Savage Magic by Judy Teel Page B

wanting life, wanting to kill, but I fought it down as my ribs snapped, followed by the bone of my upper left arm as I attempted to protect my head from the blows. My thoughts fragmented as the world blurred, and the rage of the monster I was swelled.
    Then something heavy hit us, taking Deg with it and dragging me for a few feet before the tangle of our arms and legs gave out and I was dumped into the dirt. I lay on my back, struggling to find my next breath. Everything around me, even my pain, faded as shock spread through my battered body. My gaze focused on the white clouds drifting across the deep blue of the sky above me. I wondered if they would be the last thing I'd see in this world.  
    As the blackness sneaking up on me closed in, I was vaguely aware of Noah sprinting toward me across the practice ring and Cooper lifting Deg over his head before launching him toward the onlookers.

CHAPTER FIVE

    Someone strong carried me, and they weren't doing a very good job of it. I knew this even from the bottom of the thick blackness wrapped around me because someone groaned every time I was jostled. Whoever it was sounded hurt. I sympathized.
    When I came to again, I was lying on a cot and Cooper gripped my left arm, one hand near my shoulder and the other near my elbow. His silver-green gaze hooked into mine and if I'd had the strength, I'd have been surprised by the anguish reflected there.  
    Then he glanced away and his muscles flexed as he made a quick, jerking motion. The broken ends of the humerus of my left arm ground together and the darkness rushed over me like a waterfall. Far away, that same person from before screamed.

    *   *   *

    The smell of something meaty and vegatable-y wound its way into my awareness and my mouth filled with saliva. That was weird. I didn't cook. Neither could my cat Wizard. Something wasn't right.  
    Maybe I was dead.
    I drifted back into the velvety blackness, happy to leave the string of confusing thoughts behind me. A moment later, the lovely smell of food called to me again. My stomach rumbled, pulling me awake with a sharp tug. Sounds drifted around me — birds, the distant bellow of a cow, which didn't make any sense. I shook my head, fighting my way back to consciousness.  
    "She's awake," a beautiful, rumbling voice said above me.
    "Cooper." I sighed.
    His warm hand touched my face and I turned into his palm, savoring the rough texture of it. "Did I oversleep again?"
    "You're in the infirmary, behind the kitchen."
    Oh, yeah. Fight with the nasty Were. Lots of pain. Only I didn't feel too bad now. Dr. Barrett must be really good at his job.
    Kissing the tip of Cooper's thumb, I cracked open one eye and looked up at him. "It was nice of you to teach Deg to fly."  
    The worry on his face relaxed and a slow smile caught his pretty mouth, lifting up one corner in the way that I loved. Cooper glanced over at someone I couldn't see. "She's back."
    "Miraculously." Dr. Barrett came into my field of vision and leaned over me, prying open one eyelid and then the other. "Still no sign of concussion. Another miracle."
    "Good to see Cooper looking all better," I said, trying to smile past the stiff muscles of my face.  
    "As are you." Dr. Barrett gazed down at me, concern and that worrisome speculation back in his soft blue eyes. "You've been unconscious for almost thirty hours. In that time, I estimate that you've lost ten percent of your body mass. Which, if you were a Were, would explain why your cracked collarbone has completely healed, the bruises that covered eighty percent of your body are gone, your ribs will be as strong as ever by tonight, and why I suspect I'll be taking the casts off of your arms tomorrow afternoon."
    His brow furrowed over the bridge of his nose and he stared first at me and then at Cooper. "If you have an explanation, I'd love to hear it."
    Cooper shrugged. "You saw the scan."
    "Yes. All four of them and I still don't believe it."
    I gave him my best