Changeling Moon by Dani Harper Read Free Book Online Page B

If she refused, he would probably carry her. That rankled more than a little but then she shook herself mentally, letting the gift show her more. He was afraid for her—
    The gift winked out abruptly and she wondered how long she’d been staring at Connor. “You’re right,” she said simply. And he was. She’d been an idiot for not getting her leg looked at—what had she been thinking? It was just like that time she had gotten so involved with covering an ongoing murder trial that she’d neglected to eat for a day and a half. And had fainted on the courthouse steps like a ninny. Mortified, she’d made a promise to take better care of herself. It was just that she got so darn focused, so intent. . . .
    She thanked him and went to get dressed.

Chapter Five
    A fter the trip to the clinic, Connor drove Zoey back to her apartment to pick up her camera and her truck. He’d hoped to talk her into having breakfast with him, but she insisted she had to go to work. He knew full well that the newspaper office wasn’t open on Saturday, but maybe she just wanted to get some writing done. Or maybe she just needed to assert herself.
    He’d been prepared for a hell of an argument over going to the doctor, and then over whether or not he could drive her there. She did not like being told what to do. He felt her bristle at his words, saw her plant her feet, fist her hands at her sides, resist with every part of her being. She’d glared at him eye-to-eye when suddenly the ferocity slipped away, replaced by something akin to his own farsight . The power of it had radiated from her like the electrical energy that heralded the Change from human to wolf. It had lasted only a few seconds, but it was long enough to change her mind. Long enough to make him wonder.
    Now he slipped into the back door of the clinic, headed up the stairs to the living quarters where he knew his friends were waiting. He could smell Earl Grey steeping, Bev’s favorite. She was a pediatrician while Lowen was actually the area’s coroner as well as a surgeon. Rather than retire, the couple had chosen to leave the big city and their lucrative practices to set up a clinic in a small town that needed them. With the nearest hospital two hours away and doctors in short supply in northern Canada, little Dunvegan was extremely lucky to have them. Connor felt lucky himself to count them as friends. Particularly because they knew what he was.
    He was barely through the door when Bev handed him a mug of fragrant tea and pointed to the living room. Lowen wandered in a few moments later and tossed Connor a small empty bottle before ensconcing himself in his favorite recliner.
    â€œYou oughta keep that one, wolf-boy.”
    â€œThis?” Connor looked at the bottle.
    â€œNo, that long-legged gal you brought in. She’s a smart one. I like her editorials. So this silver nitrate you palmed me is supposed to stop her from becoming what you are?”
    â€œYes.” Legends and folk tales claimed that anyone bitten by a Changeling would become one. They were absolutely right. The secret was in the saliva. A single bite, even a very small one, sent saliva into the bloodstream. The saliva activated an otherwise innocuous gene already present in all humans. Only silver nitrate could stop the process, and only if used in time. Treatment had to be started within twelve hours or all the silver in the world wouldn’t help. “Injection is more effective because you only need to do it once, but it’s pretty tough to explain to a human patient what the shot is for. Especially when we’re talking about a hundred or so cc’s.”
    â€œThat’s a damn big shot,” snorted Lowen. “So that’s why you decided to go with a topical application?”
    â€œExactly. More applications but easier to pass off. Two’s usually enough as long as it’s started within twelve hours of the bite, but