Lupi 06 - Blood Magic

her back. She reminded herself that her three-hundred-and-some-odd-year-old grandmother had climbed these stairs in this heat. She could, too.
    That's why you didn't mind waiting, isn't it? she thought at Sam. You knew Grandmother was coming here. You were waiting for her.
    Sam didn't answer, but she caught a whiff of response that felt a lot like the way Grandmother snorted when you said something stupidly obvious.
    He didn't tell her to vocalize. Did that mean she was thinking more clearly? Or was she doing something approaching real mindspeech? How could she tell? She half expected Sam to comment on that thought - something along the lines of, "If you would learn proper mindspeech... "
    "Sam wants me to learn mindspeech," she said abruptly.
    Rule spoke from behind her. "Do you want to?"
    "I don't know. It seems like I should. Mindspeech could come in handy in some situations, but what's the downside? There's always a downside. And how long would it take? I don't have a lot of free time for adult education. I guess I don't know enough about it. I'll need to ask him some questions before I decide." She grimaced at the stairs rising steeply ahead. "At least with mindspeech I wouldn't have to worry about having a conversation when I'm out of breath."
    "It's only one more flight. I could carry you."
    She heard him grinning, dammit. She didn't have to look. "With an injured arm? No, just shut up before you get me in trouble. The heat's making me grouchy."
    He didn't say a word. Just moved up beside her and took her hand. And it did help. Some of her tension and grouchi ness slid right out.
    It was still a relief to reach the fourth floor, open the door, and step into cooler air. A burned stink lingered, but otherwise... "Looks pretty calm," she observed.
    "More so than when I was here last," he said dryly. "About those casualties... do you know if any of them were named Maria?"
    She looked at him curiously. "Sorry, no. I didn't get names. Do you want me to find out?"
    "No, it doesn't matter."
    She was sure it did, but didn't press him. She'd find out about Maria later.
    "You've the look of a dozen questions ready to erupt."
    "Oh, I've got questions." Many of them jotted down in her notebook, dammit, which was in T.J.'s car. "Lots of whys. Why does the sorcerer want to kill Cullen so badly? Why did Grandmother come out of hiding? Why did the Chimei show up now instead of last year or ten years ago or next year?"
    "I've a guess about the last one. The Turning."
    She nodded. She'd thought that herself, but it didn't really explain anything. The Turning hit last December. Why had it taken the Chimei months to show up? Had she been in China? It might take time to get her lover out of that country, even with magic helping them along. Or had she been unready in some way until now? Could they do anything to make her unready again?
    Lily didn't know enough. That's why she was headed for Cullen's room instead of managing the initial investigation. Grandmother was there, and Sam was near, and they had answers.
    They'd reached the alcove that led to the quarantine rooms. They'd dusted for fingerprints, Lily saw. Good. The sorcerer was probably too professional to have made that mistake, but he'd expected everything here to go boom. He might have been careless.
    Max was parked in front of Cullen's door, arms crossed and glaring. "Do you have any idea how boring this is?"
    Her eyebrows lifted. "Seems like you've had more than enough excitement today."
    "Doesn't count if you sleep through it."
    Ah, so that was it. He was mad that he'd missed the fun - or maybe he felt guilty that he'd failed. There was nothing he could have done to keep the sleep spell from working, but guilt isn't always reasonable. Lily was sure sympathy would piss him off, but had no idea what might help.
    Rule shook his head. "Your power nap doesn't seem to have refreshed you much."
    "If you think that I could fucking help falling asleep - "
    "I don't. Do you?"
    Max glowered at him. After a moment he muttered, "Smart ass," and turned and shoved the door open. "The dynamic duo is here, so we might as well go."
    "Go?" Lily said.
    Nettie joined Max at the door. "I'm needed to finalize the arrangements to move Cullen. Things are a mess, with so many patients needing transport to other hospitals, but Cynna persuaded the administration to make Cullen a priority. Max is going with me to be sure whoever I speak with is who he or she seems to be."
    That made sense. The