A Demon Does It Better (37 page)

Lili gasped and quickly rearranged her clothing that Jared had been only too happy to disarrange. She almost lost her balance until he steadied her with his hands as he gracefully jumped to his feet.

“Hello.” She winced at her inane greeting to Eurydice, Nurse Garrish, Deisphe, and a woman wearing a black pin-striped pantsuit that looked very Armani. Lili was guiltily aware the ragged pants and top they’d dressed her in was spotted with various smelly liquids from the beakers. She gestured back at the portal opening that was now lifeless. “He fell through, and I don’t know where he went.”

The woman smiled. “I would not worry, Dr. Carter. Hieronymus Mortimer is exactly where he should be.”

“Mother?” Jared stepped away from Lili and moved toward the woman.

Lili mouthed the word as she turned to the others. “He thought he could use our combined blood to further his power. That’s how he’s moved through the ages and killed people.” Breath was pushed out of her lungs as Deisphe ran forward and hugged her. “Air. I need to breathe,” she gasped with a laugh.

“You smell really bad.” The Wereleopard wrinkled her nose.

“That can easily be taken care of.” Eurydice told her with a smile. She walked around Lili in a tight circle, sending out magick, and by the time she finished, Lili’s hair was in its usual high ponytail and she was garbed in a pair of burgundy silk pants and a lighter burgundy blouse. She paused to admire the gray python peep-toe pumps and was grateful she no longer smelled like bad magick.

“No wonder Jazz and Thea love their shopping. I need to take more lessons from them.” She turned to see that Jared’s mother had done the same with him. And felt her heart skip a few beats as she watched her lover hug the woman who birthed him. He looked freer than she had ever seen him, even during their intimate moments. She also felt a bit of fear that he might walk away from her and not look back.

“You’ve made Sinsia very happy by keeping her son safe.” Eurydice touched her arm. “She had no idea Hieronymus had lied to her or what he had been doing to him. He is now in the hands of her clan, who will appropriately deal with him.”

Lili shivered at the idea of what appropriate handling would be. Knowing demonkind, it wouldn’t be a pretty sight.

She still felt a lump in her stomach and the urge to leave. A long hot shower and a good cry seemed like a good idea.

“Thank you,” she said quietly. “Thank you for believing in me, for letting me come here, for, well, for everything.” She blinked back tears. “I’m only sorry I couldn’t do anything for Sera and the others.”

“The Hellion Guard is going to do what they can to find them,” the elder witch assured her, taking her arm and leading her toward the door.

That was when Lili realized they were down in the asylum. She glanced at the iron doors.

“I want them free and placed in rooms that offer light and staff members who will provide better treatment. With Dr. Mortimer dead, their brands should have disappeared the way Jared’s did.”

Nurse Garrish and Deisphe shared a look and nodded.

“Already taken care of, babe,” the Were told her. “Panabell told us where you were. Cleo had followed you to Dr. Mortimer’s office, and once she realized you were taken from there, obviously through a hidden panel in his office, she found me, and I went to Nurse Garrish.”

“Hieronymus set strong locks on the door to this room, but many of us are better at magick than he is,” the dragon-shifter said without a hint of conceit. “Otherwise, fire can be very satisfying if someone doesn’t welcome our presence.” She smiled, releasing a hint of sulfur.

Lili looked at the trio and wanted to laugh. “You three are such a welcome sight to me.”

“Lili.” Jared reached her and grasped her arm, pulling her around to face him. His mother stood just behind him, watching Lili with sharp eyes.

“So you are the witch who captured my son’s heart,” Sinsia said with a small smile.

Lili knew she was under strong scrutiny and didn’t back down. “As he has mine.”

The demon looped her arm through her son’s. “Yes, I am sure you feel strongly about him now, but things happen. For now, my son returns with me where he belongs.” Her teeth showed a sharp edge with her smile.

Lili stared at Jared, who looked as stunned as she felt. She didn’t have a chance to say a word as Sinsia circled her hand around her body and Jared’s. A moment later, they were gone in a burst of blue fire.

“No!” Lili stepped forward, but Eurydice pulled her back. She rounded on the Head Witch. “How could you let her do that?” She hated the demon for taking away Jared and Eurydice for the sympathy in her dark green eyes.

“It is the way of the demons,” she said quietly. “Jared was diagnosed as dangerously ill and taken from her. It was only her intervention that ensured he would not be destroyed back then. She wants time with him.”

“She took him from me!” Her voice raised in pitch. “We claimed each other.”

Eurydice stilled at the pronouncement. “Just as Maggie and Declan did,” she sighed. She draped an arm around Lili’s shoulder and guided her to the stairs. “For now, think about what the hospital needs—a new doctor in charge.”

Lili’s feet lagged as they ascended the stone stairs.

“Sometimes the doctor needs something too,” she murmured, wishing for a mega-amnesia spell. But she doubted even that would help her forget about the man she loved with all of her heart.

“Are you sure about this?” Director of Nursing Garrish faced Lili across the desk.

“Absolutely.”

Lili hadn’t really wanted the post as head of the hospital, but she knew leadership was needed, and Eurydice impressed upon her that she was their best bet. Lili agreed to her suggestion only as long as she worked in the trenches, so to speak.

She smiled at the dragon-shifter, who had turned out to be a good friend. While Arimentha had a harsh side to her personality, she also had the detail-oriented mind Lili didn’t. In other words, she reveled in paperwork and dealing with all the everyday details that Lili had but to look at to develop a nasty rash.

“The head of a hospital and director of nursing normally do not work together,” Nurse Garrish told her.

“And that is why they should now. We’ll break new ground,” Lili told her with sincere enthusiasm. “I don’t want to sit behind a desk all day when I can help patients. I even hate this office, so if you want it, it’s yours.” She looked around Dr. Mortimer’s former stronghold. She wasted no time dispensing with the furniture, and while clearing it out, discovered well-crafted illusion spells that hid books and scrolls dealing with dark charms. She handed them over to The Librarian, who vowed to keep them safe. She kept scented stones everywhere to banish the scent of tobacco and the musty aroma that permeated the office. Pulling down the heavy velvet drapes revealed a set of tall windows that allowed in much-needed light.

“Excuse me, cat here who refuses to give up her new space!” Cleo yowled from a corner where a luxurious silk-cushioned couch was set up for her comfort.

Nurse Garrish sighed. “The cat may stay and, thank you, I could use a larger office.”

“Decorate it any way you wish. All I ask is that you have it thoroughly cleansed first,” Lili advised. She had used a lot of smudge sticks and salt, but she knew the whole room needed more.

“Thank you.” She dipped her head in thanks and respect. “You are not at all what I expected. Eurydice said you were a healer to be reckoned with, but she didn’t say how devoted you are to those in need. I am impressed.”

“Thank you, Arimentha.” She poured two cups of tea, handing one over and nodded toward the plate of cookies. Who knew a dragon-shifter would have a sweet tooth?

“Have you heard from him?” She sipped her tea.

Lili didn’t require clarification as to whom she spoke of. She looked at the floor, allowing her curls to cover her face as she shook her head. “Nothing,” she admitted painfully. “Still, he’s been away from his family for centuries.” She wrinkled her nose, aware her excuse sounded as bad to her guest as it did to her.

“Males are annoying that way,” Arimentha proclaimed, finishing her tea. “Better to have your way with them and move on.”

“I’d like to interject here.” Cleo held up a paw. “Euwww!”

“Says the cat that had sex with the major league in Ancient Rome,” Lili muttered, rubbing eyes that were still puffy and scratchy from the previous night’s cry-fest. She had spent too many nights crying herself to sleep, when she could sleep at all, and others roaming the house, remembering the nights Jared had come to her. Even Asmeth did his part in comforting her, with festive meals she pretended to eat for his benefit.

Arimentha excused herself to take a call on her cell phone, then returned to the office.

“We are wanted in the ER.” She headed for the door.

“It’s not even a full moon,” Lili grumbled, walking with her, scuffing her feet along the way. “Dr. Heron and Deisphe are in charge tonight. There’s nothing they can’t handle.”

“Straight back, m’dear,” Arimentha said crisply. “A doctor must look as if she is in charge.”

Lili heaved a deep sigh, but she straightened her posture.

The first thing she noticed when they neared the emergency room was the babble of voices, all excited.

“Probably a bridge troll with a post stuck up his ass,” she muttered, stepping in, not realizing that the dragon-shifter had slowed her pace.

Deisphe looked over her shoulder and flashed her a big grin.

“It’s about time you got here,” she sang out.

The group parted to reveal a tall man.

Lili blinked because she refused to believe her eyes.

“Jared!” She ran forward and jumped into his arms.

He laughed as he grabbed hold of her before she fell to the floor. Then he did the right thing and kissed her so deeply, she felt her breath leave her body.

“Hey guys, a lot of jealousy going on here.” Deisphe laughed. “Trauma room’s empty if you want some privacy.”

Lili stepped back but didn’t feel a bit of embarrassment. She was too happy to see Jared.

“I didn’t think you were coming back,” she confessed, running her hands over his shoulders and arms.

“I would have been here sooner, but I had to do something first.” He cupped her face with his hands and gently turned her head to one side.

“Sera!” Lili quickly kissed Jared then ran to her friend, hugging her tightly. She looked at the others behind her who were greeted by the nurses and doctors. She turned back to Jared. “But how?”

“That’s what took me so long,” he told her. “But thanks to some of my mother’s associates, we were able to track them down. Luckily, Mortimer only sent them into the past instead of killing them.”

“Do you know what London in the 1880s is like?” Sera babbled, hugging her friend again. “I’ll never take soap for granted again!” She grinned at her. “Jared said you were here, looking for me. That you never felt I was dead. I owe you big-time for that.” Deisphe pulled the witch to one side and gestured for Lili to get back to Jared.

“I can’t believe…” Lili shook her head in amazement.

“I’m here to stay, Doc.” His lips brushed her forehead. “If you’ll have me, that is.”

“Just try and get away.” She wasn’t sure whether to laugh or cry.

Jared grinned at her. His dark eyes sparkled with laughter and passion. “I’m not going anywhere, Doc. You’re stuck with me now.” He wrapped his arms around her. “I’ve been doing a lot of digging while searching for Sera. It seems Mortimer was doing this for years. I can’t let those victims stay lost. I’m going to do my best to bring them all back to where and when they belong. I figure I need a base of operations, and there’s nowhere better than Inderman for someone with my skills. Asmeth told me I’m needed, and I think I’d make a pretty good private investigator.” His dark eyes blazed blue fire. “But what’s important is that you need me.”

Lili looked at the group around her. Their smiles echoed the one stretching her lips. “Excuse me, everyone. I’m taking the rest of the day off.” She grabbed Jared’s hand and pulled him out of the hospital.

“You’ll all die!” the vulture, still perched on the granite gargoyle, flapped his wings at them.

The witch laughed as she looked up. “Not today,” she declared as she turned to the man she loved with all her being. “Need you? I claimed you, my love, and I don’t give up easily.”

Jared smiled and stole her breath with his kiss. “I guess a witch and a demon as a team do it even better.”