Page 71 of Twice Bitten

“Vamp don’t often attack witches. Not since the new laws were passed.” She reached inside her bag and pulled out a folded towel.

“I’m aware. I must be extra delicious,” I said dryly. When Tiegan still didn’t respond, I sighed. “Beckett seems to be a little obsessed with me.”

“I’ll say.” She tugged latex gloves on and carefully wiped my arm off with an alcohol pad. I hissed in pain when she hit a jagged spot.

“Sorry.” Tiegan shook her head as she studied the wound. “How’d you get him off?”

“Spelled hair pin.”And frightening magic I’ve never seen before, I didn’t add.

Her hands stilled. “Seriously?”

I nodded. Tiegan’s lips twitched. “Oh, to be a fly on the wall.”

She carefully threaded a piece of flesh-colored silk thread. “Set your arm down here and try not to move. This is going to hurt.”

A soft huff of laughter came from her when I pointed to the Frankenstein stitches I’d already completed. Tiegan adjusted the towel and pressed down on my arm with one hand to keep it steady. With the other, she made the first stitch.

Air whistled between my teeth as she worked.

“I have some salve in my bag. Use it twice a day. You’ll heal much faster.” She clicked her tongue as she peered at the wound. “Might not do much for the scarring on the first one, but there are things you can do later to minimize how bad it looks.”

“I’m not too worried about it.”

Tiegan shook her head. “Is this Beckett sick?”

“In the head, sure. Vampires don’t get sick, do they?”

Tiegan lifted a shoulder in a shrug. “It’s rare, but some of them just aren’t made right. For whatever reason, they can be fine for many years, then something snaps inside them, and they lose their marbles.”

I thought about it. “He seemed mostly fine when I first met him. Young and arrogant, but not unhinged. But when he first came into the coffee shop, he immediately tried to pursue me. He’s not the kind who believes no means no.”

Tiegan’s lips tightened. “Was he the reason we found you in the alley?”

I nodded.

She sighed. “You sure know how to make friends.”

I laughed. “Some kind of friend he is.”

Tiegan finished stitching the wound and tied a knot before reaching into her bag for the salve. She applied a thick layer of herbal-scented goo and carefully bandaged both wounds. “You’ll be in long sleeves for at least a week.”

That ought to be fun in a hot-ass coffee shop. “Better than dead.”

Her lips pursed. “Did you look at that ritual?”

I held up my arm. “Kinda busy.”

Tiegan snorted. “I meant last night, funny girl.” She re-packed her medical supplies and shut her bag. “Be careful who you ask to assist you. If you’re adamant about going through with the ritual, I’ll put you in touch with some people who might be able to help.”

I nodded my thanks, even as suspicion welled inside me. “Why exactly are you helping me?”

Tiegan sighed and rose from the stool. “Not everyone is a bad guy. Witches are a tight-knit group. We take care of each other.”

“Even when we’re not in a coven together?”

Tiegan’s smile was sad. “You’re still a witch, and your mother was one of us. If I can help you, I will.” She reached out and touched my good arm. “Getting involved with vampires is dangerous to more than your health. You can never be truly sure where you stand with them. Many are expert illusionists. They can make you believe something to your core even when it isn’t true. Be careful, Alex.”

I’d already experienced this thanks to Alric. I nodded. “Don’t worry. I’ll be ready next time Beckett decides to come around.”