Bin squeaked, ‘My name is Bin. I live in Green Humbleton. I…’
‘Not you.’ He pointed at me. ‘You. You’re that crazy cat lady.’
I exhaled. ‘Yeah.’
‘You’ve got like, what – twenty cats?’
‘Five.’
‘Nah, it’s more than that.’
I didn’t want to get into a spitting contest about my own damned life. ‘If you say so.’ I eyed him. ‘If you won’t help me get my friend home then can you get out of my way?’ If he didn’t move soon, it was likely that I’d actually kill him.
‘What’s wrong with him? Drugs?’
I didn’t answer.
‘Betcha it’s drugs.’ He paused. ‘Do you know the going rate for weed these days? Even normal weed, not magicked weed?’
He needed to get out of my fucking way. I hissed loudly and glared. ‘This man requires urgent medical attention.’
‘I can call a doctor for you,’ he offered.
‘All I need is for you to get out of my way.’ I injected every word with the menacing venom that I wanted to direct at whoever was responsible for this.
The witch frowned and looked for a moment as if he would continue jabbering. He glanced at my face and thought better of it. ‘Can I have my ladder back?’
‘It’s all yours.’ I hefted Thane into a fireman’s lift, pushed past the witch and walked away without a backward glance.
‘You look angry,’ Bin muttered once we were out of earshot. I was incandescent with rage but I merely grunted in response. ‘What’s wrong with the wolf? And what happened to you back there?’
I only had one answer for him. ‘Evil,’ I said. Pure fucking evil.
Chapter
Twenty-Seven
It was three hours before Thane opened his eyes. I had laid his inert form on my bed, given him several drops of the same alder-stirred mixture that Keres had swallowed, and waited by his side. Tiddles waited with me, her ginger-furred body quivering with anxiety. She refused to take her eyes off Thane and every time he stirred or his breathing changed, she lifted her head and tensed.
As soon as his eyelids fluttered open and he could focus his gaze, she’d moved onto his chest. I wasn’t sure if it was because she needed to be close to him or she wanted to make sure he stayed where he was and didn’t try to get up. Either way I was glad she was there; her presence would calm Thane and another pair of eyes was always welcome.
‘Hey,’ I said softly.
He exhaled loudly. ‘You’re alright. Thank God, Kit. Thank God you’re alright.’
I wasn’t the one in serious trouble. ‘Shh,’ I said. ‘Don’t try and talk too much. You need to rest.’
Thane clearly wasn’t listening. ‘When I saw you on the ground, I panicked. Are you hurt?’
‘I’m fine.’
‘It was the same bastard who stole Keres’ ban sith voice, wasn’t it?’ His tired green eyes roved across my face. ‘Did they … did they … did they…’
I didn’t look away; Thane deserved my direct gaze. ‘Not from me.’
The faintest shadow crossed his face then his nostrils flared. ‘Oh,’ he whispered.
I leaned forward. I had to be sure. ‘Thane? Your wolf. Is it…?’
