Page 71 of Wolves Always Bite

“Hey,” a croaky voice said. “WhyisMr.Dimpleshugging my wolf?”

Ichoked on a laugh and spun around to seeJeremyblinking at us.Hisface turned from drowsy confusion to horror when he saw me.Hetried to sit up but fell back down with a grunt of pain.

“Easynow,”Isaid.Ireached for one of the water bottlesTeaguehad brought earlier. “Here, drink this, but don’t try to move too much.Juststay there.”

“Whohurt you?”Hisvoice was still hoarse, but his anger made it sound harsher.Heignored the water.Hisfingers twitched like he wanted to reach for me.Igrabbed his hand in mine.

“Yousaved us,”Isaid. “Idon’t know what you did, but…”

“Yourface,” he said. “Blood…”

“It’snothing more than a broken nose.”Ichuckled asIwiped my nose on my shirt sleeve.Itcame away bloody, although the break was already healing, albeit more slowly than normal.Afterall this shifting and healing, the steakIhad earlier had barely helped replenish the balance in my magic.I’dneed another steak, the largestIcould find.Itmight be better ifIate a whole roast myself, or maybe the entire cow.

“Who…?”Helooked ready to murder someone, even though he still struggled to move his body. “WhodoIneed to hurt for hurting you?”

“Uh…”Iscrambled to come up with a lie he’d believe.

“You,”Ashsaid. “Youbonked him on the nose with your hard head.”

Jeremy’seyes widened in shock, looking more horrified than he had when he’d first seen the blood on my face.Iglared atAsh.Ihadn’t planned on telling him that.Iknew he’d feel bad, even though he hadn’t intentionally hurt me.

“Andhow did you know that?”Igrowled.

Oneof the paramedics blushed and averted their eyes.Thenthey scurried back to the freed prisoners.

“Ihurt you…”Jeremy’seyes were watery.

“Hey, none of that.I’mfine and already healing,”Isaid, brushing my fingers over his cheek. “Here.I’llhelp you sit up so you can drink this water.Okay?”

Hesniffled but let me help him sit up.Heguzzled the first bottle, then grabbed for the second.Teaguehad been right about the water.WhenJeremyfinished drinking, he wiped his eyes with his hand and peered at me again.

“Ican’t believeIbroke your nose.I’mso sorry.Areyou sure you’re okay?”

“Mynose is already fixed.Andyou saved us from the bomb…”Shit.Ihoped he had.Everyonehad thought that’s what his magic was doing, but what if we were wrong?Whatif the magic broke because it’d been overwhelmed by the bomb, not the other way around?Iglanced atGage.

“I’llcheck,” the demon said, as if reading my mind.Anarrow portal blazed to life beside him and he disappeared inside it.

“Whoa…Wheredid he go?”Jeremyblinked. “I’mnot hallucinating, amI?Hereally did just go poof.”

JustasJeremysaid the word poof,Gagereappeared through another portal.

“That’swild,”Jeremysaid, staring atGagewith wide eyes.

“WhateverBabettehad in that bomb has been neutralized.It’ssafe,”Gageannounced.

Everyoneexhaled.

“Safebecause of you,”Isaid toJeremy.

Hisforehead crinkled in confusion.

“Youhave magic,”Teagueexplained.

“Nope.”Jeremyshook his head. “I’mjust a regular old human, remember?”

“Areyou not the seventh son of a seventh son?”Teagueasked.

“Well, yeah, but it’s nothing special, not like the old bedtime story my dad used to tell…”Hiseyes widened as his words trailed off. “Whyare you all staring at me like that?”