“We’ll be able to save it,” the healer said from two beds down. He was a huge man, burly with great ham-like hands. Yet he was delicate and gentle when he touched Aurora. “It’s not entirely severed.”
“She’ll be all right, won’t she?” Worry was thick in Esha’s tone as she hovered at her sister’s bedside. The Chairman yowled his support.
“Shu-up,” Aurora slurred. “F-fine.”
“You’re not fucking fine and you know it,” Esha shot back.
“She’ll be fine,” the healer said.
The rest of their party sat on or leaned against hospital beds that were lined up along the wall of the white-on-white room. A third healer tended to the deep gash on Cadan’s chest while Diana looked on worriedly. Fiona held an icepack to her bruised face. Aerten stood off to the side, shell shocked, and Cam wondered vaguely if she felt as overwhelmed as he did. Loki hadn’t returned with them, but Cam wasn’t surprised. He must have followed Druantia to the clearing, though why he’d helped them was still a mystery.
Cam wanted like hell to get Ana alone, but he needed her checked by a healer first. A second later, a small, gray-haired woman bustled over from where she’d been tending Cadan to check on Ana. She looked like she should be baking cookies for her grandchildren, but in Cam’s estimation, age meant experience, and the more of it, the better.
“I really am fine,” Ana said as the woman inspected her abdomen. The skin was unblemished and smooth.
“Aye, you are. Right as rain.” The healer looked up at Cam. “You can let her up now, son. And you can let me tend to that arm and back.”
Cam scowled, then realized that his blood was dripping to the floor and he was feeling vaguely lightheaded.
“Just a few butterfly bandages. I’ll heal up soon.” Sooner, now that he was a god again.
“All you need is a bit of a spell, and you’ll be all right,” the healer said from behind him.
A vague warmth spread across his back where she touched him. He realized he wasn’t in the jungle anymore, treating himself haphazardly with whatever he had on hand. The university had a top-notch healing staff.
“Good as new.” The grandmotherly healer came around to his front. “Most of you can go. Aurora and Vivienne will need to stay. It’ll be a while before they’re healed.”
“But they’ll be fine, right?” Ana asked
as she sat up.
She was the most beautiful, most precious thing that Cam had ever seen, and his heart expanded just to look at her.
“Aye, they’ll all be fine. It’ll just take some time to heal those bones and reattach that arm.”
“Thank you, everyone,” Cam said, gratitude thick in his throat.
“Well, then. I suppose I can ask if it worked?” Warren asked.
“Yes.” Cam’s voice was a little strained. Ana reached for his hand, and he squeezed hers.
Aerten rubbed her temple, then shook her head. “Yes. I… yes. It worked. I need to go. To see someone. I—I’ll see you all later. And—thank you.”
With a last blind glance around the room, Aerten disappeared. Otherworld would be in a frenzy right now, but Cam didn’t care. The rest of the group was filtering out of the room, limping or walking tall. But all would be healed soon, thank fate.
“Let’s get out of here.” He helped Ana stand.
“Definitely.” She nodded and grinned.
He wrapped an arm around her and aetherwalked them to the Amazon. Damn, it was good to be able to do that again.
The sun was setting over the canopy when they arrived on the deck of the Clara G., and long shadows were being cast across the dark river. The boat was still tied off to the dock space he’d rented before they’d left. There were vessels on all sides of them, but none were inhabited at the moment. The familiar howling and rustling of the jungle animals was a welcome taste of home, and something in Cam’s chest loosened. Being home, with Ana, who he’d never expected to see again, much less fall in love with, felt perfect.
Ana looked around at the boat and the jungle. “We’re back on your boat?”
“It’s not the finest accommodations, but it’s home.” He grinned.
“Good point. I like your home. And it’s not like I have one of my own now that I’m no longer a god. I’m starting from square one.”