“Thanks,” I said. “The akesoite should be in soon. I think they’re going to let me go home as long as someone will check on me every hour.”

“That always seems so sexy in books.” Van took my hand in hers. Her fingers were cold. “But in reality, it’s exhausting as shit.”

I laughed, then winced. “Ow, don’t make me laugh.”

“Do you want me to call your family now?”

“Not yet,” I said, after I thought about it. “I’ll call my mom and Mama Ami on the way home. They can descend on the house and Mama Ami can check the bond.” I only had flashes of memory from the crash, but Eva had done something awful and I wanted someone to assess it for damage. “It doesn’t make any sense to have them converge on the hospital if I’m just going to be checked out.”

“Then we wait,” Van said, getting comfortable. “Is there a reason Declan is in his wolf form?”

“I don’t know. I kind of assumed he would have shifted back by now.” I reached out to the wolf. He didn’t raise his head off his paws, but his eyes flicked my way.

I am here until you’re out of trouble. Then he closed his eyes again.

I shrugged at Van, which I instantly regretted, because ow. “This is protective mode, apparently.”

“And you think you’re going to be more helpful than human Declan right now?” Van asked the wolf.

One of his ears flicked, but otherwise he didn’t move.

Van snorted. “I’m going to take that as a yes.”

We were interrupted by a knock on the door. When I told them to come in, the door swung open, revealing a woman of medium height, her black hair pulled back from her face. She wore the hospital akesoite standard—slacks, lab coat, stethoscope, and carrying a tablet. The pocket of the lab coat made a noise when she moved, making me think it was probably full of chalk. In her wake a raccoon toddled in on its hind legs.

“Good to see you awake!” She smiled, tapping her tablet until the screen lit up. “I’m Ake. Luo. This is Kitkat.” The raccoon chittered a hello. Ake. Luo pulled up a chair. “How are you feeling?”

I gave her the rundown. She listened as she glanced at my chart, and asked a few questions, making notes on her tablet. When that was done, she took out a black marker, drawing a series of diagnostic symbols on my arm. She handed me a small velvet bag. “Hold this, please.” The akesoite held my wrists, muttering a quick incantation. When she was done, the symbols on my arm disappeared, the magic dissolving into my skin.

The raccoon, Kitkat, opened a drawer, pulling out what appeared to be a bamboo cutting board. Kitkat handed it to Ake. Luo. “Thank you.” Now that it was closer, I could see that the board was covered in small circles, sigils, and other symbols I didn’t recognize. She held it out flat in front of me. “Okay, empty the bag, please.”