Page 23 of Dark Shaman: The Lost Treasure (The Children Of The Gods #98)

"Flattery will get you nowhere," she said, but her smile suggested otherwise. "Besides, you should be focusing on your transition, not on your nurse."

"I'm an excellent multitasker. I can transition and appreciate my beautiful nurse at the same time."

She shook her head, but she was definitely fighting back a smile. "How are you feeling? Any pain? Discomfort beyond the obvious?"

Tim tried to take inventory of his body, which was challenging when most of his blood flow was concentrated in one specific area.

Everything felt strange, like his skin was too tight and too loose at the same time.

His muscles ached with a deep, bone-level soreness that suggested they were being rebuilt from the ground up.

His head felt stuffed, but underneath that was a strange clarity, as if his senses were slowly sharpening.

"I feel like I got hit by a truck," he said honestly. "Then the truck backed up and hit me again. Then maybe a steamroller came by for good measure."

"That's normal," Hildegard assured him. "Your body is rewriting itself at the cellular level. Every system is being upgraded, which requires energy and causes discomfort. Some Dormants describe it as the worst flu they've ever had multiplied by ten."

"Fantastic. And how long does this joy last?"

"Varies by person. It could be days or weeks. You're already ahead of the curve by waking up this soon into it." She made another note on her tablet. "Your vitals are surprisingly strong for this stage as well, and you don't have a fever, which worries me a little because you should."

"Must be the motivating factor of having you as my nurse."

"There you go with the flattery again."

"It's not flattery if it's true."

She set the tablet aside and fixed him with a look that was part amusement, part exasperation. "You know what? I think I like you better when you're being an honest asshole instead of trying to be smooth."

"Who says I'm trying? This is all natural charm, baby."

"And there's the Tim I was warned about." But she was smiling as she said it. "Tell me, what do you remember about your induction?"

Tim thought back, trying to piece together the fragments.

"Magnus was very patient with my complete lack of athletic ability.

I might have actually landed one decent punch, but that could be my ego rewriting history.

Then he pinned me to the floor and then came the bite.

" He frowned. "Hurt like a son of a bitch, but the trip that followed was worth it. The best I ever had."

"The venom triggers euphoria." She grinned. "It's the best stuff ever. Easy to get addicted to, but since all the side effects are positive, there is no need to abstain."

"I got high on immortal spit. Fantastic. Does that make Magnus my dealer?"

She pursed her lips. "Not really, since you are never getting bitten again. For guys, it's once and over with. Luckily, I'm not a guy." She winked. "But I'd be careful about calling it spit to Magnus's face. He's a nice guy, but you know, those are the most dangerous when aggravated."

"Do you know him well?"

"Everyone knows Magnus. He's one of the clan's senior Guardians. You were lucky to have him as your inducer."

"I'll be sure to send him a thank-you card. 'Thanks for the bite, big guy. Your venom is top shelf.'" He narrowed his eyes at her. "Have you ever tried his venom?"

"Magnus is my cousin." She cast him a glare. "Fates, you really don't have a filter, do you?"

"Had one once. Didn't like it. Returned it for store credit."

She stood, smoothing down her scrubs. "You need to rest. Your body needs all the energy it can get for the transition. I'll be back in an hour to see how you're doing."

He didn't want her to leave.

"Will you be my nurse for the duration of my transition?"

"Why? Are you trying to see if the other nurse is hotter than me?"

"That's impossible. I'm trying to figure out how long I have to impress you with my sparkling personality."

"Well, aren't you presumptuous?"

"I prefer optimistic."

She opened the door. "One hour, Tim. Do something about your persistent condition before I get back."

"It's a medical marvel," he called after her. "They should study it for science."

Her laughter echoed down the hallway as the door closed behind her, leaving him alone with his thoughts and his extremely inconvenient physical response to the most gorgeous and fascinating woman he'd ever met.

He stared at the ceiling, trying to process everything that had just happened.

He was transitioning into an immortal. His body was apparently rewriting itself from the ground up.

He had tubes in places that tubes should never go.

And somehow, despite all of that, he'd just had the most engaging conversation he'd had in years with a woman who looked like she'd stepped out of his fantasies and talked like she'd stepped out of his most naughty dreams.

The universe, Tim decided, had a seriously twisted sense of humor.

But for once in his life, he wasn't complaining.

He closed his eyes, trying to will his body to calm down before Hildegard returned.

No pressure.

No pressure at all.