Page 127 of 1001 Dark Nights: Bundle Forty-Two

“She killed him?”

“No. But she fought back for all she was worth. Sheinflicted a lot of damage, but he was like a raging bull, striking blindlybecause she dared to reject him. He was still attacking her when she died. WhenI took possession, for lack of a better phrase.”

“And you killed him?”

“I did. Just barely. I was able to wrest control of theknife and, having just acquired an encyclopedic knowledge of human anatomy,knew exactly where to stab him to inflict the most damage.”

“There wasn’t anything about him in the articles about herdeath.”

“There wouldn’t have been. He wasn’t found with her. He ranafterward and managed to put several blocks between them. Since they’d barelydated and had never gone public—she’d picked up on the red flags left and rightearly in their relationship—the cops never connected the two.” She lowered herhead. “It was blind luck that I found her when I did. That I was able toretaliate for her. I healed her body just enough to make survival plausible,then waited for help to arrive.”

He turned to look out his window. “How do you know shepicked up red flags?”

“I have all of her memories. It’show I can practice medicine. I know everything she did.”

“So, you just took up where she left off?”

“I did.” She drew in a shaky breath. “And now you know. I have to find Benji, but I need a favor.”

He turned back toher.

“Can I borrow your bracelet? I think it will keep Kursch outof my head long enough for us to come up with a plan. I’m hoping we can killhim before he catches wind of Elwyn.”

“How do you know he hasn’t already?”

“We don’t. All the more reason tokill him if we can.”

He nodded in thought, a frown lining his impossibly handsomeface. Sia understood. It was a lot to take in, even for someone with Donovan’sexperience. His doubt crystal-clear, he asked, “And you and this high schoolkid are gonna save the day?”

“Along with the others, if they’restill alive. If not, I’ll do it alone. I can’t let him find the girl destinedto save humanity. I’ve grown fond of it.”

“So, you’re going to sacrifice yourself for the teacup?”

She deadpanned him. “Like you wouldn’t do the same.”

“Of course, I would. Okay.” He clapped his hands togetherand rubbed them as though preparing to do a magic trick. “I’m in.”

“In?”

“In.”

“Wait.” She shifted in her seat. “No. There’s no in. There’sjust me and possibly Benji and, well, I don’t know about the others. We lostcontact. But that’s it. You don’t get to be in.”

“Right, because I’m only human.”

She winced. “Sorry about that. But this isn’t your fight.”

“If it involves the teacup,” he said with a glare, “it isabsolutely my fight.”

A sensuality laced up her spine, stealing the breath fromher lungs. His masculine face showed a determination she didn’t dare question.His sharp jaw covered in that scruff that somehow had the power to transformher legs to jelly. The sprinkling of gray at his temples. The long lashes, andhis rich, blue irises that sometimes sparkled from underneath. He was so darklyhandsome. So devastatingly rugged. She could get used to being a human if shegot to look at that every day.

“You know I only called you a leech to piss you off.”

She huffed out a soft laugh. “It’s okay. You’re right.”

“No, I’m not. I wanted the truth. Now, I have it. You’reethereal, Doc. A beautiful soul wrapped in a beautiful body.”

“You think I’m beautiful?”