“Jenna?” Titus’s voice still had no strength.
“I’m right here.” She grabbed hold of his ankle, the first part of him she could reach.
“Stay with me.”
She didn’t need to be asked twice.
Hank looked at her across the seat from where he was standing on the other side of the SUV. “Ride back here with him.”
She nodded and climbed in, positioning herself so that Titus’s head was on her lap again.
Birdie got in the front. Bridget was already on her phone.
Jenna looked down at Titus. His coloring looked a little better. She smiled at him. “You’re going to be okay.”
“Thanks to you,” he whispered. Then he fell asleep.
She finger-combed his hair off his forehead. There was no point in telling him that he’d actually saved her life by pushing her out of the way of Leif’s sword. That he was the real hero. And that she’d just done what any woman in love would have done.
Just like there was no point in explaining that the resurrection stone restored life, but he still had a lot of healing to do to hang on to that life. There might even be surgery in his future.
However long his recovery took, she’d be there. Yes, there were a few other things that needed doing, like transporting Leif’s sword to the underworld to ensure that he was never released into the mortal world again, but she’d handle that as soon as Titus was being cared for. And then there was the 10K charity relay race coming up.
“Couple more minutes,” Hank said as he drove on.
“Okay,” Jenna answered.
Titus was going to be mad about missing that race. Which he would, because you didn’t run a race two days after you had a berserker’s sword through your heart.
Wouldn’t matter that he would miss it because he was in the hospital, trying to stay alive. He’d still be mad. She shook her head.
Then she smiled as an idea came to her. She bent and kissed his forehead. Funny that they’d put so much effort into getting untethered, and now all she could think about was how to never be away from him again.
Hank looked at her through the rearview mirror. “Blue duffel bag has sweatpants and a sweatshirt in it.”
Jenna frowned at him for a second. “For Titus?”
“No.” Hank’s gaze shifted, and he looked back at the road.
Birdie cleared her throat as she twisted around in her seat. “Not that I wouldn’t wear the same thing if I had your body, but you might be a little chilly in the hospital, Deputy.”
Jenna looked down, suddenly realizing she was still in her Old Glory bikini. “Oh. Right.”
Someday, this would be a very funny story.
When Titus was a little boy, Aunt Birdie told him stories about how after you died, if you were a good werewolf and ate all your supper and obeyed your parents, you went to the most beautiful forest you could ever imagine, where there were rabbits to chase and clear blue streams to splash in and more places to run than you could cover in a thousand years, and all your friends and family became part of your pack.
She’d never said anything about a soft beep-beep-beeping or the smell of disinfectant or the cold.
So while he was pretty sure he’d died, he was starting to think he hadn’t been a very good werewolf.
He cracked one eye open. And saw an angel. Then he smelled lemons. Maybe he’d done all right after all.
The angel looked at him. “Titus? Oh, you’re awake. I’m so glad.”
Aunt Birdie popped up behind the angel, and he realized he wasn’t actually dead. He opened both eyes. “Jenna?”
She nodded. “It’s me. Hi there, handsome.”
“Hi.” He smiled despite the dull ache in his chest. “Hi, Aunt Birdie.”
“How are you feeling, honey?” Birdie leaned in, looking like she might burst into tears or song, depending on his answer.
“Like there’s an elephant sitting on my chest.”
“You had surgery,” Jenna said.
He squinted at her, trying to remember what had happened. An image flashed through his head. “Because…you stabbed me?”
She smirked. “Technically, that’s true. But Leif’s sword stabbed you first. And I did it to save your life. It’s just that the resurrection stone works best on those whose life was also ended by Helgrind. I know. It’s complicated Norse magic. Best not to question it. The gods get touchy about that.”
He looked around. “I’ve been in the hospital a lot since going into that attic with you.”
She laughed. “That’s true. But I promise that after this, your hospital visits are over.”
“That would be nice.”
Birdie pressed a hand to her chest. “I should call Hank and Bridget and let them know you’re awake.”
“Don’t bother them if they’re working,” Titus said.
“You hush,” Birdie answered. “They’re in the cafeteria. They went to get coffee.” She walked toward the door to make her call.
Titus snorted. “Glad to see she’s not going to baby me or anything.”
Jenna smiled. “That’s my job now.”
He smiled back, liking the sound of that very much. “So if they went to get coffee, I’m guessing I’ve been here overnight?”
“You’ve been here for two overnights. About two and a half days.”
“What?”
She put her hands on her hips. “You did have a sword through your heart, so…”
“Yeah, but I’m a werewolf. I heal very fast.”
“Sure, but you were also just getting over wolfsbane poisoning.”
He exhaled. “Thanks for reminding me what a dangerous woman you are to hang around with.”
“I know. I’ve been terrible for your health. Sorry about that.”
Another thought occurred to him. “The race!” He groaned. “I missed it.”
Bridget and Hank walked in with their coffees, smiling at their brother.
Bridget went straight to the other side of his bed. “It’s good to see you awake.”
“Likewise,” Hank said.
“Thanks, but I missed the race.” Titus let out a sigh that sounded grouchy even to his own ears, but he gave himself a pass for being in pain. And being stabbed twice in the heart with a sword. That had to be worth a little bit of crankiness. He looked at Jenna. “I suppose you won, since I wasn’t there to beat you.”
“I did.” She smiled like she knew more than she was telling.
“Of course. Another trophy for the sheriff’s department.” Titus shook his head and rolled his eyes at his brother.
Hank sipped his coffee. “Actually, the trophy went to the fire department.”
Titus stared at Hank for a second, then looked back at Jenna. “I don’t understand.”
Her smile got a little bigger. “I switched teams and ran anchor in your place.”
All his grouchiness disappeared. “You did?”
She nodded, then winked at him. “But next year? I’m totally winning back that trophy for the NFSD.”
He laughed, which hurt but was worth it.
Birdie nudged Hank. “Let’s give these two a little time alone, okay?”
Bridget squeezed his arm. “See you later, bro.”
“Bye, sis.”
When the door closed, leaving just the two of them, Titus took Jenna’s hand as best he could with the IV sticking out of him. “Are you okay? Did you get hurt at all?”
“A couple scratches. Nothing serious. Speaking of, Ingvar’s out of the hospital. Doing pretty well too. I’ve moved her into my place. I think she might stay in Nocturne Falls for a while. After everything the coven did for her, she feels a little indebted, you know?”
“I do know. Did she tell you how Sola took her over?”
“She did.” Jenna took a breath. “As best she can figure, Sola finally worked out the magic to raise Leif as a wraith, then they located me and decided to bring him all the way back. She knew Ingvar and I were friends, so she put Ingvar
under a spell, took possession of her body, and used her as a decoy to lure me in.” She smiled at him. “You were just collateral damage.”
He nodded a little. “Wow.”
“Yep.”
He loved the warmth of her hand in his. “Listen. I’m well aware that you saved my life with your actions. I don’t remember it all too clearly, but you used the resurrection stone on me, didn’t you?”
“I did. But you saved me from getting skewered by pushing me out of the way. We’re basically even.”
He squeezed her hand. “Are there any consequences from being resurrected by that stone? Any side effects I should know about?”
She pursed her lips. “I was trying to figure out how to break this to you… You can’t be more than a hundred feet from Helgrind at any given moment, or the stone stops working and—”
He went very still. “Are you serious?”
She laughed. “No. But it was worth it to see the look on your face.”
He snorted, then frowned. “Did you take Leif’s sword to the underworld yet?”
“Not yet. I needed to know you were going to be okay. But it’s in safe keeping, don’t worry.”
He exhaled. She’d stayed. For him. “I really do owe you my life. I probably shouldn’t be too far away from you anyway.”
She smiled. “I’d like that.”
“And when I get out of here, we can try that hot-tub picnic again.”
Her smile went from ear to ear. “I’d like that even more.”
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About the Author
USA Today Best Selling author Kristen Painter is a little obsessed with cats, books, chocolate, and shoes. It’s a healthy mix. She loves to entertain her readers with interesting twists and unforgettable characters. She currently writes the best-selling paranormal romance series, Nocturne Falls, and the cozy mystery spin off series, Jayne Frost. The former college English teacher can often be found all over social media where she loves to interact with readers.
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Other Books by Kristen Painter
PARANORMAL ROMANCE:
Nocturne Falls series:
The Vampire’s Mail Order Bride
The Werewolf Meets His Match
The Gargoyle Gets His Girl
The Professor Woos the Witch
The Witch’s Halloween Hero – short story
The Werewolf’s Christmas Wish – short story
The Vampire’s Fake Fiancée
The Vampire’s Valentine Surprise – short story
The Shifter Romances the Writer
The Vampire’s True Love Trials – short story
The Dragon Finds Forever
The Vampire’s Accidental Wife
The Reaper Rescues the Genie
The Detective Wins the Witch
The Vampire’s Priceless Treasure
The Werewolf Dates the Deputy
Can’t get enough Nocturne Falls?
Try the Nocturne Falls Universe books.
(http://kristenpainter.com/nocturne-falls-universe/)
New stories, new authors, same Nocturne Falls world!
Shadowvale series:
The Trouble with Witches
The Vampire’s Cursed Kiss
The Forgettable Miss French
Moody And The Beast
Sin City Collectors series:
Queen of Hearts
Dead Man’s Hand
Double or Nothing
Box set
Standalone Paranormal Romance:
Dark Kiss of the Reaper
Heart of Fire
Recipe for Magic
Miss Bramble and the Leviathan
COZY PARANORMAL MYSTERY:
Jayne Frost series
Miss Frost Solves a Cold Case – A Nocturne Falls Mystery
Miss Frost Ices the Imp – A Nocturne Falls Mystery
Miss Frost Saves the Sandman – A Nocturne Falls Mystery
Miss Frost Cracks a Caper – A Nocturne Falls Mystery
When Birdie Babysat Spider – A Jayne Frost short
Miss Frost Braves the Blizzard – A Nocturne Falls Mystery
Miss Frost Chills the Cheater – A Nocturne Falls Mystery
Miss Frost Says I Do – A Nocturne Falls Mystery
Happily Everlasting series:
Witchful Thinking
URBAN FANTASY:
The House of Comarré series:
Forbidden Blood
Blood Rights
Flesh and Blood
Bad Blood
Out for Blood
Last Blood
The Crescent City series:
House of the Rising Sun
City of Eternal Night
Garden of Dreams and Desires
PARANORMAL WOMEN’S FICTION:
The First Fangs Club series:
Sucks To Be Me
Suck It Up, Buttercup
Sucker Punch
Nothing is completed without an amazing team.
Many thanks to:
Design & derivative cover art: Janet Holmes using images under license from Shutterstock.com
Interior formatting: Author E.M.S
Editor: Joyce Lamb
Copyedits/proofs: Chris Kridler/Lisa Bateman
The Werewolf Dates The Deputy (Nocturne Falls Book 12) Page 24