Free Dragons Prefer Blondes by Candace Havens Page B

gave her look that stopped her cold. “I’ve been taking care of the sick and injured since before your father was born, young lady.”
    The liquid burned my throat, heating my body as it went down. Before it hit my stomach, I could wiggle my fingers. “Holy crap. What the hell kind of cocktail is that?” My voice had regained strength, and I laughed.
    The nurse stared at me wide-eyed as I sat up.
    “Whew.” I held my head. “Little dizzy.”
    I remembered I’d left a mess out in the street. I sat cross-legged for a minute and tried to get my bearings.
    “Mr. M, you rock.” My chest still hurt like hell, but I could move. Stretching my arms above my head, I winced. Looking down, I saw bone. Damn, I’d need some stitches for sure.
    I glanced back to see that he had handed each of the women a shot glass. He didn’t say a word, just stared at them. They looked over at me, and I nodded.
    “One, two, three,” the nurse said, and they all chugged it down at the same time. After coughing for a short period, they sat down simultaneously.
    “Antidote,” he told them, then held out a hand to me. “The same poison that took her down is what they gave you ladies, only in a lower dose. It slows down your responses and makes you feel like you’re drunk. You’ll have a banger of a headache for most of tomorrow, but you’ll be fine.”
    He turned to me. “Now, what are we going to do about those things outside?”

CHAPTER 9
    When we opened the door, we found Gilly standing there with one very green-looking Jake. His head was bent over, and he was emptying his belly of whatever he’d had for dinner the night before.
    “What’s wrong with him?” I couldn’t keep from smiling. Always such a force of nature, it was funny to see him weak at the knees.
    “Doesn’t seem to like traveling faster than the speed of light.” Gilly glanced back at him and then at me. She looked like one of those sexy drawings of warrior women in comic books, all in leather and with her sword at the ready.
    “Well, you came ready to party.” I laughed.
    Gilly sheathed her sword. “Your vitals fell really low, and then you disappeared off the grid. I happened to be in the control room with Jake. He insisted on coming with me. We were worried you bit the big one.”
    I grunted. “Not likely. Though it was a little too close for comfort, even for me.” I explained about the dragon and the gryphon, both of which were still in the middle of the street. “If it hadn’t been for Mr. McMurphy and them”—I waved a hand to the women peeking out the door—“I probably would be eating dirt about now.”
    Gilly grimaced. “Thank you for looking after the brat.” She nodded toward me. Then she held out her hand to Mr. McMurphy. “It’s nice to meet you.”
    His eyes lit up. “Ah, another of the Caruthers girls. Your parents have raised you well.” He shook her hand. “And you are a powerful one. Great strength in you.”
    She looked back at me, and I shrugged. “He’s been around a while, and he’s seen a lot.”
    Mr. McMurphy chuckled. “Aye, lass, I have.”
    I frowned at the lumps in the snow. “We need to get this mess cleaned up. Jake, if you’re feeling up to it, could you please get these women a taxi?”
    He gave me an evil look but nodded. I had a feeling he wasn’t happy about losing his cookies in front of me, but hey, it happened to the best of us.
    I told the women good-bye and thanked them for helping me.
    “Please,” the blonde said. “If it hadn’t been for you, God knows what those men would have done to us.”
    Men?
    I glanced over at Mr. M, and he winked at me. Something in the drink he’d given them had messed with their memory. They didn’t see the dragon and the gryphon for the monsters they were.
    “We’re safe,” I said to them, “and that’s what matters.”
    Jake led the women down the block, a safe distance away from where any prying eyes could see what we were doing. Gilly helped me get the