The Descent Series Complete Collection by S M Reine

Author:S M Reine [Reine, S M]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Fiction, Fantasy, Contemporary, Urban, Dark Fantasy, paranormal
Google: G4d-DwAAQBAJ
Amazon: B07L98FKVN
Publisher: Red Iris Books
Published: 2018-12-11T00:00:00+00:00

Stephanie’s return was heralded by the swift patter of footsteps and the rattling of metal curtain rings.

Elise didn’t open her eyes. She felt much more alert as soon as consciousness hit—her head was clearer, thinking wasn’t so difficult, and she was aware enough to realize that she was mostly naked under the paper-thin blanket. But she remained still as Stephanie addressed James.

“How do you feel?”

“Thirsty,” he said. “Thank you for the water.”

“They’ve offered me a place on the next convoy out of here,” Stephanie whispered over crinkling paper. Plastic snapped. The tubing tugged against Elise’s arm. “They want my assistance providing medical care at the receiving area in Sacramento. Considering the situation here, I thought… maybe I should stay in California.”

James was quiet for a long time. “You mean, stay with your family.”

“Yes. I hoped you would come with me, but…” She sighed. “You won’t, will you?”

Cloth rustled against cloth. “I’m needed elsewhere, Stephanie.”

“Of course.” Elise opened her eyes to slits. Stephanie bent over James, giving him a long kiss. When she righted herself again, she was smiling and holding the bent needle that had been in his arm. “That’s the problem with trying to date a hero, isn’t it?”

He traced the line of her jaw, smiling sadly. “I’m not a hero.”

“Well, if things change, you’ll know where to find me. And I hope you will.”

She taped gauze to his arm. James rose to use the bathroom.

Elise finally opened her eyes when Stephanie’s blue-gloved hands touched her arm. “And how do you feel?” the doctor asked. The usual bite was missing from her tone.

“Like I could wrestle oxen,” Elise said. Her voice croaked from her dry throat.

“Done with angry badgers, hmm?” The needle pinched as Stephanie removed it and pressed gauze over the pinprick. “There. Leave that on for about ten minutes, please.”

She dropped everything in bag marked with a hazard symbol. Elise sat up, hugging the blanket to her bare chest to watch Stephanie tidy up. The doctor wore white sneakers and carried a duffel bag over one shoulder.

“Leaving?” Elise asked.

“Yes. In about an hour.” She glanced at the clock. “Well, half an hour. I should get going.” Stephanie paused with a hand on the curtain. “Malcolm brought your belongings, which they recovered from the scene of attack. He also dropped off fresh clothing for you. It’s all in the bag on the chair.”

“Thanks.”

The doctor gave her a final, appraising look. “Try not to kill James.”

Elise snorted. “It’s not in the plan.”

“Good.”

She departed, leaving the curtains open. Irritation spiked through Elise. She was only wearing underwear and the blanket—some privacy would have been nice.

Then a gurney passed the other side of her curtain, and her irritation quickly dissipated.

A man thrashed on it, strapped down at the shoulders, hips, and feet by rope. The muscles in his neck strained as he fought. His skin shone with sweat.

Anthony.

Elise climbed out of bed, finding her shirt in the black bag. It was bloodstained, but preferable to a Union polo shirt. They hadn’t given her what remained of her jeans, so she had no choice but to wear the cargo pants.

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