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.The hellhound moniker is a carryover from centuries past.”Kari stared at her, and Elysia realized that she was probably overloading the poor girl with information.Elysia laid the poker on the counter beside the broken glass and rubbed both hands over her face.God, what had she been thinking? She made the girl a lich then abandoned her? What a shitty thing to do.“Are you okay?” Kari asked.Elysia dropped her hands, surprised by the question.Kari had been made a lich, had an infant in intensive care, and she was inquiring after her Maker’s well-being? It was time to suck it up, and take some responsibility.“Thank you.I’ll be okay,” Elysia said.Will you?Elysia ignored the whisper and offered Kari her hand.“I’m Elysia.”Kari gave her a tentative smile and placed her cool hand in Elysia’s.“Like the Elysian Fields? You were named for the Greek heaven?”“Necromancers are an odd lot.”Kari’s smile grew.“I can’t undo this,” Elysia admitted.“Because I died?”“Yes.”Kari released a shaky breath.“But you didn’t kill me; you tried to save me.”“Save your baby.Making someone into a lich is not an act of compassion.” Elysia stopped.She had overwhelmed Kari with enough information for now.Later, she would explain that her body would continue to rot.But not now.“I see it as one.” Kari smiled.“Thank you.” What a mess.“Will you help me find out how my baby’s doing? Maybe get in to see him?”“I’ll certainly try.”The phone rang before Elysia could say more.She walked to the counter and saw Doug’s name on the caller ID.She picked up the phone.“Ely?” Doug sounded relieved.“I’m going to be later than expected.Father needs my help with something.”“The problem at the hospital?”“How—”“I saw the broadcast.”“Of course.” It sounded like he smiled.“Father is pissed.If there really is a lich, someone violated the ban.”“The ban?”“All Makings must go through the Deacon’s office.It always struck me as an obsolete rule, but I now understand the pandemonium that can ensue if it is ignored.” He sighed.“This is such a mess.”Elysia glanced at Kari.Yes, it was.“I’ll be home as quick as I can.Are you okay?”“As good as can be expected.”“Hang in there.It’ll be over soon.”“I hope so.” She bid Doug farewell and returned the phone to the charging cradle.She turned to face Kari.The girl gave her a questioning look, her hands gripped in front of her.Doug didn’t believe that Elysia could still feel the bond with James, but here stood evidence that Elysia’s power was still functioning on some level.The problem was, she couldn’t tell Doug and risk exposing what she had done.He had always been hesitant about introducing her to his father, claiming his father was very selective about who his boys dated.This incident would not improve Elysia’s standing in his eyes.It might even deny her family their much-needed assistance.But it was clear to her that Neil’s alchemical solution wasn’t working.“What is it?” Kari asked, no doubt wondering why Elysia was just standing there.“I need to go somewhere.” Neil.She needed to tell him that his potion hadn’t worked.To show him that his potion hadn’t worked.“And my baby?”“I haven’t forgotten.Let me take care of this first, then we’ll head over to the hospital.”“Okay.” Kari gave her a big smile.“Let’s find you some clothes, then we’ll see what we can accomplish.” Elysia turned toward the doorway, feeling good for the first time since taking Neil’s potion.Taking action would do that, she decided.The girl at the desk smiled.“Yes, I remember you.You’re Doug’s fiancée, right?”“That’s right.” Elysia returned the smile, conscious that she still wore her sunglasses.She didn’t want the receptionist to see her white eyes.“Lucky you.” The receptionist gave her a wink, then turned her attention to Kari.“Did he Make her?” She didn’t attempt to show any discretion about discussing Kari’s situation in front of her.The dead were nothing more than objects in the necromancer world.The woman’s callous indifference went right through Elysia.That and her assumption that Doug was the one responsible.“Her name is Kari, and I Made her.” Cursed or not, she wouldn’t live what was left of her life in Doug’s shadow.The receptionist’s eyes went wide.Elysia clamped her mouth shut, immediately regretting the words.What was she thinking? The woman was bound to mention it to Doug—and everyone else she saw.The strain of her power loss was making her reckless [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]