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My hands tre the first wound Chance let out a sob of breath thathim intentionally I took back all my wishes for him to suffer, but it was too late

There’s probably a lesson in that

Because it seemed to help, I tried to keep lass, blot the wound, repeat

"I’ that I had to hurt him

By the time I finished, I felt sick and he looked worse He shook froripped his knees "Done?" His voice sounded raw, I iined from the screams he’d sed

"All but the disinfectant"

Chance didn’t argue Though nor ater in case of irritation, we couldn’t take the chance with demon dust It had to be flushed out Otherwise not only would the wounds fester; whoever wanted us dead could eventually work Chance like a puppet before he died

This stuff was the worst of the worst, soht in Reno My , but now I knew you had to kill a demon’s corporeal form and burn it to ash, and then use it in the ritual in order to wind up with a sending like this Really wicked shit

I hated that his welfare rested inas I’d known hi the telltale shadow in the pink discharge Yep, this was undoubtedly the right decision

"Smear my mother’s salve on the worst ones I put it in your backpack"

"Good idea"

Though she’d for in cuts as well and anesthetize soet it but had to spend a ainst the wall before I could return to the bathrooed ht now

"Alht you a change of clothes too"

I painted the ointment down his lean, wounded back I didn’t just hit the worst; I covered all of theauze in place I wasn’t looking forward to changing the dressings, but I owed hi aled and then we can talk"

I let myself enjoy a spurt of irritation, like I wouldn’t know to shoithout his instruction Instead I got a pair of shorts and a T-shirt and exhibited exceptional co everything in less than five minutes My skin felt tender, as if I’d had a powerful exfoliating treatuys, they were already eating what looked like excellent homemade tamales, and I have some experience in that area Chuch stood up when I entered; Chance didn’t He ate with silent economy that told me he knew he needed the fuel uely around his rather retro kitchen I took in the burnt sienna countertops and avocado appliances

"I got frijoles y queso, pollo verde, and dulce What kind do you want?"

To my mind, tamales should never be sweet "I’ll have the first two, please"

Chuch quirked a brow "How many?"

"One of each"

I let hi up as I settled onto the chair When I hit the warehouse wall, I’d banged ood and I felt it now, a slow throb like a toothache Chuch laid in front of reen pottery plate, two tamales, a little cream, and some crumbled cheese Then he seasoned them with a dash of salsa My mouth watered

Thehis own food It felt like forever since we’d eaten in Monterrey I dug in, content to let Chance explain the situation, but he was in no hurry I couldn’t honestly blame hi like this?" Done eating, Chuch folded his aronna follow you to ed "But your wards are solid, right?"

"Never had nothing get in" Seeaze, a hard, penetrating look "But there’s always the first tiot to knohat I’ rolled us over on the west side," I told hinored the look Chance shot me "Nasty piece of work Demon dust and a hoind"