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"He’s going to be okay, man" Shade clapped his hand on Wraith’s shoulder, now covered, like the rest of the his bloodshot eyes

"That’s what Geoing to wait until he wakes up"

"And then?"

"There’s sootta do"

Shade knew better than to lecture Wraith about eating junkies or getting into fights, and after Roag’s little revelation about E being tortured when Wraith went over histhat Wraith would be careful from now on At least, he’d be careful not to kill Careful with his life? That was another question

Shade squeezed Runa’s hand, and they slipped silently out into the hall, where E aiting Tay and Ge them some privacy

"How is he?" E asked

"Ky or Wraith?"

"Both"

"Ky’s looking better Wraith …" Shade shook his head "I don’t know"

"I’’s torment is eternal," Eidolon azed absently into the rooood news First, Luc’s alive"

"Say again?"

"Luc You know, Runa’s sire?"

A surge of possessiveness had Shade clenching his teeth, but Runa stroked his fingers with her thu him down "Yeah, you could’ve notstuck like a bone in his craw "So how’s he alive?"

"One of your new EMTs found hiot hiame I just checked on him He’s out of his couised as you tried to kill hi him"

"That boy needs an attitude adjustment" Shade narrowed his eyes at E "Hold up … when did you learn he survived?"

"After we lost Roag in the park and you went back to your cave with Runa I rabbed us" Shade took a deep breath and asked Runa the question he really didn’t want to know the answer to "Can you sense Luc?"

She grinned "I can’t feel a thing"

Eidolon cleared his throat, and Shade knew there was so up "His death, however brief, must have severed the connection, like what happened to us when Roag died I have a theory about that--"

"What’s the other good news?" Shade cut hi to look a gift hell stallion in the s breathed fire

E didn’t miss a beat "Thanks to your information about Runa’s Army experi you have a cure?"

Eidolon nodded "I’m close I was able to isolate the proteins that caused your infection I should have a vaccine ready in a couple of weeks Month, tops"

Yes Shade wanted to shout to the heavens Wanted to grab Runa and twirl her around until they were both dizzy "What about Runa?"

She touched Shade’s shoulder, and her hopes and fears transe of electricity Eidolon’s expression quickly brought them both back down to earth

"You can’t cure her," Shade ’s bite alters human DNA," Eidolon explained "Whatever the enes synthesize proteins Those proteins allow her to shift at will, and they’re also what infected you--without altering your DNA I can destroy the proteins in both of you, and it’ll cure you … but all it will do to her is end her ability to shift at will"

Runa blew out a long breath "And I’d still grow fur during the full moon"

"Yes," Eidolon said "I’ used to being a olf It’s been handy a couple of times And hey, the quadrupled lifespan alone is worth it"

Gods, that was soain, he’d lose her way too soon He couldn’t handle that Breaking the bond wouldn’t physically kill him, but a broken heart would

She squeezed Shade’s shoulder "Get yourself cured You’ve had enough to deal ithout having the olf thing on top of it"