e Shaff

n only by the gentle lapping of thermal water ag

his slate-gray eyes sharpened into a lethality that made the hair on the

bled, his voice dropping

side, my stance balanced. "The tremor in your righ

o-toxicity. A concentrated blend of Crotalus venom and bell

closer to the edg

ct. It mimics lower-body paralysis perfectly, but within another six months, the

he saddle, Calhoun. You'll

tching the faint medicinal dr

h your daily physical therapy. Someone you trust

ng steam. Not a muscle in his sculpted torso twitched. He was

dark, humorless smi

Shaffer,"

tightened fractionall

railing over me with surgical precision. "The stray girl wh

agnosing a five-year medical assassination f

his assessment. "You broke into my sanctuary. P

parcel was bought six months ago through an offshore trust with masked routing numbers out of the Caym

ly tattooed arms over his bare chest. Water dripped fro

using this spring for three weeks to clear the burning in my legs. I assum

yone," I replied coldly.

reed, dismissive. "He put a ten-thousand

e highways for you as we speak. But you don't s

ke care o

efying the mechanical chair beneath him. "Or maybe you haven't realized that the people backing Dale aren't interested in bringing y

wheelchair rims, his gaze

that know medicine, and eyes that see through poison. Put on

ounty hunter will dare breathe in your direction.

ong moment, then let ou

hook my head, disgust lacing my tone. "I sp

of a crippled king who can't even keep his o

ord crippled with

sidian. The temperature plummeted. He looked at me as though he w

patience, little

o die, Mr. President," I replied, turning