Eliana Read Free

getting dozens of images from her, many of which weren’t pleasant. She was alone yet determined to travel…north? He wondered what promise the north held, but he didn’t want to pry any deeper.
    Outside, the snow fell in thick clumps. It was beginning to stick to the streets, and Evan drove carefully, despite the urgency. Ten minutes later they reached the enclave, a tall, plain-looking building which blended with its fellow skyscrapers. Evan drove into the underground parking and paused by the elevator so Kon could unload Eliana into the wheelchair kept at the door for occasions such as this.
    Eliana didn’t stir until Kon had her upstairs and settled on a bed in one of the suites the enclave reserved for guests. He’d just gotten the zipper to her jacket undone when she woke, her gaze as pointed as a hawk about to kill. “Where the hell am I?”
    “Safe. As I promised, you’re not in a hospital, but I’m going to have a doctor come take a look at you.”
    “I don’t need one.” Beneath her insistence was a note of fear.
    Any fool looking at her could tell she needed assistance. She was pale, trembling, and covered in burns from incubus ichor. Besides that, her leg had her in considerable agony, though she was trying to hide that fact. “Sweetheart… Eliana…”
    “Don’t.” She nudged the air with her fingers. “Go away. I’ll be fine by morning, and then I’ll be gone.”
    Losing patience, Kon sat beside her on the bed. He reached for her hand, but she snatched it away as if afraid he was going to cut it off.
    “Don’t touch me.”
    He grabbed her wrist. “See these burns?”
    She gave them the barest glance. “So? I’ve had worse.”
    “These aren’t ordinary burns. They’re like being doused with certain chemicals. If left untreated, the corrosive agent can enter your bloodstream and make you very, very sick.”
    “I don’t want to see a damn doctor.” She yanked, and he let her go.
    He clenched his jaw. He could take care of the burns, any Warden could, but he’d wanted a woman to look after her. “It would really be better if—”
    She pointed at the door. “If anyone even resembling a doctor walks through that door, I’m leaving.”
    “I’d like to see you try.”
    She levered herself into a sitting position and tried to swing her legs over the side of the bed.
    Tried.
    Color fled from her face. Gritting her teeth, she lifted her bad leg at the knee.
    Kon gripped her shoulders. “Enough. Point taken. Lie down, all right? You’re making me hurt just watching you.” And she was; even without consciously using his Sensitivity, sympathetic pain stabbed his hip. How in the world has she lived with that for so long? And why hasn’t she gotten help? He was definitely calling the doctor, whether she wanted him to or not.
    Breathing hard, she eased back down onto the pillows.
    “Can I help you out of those wet clothes, or will you fight me about that too?”
    She eyed him suspiciously.
    “I’m not like the—” He caught himself before saying incubus . No reason to add to her terror. “That man who attacked you. I’m here to help, and you’re not making it easy.”
    “Good. Because no one ever made it easy on me. Tell you what. If you’re so intent on taking my clothes off, you can give me five hundred for the privilege.”
    Kon smothered a laugh. “I don’t think so.”
    “I’ll give you a discount. Two fifty.”
    “No.” He wondered why she needed the money so badly.
    “I’ll do it, then, if that’s what you want.” She stripped off her jacket and shirt. Her bra was old and worn, hardly big enough to keep her breasts from spilling out.
    Kon sighed and took the proffered clothes. They were cheap, scratchy material. He’d have to find her something better. “I’m not going to sleep with you.”
    “Too bad. You’ve got the face of an angel. I was hoping you’d make love like one.”
    Kon smothered his annoyance. If there was one thing he hated, it was the