Page 38 (1/2)

When Alexandra Keller had becoe froht with her the science, technology, and training of the inal cause of the change in order to create a cure She believed that the curse was actually a strange forue, one that altered rather than killed

Korvel had not been inclined to believe so so simple could be responsible, not until the American doctor had found the h lord’s condition Richard, who had been forced to live on feline blood for decades, had been turned into an ani Now, thanks to Alexandra, hisback into that of a man

As soon as Phillipe of Navarre answered, Korvel said, "I need to speak with Dr Keller iive me, Captain," Navarre said, "but my mistress does not wish to speak to you At least, not until hell freezes over entirely"

"Nicola Jefferson has been shot with copper I need Alex to tell et it out of her spine" When the seneschal didn’t reply, Korvel said, "There is no ti"

After a short pause, Phillipe said, "Wait"

Korvel carried the phone over to the table and put it on speaker as he retrieved a copper dagger fro

"What the hell is this?" Alexandra Keller’s voice suddenly demanded "Someone shot Nick?"

"Yes" Korvel repeated what had happened, leaving out the fact that the shot had been self-inflicted "None of her arteries were severed, but I can feel the bullet wedged between two of the neck bones The skin on her nape is dark red"

"That’s copper poisoning," Alex confir has it been since she was shot?"

"Only a few minutes" Korvel touched Nicola’s throat "Her heart has already stopped beating"

"Jesus Christ All right You’re going to do a modified anterior cervical decompression Put her on her back on a hard surface and immobilize her head"

Korvel picked up the phone and switched it to talk "Alex, the bullet is in the back of her neck"

"The surgical pathway is less coo in from the front," she told hiial et at her spine Tell me you have a copper-coated scalpel"

"I don’t"

She muttered under her breath "Then use sharpest, thinnest copper blade you can find"

Gabriel came to the table as Korvel turned Nicola, and held her head between his hands

Korvel switched the phone back on speaker and gripped the blade in his hand "We’re ready, Doctor" He swatted at a large black beetle that flew at his head

"All right, you’re going to ht side--"

"Wait" Gabriel held out his hand, and the beetle landed on his palm "Alex, it is Gabriel I kno to take the bullet out of her without cutting into her throat"

A sigh came over the speaker "You only have a minute or two, Gabriel Whatever it is, do it fast"

He placed the beetle on Nicola’s collarbone, and the insect disappeared into the entry wound As Gabriel focused on his sygkenis, Korvel picked up the phone and quietly described as happening

"If this works, she’s going to need at least two units of blood to dilute the poison," Alex told hiive her more than three or you could send her into thrall After the bullet’s out, you’ll also have to clean and close that entry wound"

The front of Nicola’s throat bulged, and slowly apushed out of the wound As Gabriel pulled it free, the blood-covered beetle es before it flew off into the bedroom

"The bullet is out" Korvel took Nicola’s wrist between his fingers "Her heart has begun beating again Thank you for your assistance, Doctor"

"Gabriel and the bug did all the grunt work Call me if for any reason her condition takes a dive" She hesitated before she asked, "You all right?"

A year ago her gruff question would have brought hiret for all the trouble he had caused her