Sorceress Hunting (A Gargoyle and Sorceress Tale Book 3) Read Online Free PDF Page B

into his lap.
    Her yelp of surprise sounded far more genuine than any
act.
    He took a sip from his mug and nearly spat it back
out. Black coffee, hot enough to burn three layers of skin off the roof of his
mouth. With a deep grimace, he forced himself to swallow the offensive liquid
while he glanced toward the door with natural curiosity. A Medical Technician
and three other soldiers stomped through the front entrance.
    Gran dusted the flour off her hands and held one out
in greeting, but the human in the lead merely looked for a place to set down
his equipment.
    One of the other soldiers, not one Gregory had seen
before, addressed Gran. “I assume you’ve been keeping up with the news, and
know about giving samples for testing. It’s voluntary, but we strongly suggest
everyone get tested to rule out possible health complications.”
    Gran gestured the newcomer in further and closed the
door. “By all means. Anything we can do to help. Although, I have to say I’m confused
by one thing. Wouldn’t it make more sense to have people report to a hospital
if they start to feel sick?”
    The Medical Technician spoke up, his response sounding
like something he’d already read several times in the last hour. “If there is
any chance of illness, we want to quarantine it early to stop any possible
spread.”
    Yet, here they were without protective equipment.
    “Ah, that’s the first bit of wisdom I’ve heard since
all this began.” Gran smiled as she rolled up her shirt sleeves until she’d exposed
a good bit of her forearm.
    Gregory watched, a touch curious, as the human sat on
a chair next to the one Gran had dropped down on.
    The procedure was over quickly though he didn’t think
Gran liked to see the small vial sticking out of her arm. She’d gone a little
pale and looked away. Once it was over, and she was holding a small bit of
cotton to the tiny injury, she looked up and met Gregory’s eyes with a little
shudder. “I hate needles. Never could stand the sight of my own blood.”
    Jason, and then Alan took their turns in the chair,
and the procedure was repeated twice more, just as painlessly. Lillian
struggled out of his lap, and he let her take the chair next. He stood a moment
later and made his way over to her side, attempting to appear bored and
unconcerned. And he was—about giving blood. But he didn’t have to like how the
human soldier in charge wandered over to hover at Lillian’s shoulder. This
wasn’t random male interest in a pretty female.
    Gregory smiled. Clever humans. This one was hoping his
mere presence would cause Lillian’s family to make a mistake. He also gathered
from this one’s mind there were others nearby with some kind of device, which
allowed them to see and hear what was going on within. He squelched the urge to
wave at them in the human way, just to see how they would react.
    “Your turn,” Lillian said in a falsely cheery voice.
Gregory grunted and sat down. He exposed his arm like he’d seen the others do.
There was a poke and then he caught a faint whiff of his magic-laced blood. Had
he been in gargoyle form, the tiny blood drawing device would not even have
penetrated his skin.
    This had to be the first time in all his existence
he’d allowed an enemy to claim first blood without a fight.
    Ah. The Mortal Realm offered him new delights every
day. He was turning towards the medical person to see if he could intimidate
him out of annoyance and sheer boredom when a sharp knock sounded at the door.
    Gran was already halfway there by the time Gregory
transferred his attention from the Medical Technician to the door. He stretched
his senses outward, and already had the newest arrival identified before he’d
even entered.
    Gran opened the door, and Major Resnick stepped in, a
greeting already on his lips.
    “Vivian, always nice to see you,” he shook her hand
and then stepped around her after a moment and made straight for Lillian.
    The human at Gregory’s elbow removed the