Magpie by Kim Dare Page B

him,” Ambrose promised.
    The realization that he’d failed to keep his stupidity to himself finally kicked Everet into action. Rushing in his bedroom, he snatched clothes out of his wardrobe and wriggled into them, his skin still damp, his movements ham-fisted.
    His fingers were numb. His whole body shook. Damn it, he didn’t have time for any of this bull. The moment his clothes were on, he raced back to the bathroom.
    “I checked his pulse,” Ambrose informed him. “It’s strong and steady. If it wasn’t for his temperature, anyone would think he’s just asleep.”
    Everet sat down heavily on the closed toilet lid, his mind racing so fast he couldn’t catch hold of any sensible thought.
    “You said he was on quicksilver?” Ambrose asked, his tone wary, as if he was unsure how Everet would react.
    Everet simply stared at Kane. “That was what he asked for when I found him this morning. He wouldn’t even admit he was on anything until,” he waved a hand at the sight before them. “Until this happened.”
    Kane’s skin proved that magpies healed quickly, at least from simple, physical wounds. The bruises were already a little less vivid. As he lay naked in the bath, it was easy to believe that he might lift his head, open his eyes and, in all probability, come out with some smart arse remark.
    But, the only thing keeping him upright was Ambrose’s arm behind his back.
    “Can you think of anyone who might know what to do for him?” Everet asked.
    Ambrose shook his head. “I’ll go ask around and see who I can find.”
    Everet knelt down alongside the bath and took Ambrose’s place, sliding his arm behind Kane. When he straightened up, Ambrose was more than a little damp from the cold spray. He made no complaint. Everet couldn’t bring himself to take his attention away from Kane for long enough to mention it either.
    The door closed softly in Ambrose’s wake.
    “Everything’s going to be fine.” Everet wasn’t sure who he wanted to reassure. It had all seemed so bloody simple when he woke up that morning. He’d keep Kane under his protection for a few weeks. A little bit of discipline, some firm rules from someone who wouldn’t screw him.
    If it worked, he’d release him back into the world and probably never set eyes on him again. If it didn’t, Kane would go down to the cages and Everet would at least know he’d done his best for the other man.
    He stared down at the magpie. It wasn’t clear if he was sleeping, passed out or somewhere in between.
    “Everything will be fine,” Everet repeated, just in case Kane could hear him. “All you need to do is push through this, and we’ll have you back on your feet in no time. We’ll have you back on your wings as well. I bet it’s been a hell of a long time since you flew, hasn’t it?”
    Kane failed to answer, but it was impossible for Everet to let silence settle over them. That would have tantamount to facing the idea that Kane was too ill to speak.
    Who the hell would have thought he’d be praying for a sarcastic word from the boy after only one day?
    “You’ll enjoy spreading your wings again,” Everet babbled. “And you’ll enjoy living in the nest once you settle in. I’ll make sure everything goes fine for you. You just need to get through this. Okay? You can do it.”
    From the doorway came the sound of someone politely clearing their throat.
    Everet’s head snapped around. He glared over his shoulder. A small, delicate looking man with dark skin and black hair cropped close to his head stepped forward. “Your friend said you need a doctor-bird?” His accent hinted that he was the genuine thing, from a nest that actually originated in the West Indies, rather than someone who’d just been trained by a doctor-bird.
    For a few seconds, Everet was too relieved to say anything. It didn’t matter. The guy didn’t wait for an answer to his question. He strode purposefully to the side of the bath and pressed his fingers against