“Jus’ oo eht,” I forced through my mouth, wanting it over already.

Without another pause, he flicked a knife into his hand, and I felt the first real tendrils of fear.

“I can knock you out,” he offered, and I steadied my breathing. I shook my head, and respect flared in his eyes, but I didn’t want it. He pushed my head down and away and started cutting the dead, blackened flesh from my hand.

It hurt. I sank down into my body, deep into the pain until I was one with it, swam with it, became it. White hot pain stabbed through my hand, my adrenaline racing as my brain screamed at me to do something to stop it, pain signals running rampant through my body. I sank deeper into myself to escape, even as my body broke out into a heavy sweat. After what seemed like a lifetime the pain lessened, and Thad forced another goblet of liquid down my throat. I came back to full awareness in order to drink, and immediately the pain dulled as I swallowed. I swirled my tongue in my mouth, feeling more alert.

“Thanks,” I whispered and sank back down into oblivion.

I woke slowly, realizing I was still laying on the stone table. Panic swept through me as I pulled at my arms and legs which were bound tightly to the stone underneath me. The drugs must have left my system because I felt clear-headed, though with a throbbing headache. My hand didn’t hurt anymore though, and I glanced with surprise at the healed skin restrained above my head.

Thad stood over me, his dark eyes taking in every inch of my body. Had he examined me while I was out? Fear and dread pooled in my stomach, and I wished I was dressed more like a human. With only the thin band around my breasts and the short skirt on my hips, there was nothing left to the imagination. I snarled at him, my white scales flickering in the torchlight. His eyes shone with a white light, pulsating with a malicious energy that made my skin crawl.

“Fuck off!” I snarled.

He blinked rapidly as if he didn’t realize I was awake. I tugged at the restraints again, but they didn’t budge any more than the last time. Thad growled. It was a familiar-enough sound that it took me a moment to realize his human body shouldn’t have been capable of making it. Did he have a demon form like the others? Was that what had been causing the seizures?

“What did they do to you?” I asked.

Thad reached a hand out, skimming his fingers lightly down my bare abdomen. It wasn’t the touch that bothered me, so much as my reaction to it. My inner draken practically purred, and I snarled in response. I didn’t like the white magick that leaked from him. Had healing me done this to him?