Burned

room to jump. “Never again. And you shouldn’t let anyone else conjure either of those bulls. The price is too much.”
    “What do you mean, the price is too much?” Aphrodite said.
    “I mean they’re too powerful. They can’t be controlled, whether they’re good or bad. Aphrodite, there’re some things that weren’t meant to be messed with, and those bulls are part of those things. Plus, I’m not so sure one can be called up without the other eventually showing up, and believe me, you don’t want to ever,
ever
meet that white bull.”
    “Okay, okay—relax. I get what you’re saying, and I can tell you Ihave a kinda creepy feeling just talking about those bulls. I think you’re right. Don’t stress. No one’s gonna do anything except try to help Stark find a blood bridge to the Isle of Skye.”
    “Aphrodite, I don’t think it’s a blood bridge. That doesn’t even sound right.” Stevie Rae rubbed her face and was surprised to see that her hand was shaking.
    “Enough for now,” Lenobia whispered. “You’re strong, but you’re not immortal.”
    Stevie Rae’s gaze shot to hers, but she saw nothing in the Horse Mistress’s gray eyes except concern.
    “Hey, uh, I gotta go for now. I’m not feelin’ so good.”
    “Oh, for crap’s sake. You’re not almost dying again, are you? It’s seriously inconvenient when you do that.”
    “No, I am not almost dyin’. Not anymore. And you are not even almost nice. At all. I’ll call you later. Tell everyone I said hi.”
    “Yeah, I’ll spread the love. Goodbye, bumpkin.”
    “Bye.” Stevie Rae punched the CALL END button, gave Kramisha her phone, and then leaned heavily back on her pillow. “Uh, do y’all mind if maybe I sleep for a while?”
    “Drink one more of these.” Sapphire gave Stevie Rae another bag of blood. “Then sleep. Both of you need to leave and let her rest.” The vampyre nurse swept the bloody alcohol cotton balls into a trash bag, snapped off her latex gloves, went to the doorway, and stood, tapping her foot and giving Lenobia and Kramisha the stank eye.
    “I’ll come back and check on you after you’ve rested,” Lenobia said.
    “Sounds good.” Stevie Rae smiled at her.
    Lenobia squeezed her hand before leaving. When Kramisha leaned close to her, Stevie Rae thought for one awkward, shocked second the kid was going to hug her—or worse, maybe even kiss her. Instead, Kramisha met her eyes and whispered:
“See with the soul and not your eyes
because to dance with beasts you
must penetrate their disguise.”
    Stevie Rae suddenly felt cold. “I guess I should have listened to you better. Maybe I would’ve known I was callin’ the wrong cow,” she whispered back.
    Kramisha’s gaze was sharp and knowing. “Maybe you still should. Somethin’ inside me says you ain’t done dancing with beasts.” Then she straightened up, and in a normal voice, said, “Get some sleep. You gonna need all your good sense tomorrow.”
    When the door closed, leaving her alone, Stevie Rae breathed an exhausted sigh of relief. Methodically, she drank the last baggie of blood and then pulled the hospital blanket up around her neck and curled on her side and, with a sigh, slowly twirled a blond curl around and around one finger. She was utterly exhausted. Apparently all of the power in Rephaim’s blood had worn her the heck out while it fixed her.
    Rephaim . . .
    Stevie Rae would never, ever forget what he looked like when he’d confronted Darkness for her. He’d been so strong and brave and
good
. It didn’t matter that Dallas and Lenobia and the whole dang world believed he was on the side of Darkness. It didn’t matter that his daddy was a fallen Warrior of Nyx who had chosen evil centuries ago. None of that mattered. She’d seen the truth. He’d willingly sacrificed himself for her. He might not have chosen Light, but he had definitely rejected Darkness.
    She’d been right to save him that day outside the abbey, and she’d also been right to call the white bull and save him today—no matter the cost to her.
    Rephaim was worth saving.
    Wasn’t he?
    He had to be. After what had happened today, he
had to be
.
    Her finger stilled, and her eyes started to flutter shut even though she didn’t want to think anymore or to dream—didn’t want to remember that terrifying Darkness and the pain that had been so unimaginable.
    But her eyes did close, and the memory of Darkness and what he’d done to her did come. As she