Lupi 08 - Death Magic

little wolf. You trespass and you yell. You are not usually such a fool. I do not have to kill to punish.
    Words came harder in this form—even harder when emotion had him in its jaws, shaking him like a terrier shakes a rat. Instead of words, Rule remembered as hard as he could—remembered Lily falling from her chair, then announcing that she hadn’t passed out; remembered Cullen speaking of roots sent out by the mantle, the Rhej saying that the mantle was harming Lily.
    Peculiar , Mika said then . I cannot see any reason your Lady would wish to damage Lily. Can you? Oh, do calm down. You can’t attack me, and why should you? I am not the cause. Why are you here?
    Rule shook with the storm of rage-fear-attack surging through him. This was not good. He couldn’t allow himself to be mastered by the storm in his gut. He dropped his jaw and breathed slowly, reaching for the place of icy clarity where thought and action merged, untroubled by the roil of emotion.
    Certa was a battle state. But there was more than one sort of battle, wasn’t there? I would speak with Sam.
    I will pass your information to him when next I report.
    I would speak to Sam directly. It was possible. Sam had told him so. Sam could mindspeak through Mika or any of the others if they gave permission to be used in this way.
    That is absurd. Such sending takes far too much power. It is only for emergencies or—
    I will speak with Sam through you, or I will withdraw Leidolf from the alliance.
    You can’t . . . you would? Sheer astonishment tinged that thought as Mika absorbed the truth of Rule’s intentions. Slowly he oozed up out of the pit beneath the dome to end up standing on all four feet, his head raised high on that long, muscular neck. He looked down at Rule, yellow eyes glowing, orange frill spreading in agitation. I ought to eat one of your legs to discourage such stubborn stupidity.
    Rule tipped his head back and bared his teeth. Even if I do withdraw Leidolf, Nokolai is still allied with you, and I am still Nokolai. You can’t attack me. You are bound by your word.
    Silence, both mental and physical, followed. Slowly Mi-ka’s frill subsided. He knew as well as Rule that Sam would not be happy if he refused and Rule did withdraw Leidolf. He probably understood the consequences better than Rule did. I will see if Sam is willing to speak with you.
    Good.
    Humans are very foolish.
    I am not human.
    Mika snorted. You are certainly acting like one.
     
     
    “ALL right, Ella,” Cullen said crisply, taking the Rhej’s arm and turning her to face him. Lily was gone. Rule was gone. Time for some answers. “Tell me whatever it is you didn’t want to tell them, and don’t bother with that ‘aw, shucks, I don’t know them big medical words’ shit. I know better.”
    Her smile came easily, but it was belied by the strain in her eyes. “I guess you do.”
    “TIAs can cause intense headaches, but they don’t go away in seconds. And there should be other symptoms—vision changes, weakness, slurred speech. Something.”
    “That’s true. But she’s got damage in the cerebellum consistent with at least two transient ischemic attacks. Could’ve been a third that’s already healed. Those two I found are nearly healed, much better’n I could do. Seems like that has to be the mantle fixin’ what it’s breakin’. Her tiredness afterward, that’s likely the healing. It drains a person.”
    Cullen frowned hard to keep from tightening his grip on her arm. Or screaming. “Dizziness. She was dizzy the third time, toppled out of her chair, Rule said. You say there’s damage in her cerebellum. Those damn roots come out through the cerebellum right next to the carotid artery.”
    She nodded wearily. “I checked the carotid. Didn’t find a problem. I’m guessin’ it’s not occlusion TIAs she’s having, but low-flow. Somehow every now an’ then, those roots just shut down blood flow in the carotid artery.”
    “You could have told Rule and Lily any of this. There’s something you aren’t saying.”
    “Not a fact. Not somethin’ I found.”
    “Something you believe or suspect.”
    Ella tugged against his hold, reminding him he still gripped her arm. He let go. “I’m reluctant to talk guesses.”
    “You’re talking to me now. Not Lily. Not Rule. You’ll feel better if you share it with someone.”
    Her smile tilted wryly. “I see that some things don’t change. You are still one manipulative son of a bitch.”
    “She