She groaned.
“Elizabeth?”
“What?”
“You zoned out on me there. Stay awake.”
She had? “Seriously, Rex, what happened? We had a car accident?”
“Our car was jolted. I’m not sure exactly what happened. But it feels like witch crap to me, which is not surprising considering Dad’s had his coven after us for forty-some-odd years now.”
“No.” She shook her head, which was a mistake. “No witches would ever help a wolf. This is the work of the bitch-twins.”
“I assume you are referring to the two ladies we left frozen on the floor.” From the clenched sound of his voice she could tell he wasn’t happy. “What is bothering you? My swearing or what they’ve potentially done?” He walked fast, turning deeper into the woods. Pretty soon she wouldn’t be able to hear the highway at all.
“Because I’d like to point out you just cursed a ton a few minutes ago.” Rex laughed, a sort of rumbling sound. It made her smile, which, in turn, made her head hurt worse. “Fair enough, but for the record, one, I was annoyed thinking the two witches might have gotten the jump on us and, two, I cursed hours ago, not minutes. It concerns me a great deal you are losing so much time.”
“Are you some kind of doctor?”
He shook his head. “No. But I’m going to get you to one.”
“Was anyone besides me hurt when we crashed?”
“No. I managed to get the car to the side before it flipped over.” He adjusted her slightly on his shoulder, and she wondered if he had started to get tired of carrying her.
Earlier he’d claimed he could carry three times his weight, but surely he must get tired after a while. “Why would the twins be trying to kill us?”
“Not us, although I am sure they’d be thrilled to take you out in the process, me.
They’re coming after me because you hauled me out of the diner and away from them where I am supposed to be. Leaving them is a death sentence for me and my entire family.”
“What?” He roared so loud she wondered if the entire state could hear him. “You should have said something, Elizabeth.”
“It’s Liz. Everyone calls me Liz.”
“You are not a Liz. Elizabeth suits you better.”
“Said from a guy who is named Rex like a dog? My uncle had a dog named Rex.
You would think, as a canine, you’d be called something else.” He groaned. “You are tiresome. My real name is Randolph, but I’ve been called Rex now for so long I’m not sure I would answer to Randolph if you used my full name.”
“Does anyone call you Randy?” She realized this was a completely asinine conversation, but what was she supposed to discuss with the crazy wolf who claimed she was his mate while he carted her, probably concussed self, around the woods in New Jersey? The weather?
“Never.” From the tone of his voice she didn’t think it would be a good idea for her to try to be the first to call him Randy. She might have whacked her head but she hadn’t lost her mind.
“Hey, Rex-y, I have a thought.” She kicked her legs until he stopped moving. She wanted him to listen to her. Finally, when he stopped walking, and she felt certain she had his attention, she spoke again. “I’m not sure why I didn’t think of this earlier—well actually I am but…”
He interrupted her. “Is there a point you’d like to make or are you just kicking me and rambling for the fun of it?”
She narrowed her eyes. If she weren’t afraid he’d drop her onto the ground, she’d whack him hard. “Well, once upon a time, before my magic went mostly away, I could have healed myself. Perhaps I can make it slightly better. Give us some more time to run from the twins.”
“I am not running from anything.” He set her down onto the ground, squatting next to her. She could see his nearly black eyes staring at her in the light of the moon. If she’d been a romantic girl, she might have sighed. But unfortunately she’d been born to be sensible.
“What would you call what we’re currently doing?” She reached out to steady the world by touching his arm. When this was over, she’d never again choose to ride a roller coaster. Not when she knew the universe could spin like this on its own.
“I would call this getting you some help. Two miles more in the direction we’re walking.” He pointed with his hand, but she didn’t follow where he indicated. It would require her to move her head. “Is a hospital. We’re hoofing it.”
“Hoofing it implies horses, doesn’t it? Not disgusting wolves?” Rex rolled his eyes for just a second before seriousness returned to his gaze. Goddess forbid wolf-boy actually smiled.