoned you with.”

Memories slowly drift back. Runa arriving at the baths to warn me that her brother will attack. Him attacking. Us fighting to the death. Shit. If I’m alive, that means he’s dead. “Is Sören Stormcrest dead?”

“No,” Blade says. “He’s recovering with his healer.”

“And nobody else was hurt? Are you sure?”

“If you’re asking about Maren and Runa, they’re both fine.”

I breathe a sigh of relief. I’m disappointed that Runa isn’t here doting on me when I’m this sick, but it is what it is. Maybe she hates a weakling. I know I can’t stand myself right now. Lying on this bed, restrained, throwing up, in pain.

I inspect my arm. It’s wrapped in gauze, but I’m aware Sören ripped out chunks of flesh in at least two places. The healer restrained me so I wouldn’t hurt myself. I acknowledge that. Yet I hate it.

More memories drift forward. “Sven shot us. That motherfucker poisoned me.”

“That’s correct,” Blade says, then hovers over me again, his brow furrowed.

“Quit worrying,” I say. “I feel fine, but I should be sleeping as a wolf, not being treated in my bipedal form. What happened?”

“She can’t heal you in wolf form.”

Ah. “Are you my new Regulator?”

“No,” she says.

Ever speak with anyone who says two words and continues about their business without telling you much of anything, and the conversation feels like you’re pulling teeth? This is what it feels like conversing with this woman and Blade. He’s unusually quiet. I’m worried when he’s worried. Best friends vibe, and his vibes are rubbing off on me.

“Werewolf healers use herbs, not alchemy. What kind of a healer are you?” I ask.

Silence.

“Don’t make me ask again.”

“The only thing that matters is that you purge the alchemy out of your system. We will know it is purged once your sweat is clear and your bodily functions return to normal. Until then, you’re at risk of multiple organ failure.” The healer jabs something into my side.

Ouch! “A little warning.”

“Don’t be a pussy,” Blade tells me.

“She stabbed me.”

“It’s a tiny cut.” She stabs my belly again.

Double ouch. I don’t yelp because Blade would never let me live this down.

“Send word that I want to see the Stormcrest Alpha. Tell him I’m going to tear that Regulator to pieces and feed them to the Peacebroker when he arrives for dinner tonight.”

“The Stormcrest Alpha isn’t coming,” Blade says.

“If I have to get up and go to him, I can’t guarantee he’ll survive. His son attacked me. Unprovoked. His Regulator shot me with lethal poison.”

“It would kill an ordinary wolf instantly,” the healer says. “I’ve collected enough silveren from your blood to kill a hundred wolves.”

“What’s silveren?” Blade asks.