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"Jane?" he asked, as I wondered when the hell he’d had tirow a beard

I tried to speak, but my voice wouldn’t work Instead, much to my consternation, Iof a donkey

"Has our patient finally decided to join the land of the living?" cah to hear My father responded with an inarticulate shout of happiness Nonplussed, ed to raisedazedly at a rooht Eventually, after loom, I realized that I was in Anyan’s loft bedrooht Followed quickly by, Oh dear gods, Anyan, as I suddenly recalled , I nearly fainted as an ungla a green-scaled, black-clawed hand onat y combination of happiness and relief

I wasn’t surprised by the goblin--after all, they’re the healers of the supernatural world What I was surprised by was the fact that instead of freaking out as the nearly seven-foot-tall unglaoblin stood behind hiain as he reached up his other hand to clutch, in a clear gesture of gratitude, at the goblin’s wickedly clawedon his shoulder

"She’s awake She’s finally awake," ly heavy head flop back onto hty headboard and winced that my dad had seen it

It’s like the Wizard of Oz, only in reverse, I thought Dorothy’s woken up to find that everything has gotten even weirder Replete with dirty headboards

The goblin and my father beamed at me, and I wondered where to start

I think I missed quite a bit while I was out

CHAPTER THREE

My father held the water to oblin had given me a quick physical, removed all my various tubes--which I was rant us soreen presence here (and my father’s acceptance of his presence) explained, but I hadmatters to which to attend As soon as I could speak, I asked the question I’d been dreading

"Anyan?" I queried,soothingly "He’s been here as s"

Unbelievable relief spread through s" could not be good But before I could ask, my dad shook his head

"Don’t worry yourself, Jane Not yet at least You’re awake That’s all that matters I was so scared…"

At that admonition, my father’s voice broke So I nearly broke at the expression on his face, still so handsome, if a tad sad and careworn after all these years

"Daddy," I breathed "I’hed, if hoarsely "Honey, please don’t apologize I can hardly bla attacked"

"Attacked…" I frowned I was still under the influence of the drea else was very far away Especially what had happened in Anyan’s driveway

I killed a man I remembered, but without emotion Then I also remembered that was inaccurate

I’d killed quite a few uilt about that fact All I could think of was Anyan lying there, bleeding, and, weirdly enough, about the "doctors" Jarl had employed to staff his torture clinics

Like thea job," too

They’d chosen to do evil for a paycheck, or because they enjoyed it, or both

Comeuppance is a bitch

"What happened?" I asked

My father frowned "No one is sure All we know is that you were attacked And you saved yourself and you saved Anyan"

I couldn’t help but feel a prickle of pride at those words Yes, I wished I’d never had to do what I did But when the tiht, I’d womanned up and saved myself and Anyan

"Your friend with the tattoos"--and here my dad made a series of bizarre sounds that I chalked up asAnyan right back with her healing skills But you were another matter"