Page 7 of From the Edge

“Oh. Different.”

“Yup. Very.” She smiled. “I will be in touch when she’s settled. Her mate might want her with him, and in that case, things are going to be difficult. He doesn’t like me.”

“Why not?”

“Easiest targets for collection are alphas, and I end up with alpha scent on me from proximity. He doesn’t like that scent near Mell. He informed me of that, repeatedly.”

She chuckled and felt her ribs ache. She and Dell said their goodbyes, and Rowan looked over to where Mell’s lover was speaking to his companions. Mell stood by and waited.

Rowan put her phone away and saw Lucia speaking softly to Mell, who was smiling. Oh right. Cell phone mage.

Mell was smiling brightly. Rowan walked over, and when Mell’s arms extended, Rowan walked in and hugged her.

Mell’s energy wrapped around Rowan, and there was a shout that wasn’t a roar anymore. It was all the warning she got before she was pulled away from her friend and heaved through the air. There were shouts, and then arms caught her and slowly decelerated her. She knew the scent. It was the persistent healer.

He grunted as they landed, and he settled to the ground. “He really doesn’t like you.”

“I think he thinks I am a romantic rival.” Her ribs were screaming.

“That is likely. You don’t have much of a scent of your own.”

“Too much borrowing. Men are easiest.” She was fighting for air. It was suddenly hard to breathe.

He looked down at her, and his eyes turned dark green. “Rowan, I think one of your lungs collapsed.”

“Yeah, that’s what it feels like.” She wheezed to get the words out.

The man looked at her, and his skin took on a dark green cast. “I am going to puncture your lung to help reinflate it. It will be painful.”

“Yup. Figured.” She croaked.

He laid her flat on the grass, and green vines sprang from his fingertips. He lifted her shirt and hissed at the bruises. “You didn’t say anything.”

“I am not particularly chatty about the state of my body.”

“This will hurt.”

She nodded and then felt touches against her ribs. When he worked into her skin, she screamed.

* * * *

Mell was wrapped in her lover’s arms, and he was breathing her in. She had been relieved when the healer caught Rowan. Once her friend was safe, she returned to the cuddle.

He was holding her and murmuring against her, one hand moving to her belly, and then there was a scream of agony that caused everyone to turn around.

Mell turned in his arms and saw Rowan arching while the healer had his fingers jabbed into her side. Her abdomen was visible, and it was covered with red and bright purple bruising. “Ohmygod. What’s happening?” She pulled away and ran to Rowan’s side.

“The cursed one must have a collapsed lung.”

Mell was outraged and turned to him. “Why did you do that to her?”

He frowned. “Her? She’s a male. Her scent is male.”

Ted stepped forward. “She’s a witch who uses sex magic. She collects arousal from males and turns it into magic. She’s a she.”

Mell blinked away tears. “She’s an omega.”

The man staggered. “No. Oh no.”