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.It was a complete reversal from the last time we’d “slepttogether.”I draped one arm across his waist, and he twined his fingers with mine.I lay awake for a while, listening to him breathe, wondering if this was alwe’d ever have.Quiet moments of recovery, scattered among skirmishes and double-crossings and the threat of impending war.One hour ofpeace every couple of hel ish days.My body had craved his touch since the moment of our first contact six days ago.This new body that I was stil trying to understand, ful ofsensations and memories I had to reconcile with my own.It made my attraction to Wyatt as exciting as it was terrifying.I wanted to love him, but Ididn’t know how.And I stil couldn’t convince myself it was worth it.He had died that night at Olsmil , and it had shattered me.What if, the next time, death stuck?Wyatt grunted softly, and I loosened my grip, unaware I’d held on so tight.“What is it?” he whispered, voice raspy with sleep.“Nothing.” I kissed the back of his neck.“You rest.”“Hard to if you keep doing that.”I smiled and kissed the same spot, just below his short hair.“Doing what?” I asked, and planted another.He squirmed, his breathing a bit erratic.“I mean it.And the fact that you’re practical y naked over there isn’t helping.”I ceased teasing.“I’m sorry.”“It’s okay.”No, it’s not.But thanks for trying.He drew my hand up and kissed the knuckles.I settled my head back against the pil ow, holding him.Glad to have him for a while.And for a while, it was enough.Chapter EighteenSunday, 3:37 P.M.The chicken broth went down easily, and I managed to negotiate for three plain crackers.Wyatt was kind enough to eat his ham sandwich in thehal way, out of sight and out of scent.We were in the process of some steady hobbling around the bedroom, with me in Jenner’s bathrobe, whenPhin popped back in.“I have to leave,” he said.I nodded.“As soon as you know something—”“I’l cal.” He left again before I could reply.Saying “Good luck” would have been redundant anyway.I had to trust him.Stabbing aside, he’d kepthis promises.I just hated being left behind.“Think we can get these bandages off?” I asked Wyatt.“It’s hard to know if my knee can bear weight with it wrapped up so tight.”“Yeah, go sit.”He retrieved a pair of scissors from the nightstand while I plunked back down on the bed.The bandages kept my legs almost completely straight,and I was eager to make sure the bones had healed right.If they hadn’t and something went down tonight, I’d be hard-pressed to help.Wyatt knelt in front of me and raised my right leg so that my heel rested on his thigh.Inch by inch, he cut through, revealing pink skin mottled bythe tight pressure of the bandages.Up past my knee to where it ended mid-thigh.I flexed, feeling only a little pul as taut muscles started to loosen.Ibent the knee, twisted the ankle, and put my foot flat on the floor.“So far, so good,” I said.“Left leg.”He repeated the pattern, and on the surface, my left leg looked the same as my right.I moved my ankle first this time.Then lifted, bending gentlyat the knee.No pain.I bent it farther, drawing my thigh completely to my chest, stretching out the calf and thigh muscles.He stood and steppedback, offering his hand.I ignored him and stood up.The gentlest twinge crawled through my left knee, but it didn’t buckle.No more aching, no more pain.“Wel ?” Wyatt asked.“Good as new.”“Just don’t push yourself too hard.”I couldn’t help it.I started laughing.He scowled.“What?”“Don’t push myself too hard? You realize you’re talking to me, right?”“You mean tel ing you to be careful is like teaching a cat to read?”“Exactly.”He started laughing along with me, and the euphoria felt great.A release of tension and worry I hadn’t had in a while.It started in my gut andspread outward, from toes to fingertips.Tears trickled down my cheeks.I laughed so hard I lost my balance and flopped onto the bed, gasping forair.“You need to laugh like this more often,” Wyatt said, sitting next to me.I tried desperately to sober myself.“Why’s that?”“Because you’re beautiful when you do.”That worked better than a bucket of ice water.The giddiness disappeared, replaced by embarrassment at his compliment.He wiped the tearsoff my cheeks with the back of his hand.Traced a finger down to my chin.Tilted my face up.I gazed into smoldering eyes that sparkled with love.His mouth drew down toward mine, warm breath whispering over my lips—A sharp knock on the door took that warmth away, and we both looked up.Nothing happened.Supposing they were waiting for permission, Isaid, “Come in.”Michael Jenner stepped inside wearing baggy blue jeans and a brown T-shirt, with white socks on otherwise bare feet.The picture of comfortwas so far removed from the uptight lawyer I’d met twice before.He even smiled, and it made his face look ten years younger.“Ms.Stone,” he said.“You look wel.”“Almost a hundred percent.” I stil leaned into Wyatt, and it was obvious what we’d been attempting.Wyatt, for his part, also remained where hewas, unashamed at being caught.If anything, he drew closer to me, almost protectively.He obviously didn’t trust Jenner much.“Your healing abilities were not exaggerated.”“Yeah, they come in handy once in a while.” I cleared my throat.“Thank you, Mr.Jenner.For this.”He nodded.“I may have hidden it, being not my place to influence the Assembly, but I did believe you.I do believe you.I only hope tonight’saudience swings in your favor.”“Tonight’s audience?” My heart sped up, anticipating his response.“You’ve been summoned to appear before the Assembly of Clan Elders to present your case.”I very nearly leapt across the room and hugged him.Only the vaguest notion of propriety reined me in.“When?”“One hour.I’l drive you.”I shot to my feet; the briefest needle poked my knee.“Does Phin know?”“I only just received the cal , and Phineas is required elsewhere.He’l be absent from the Assembly, but his opinion is wel documented and shalbe voiced again by me [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]
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.It was a complete reversal from the last time we’d “slepttogether.”I draped one arm across his waist, and he twined his fingers with mine.I lay awake for a while, listening to him breathe, wondering if this was alwe’d ever have.Quiet moments of recovery, scattered among skirmishes and double-crossings and the threat of impending war.One hour ofpeace every couple of hel ish days.My body had craved his touch since the moment of our first contact six days ago.This new body that I was stil trying to understand, ful ofsensations and memories I had to reconcile with my own.It made my attraction to Wyatt as exciting as it was terrifying.I wanted to love him, but Ididn’t know how.And I stil couldn’t convince myself it was worth it.He had died that night at Olsmil , and it had shattered me.What if, the next time, death stuck?Wyatt grunted softly, and I loosened my grip, unaware I’d held on so tight.“What is it?” he whispered, voice raspy with sleep.“Nothing.” I kissed the back of his neck.“You rest.”“Hard to if you keep doing that.”I smiled and kissed the same spot, just below his short hair.“Doing what?” I asked, and planted another.He squirmed, his breathing a bit erratic.“I mean it.And the fact that you’re practical y naked over there isn’t helping.”I ceased teasing.“I’m sorry.”“It’s okay.”No, it’s not.But thanks for trying.He drew my hand up and kissed the knuckles.I settled my head back against the pil ow, holding him.Glad to have him for a while.And for a while, it was enough.Chapter EighteenSunday, 3:37 P.M.The chicken broth went down easily, and I managed to negotiate for three plain crackers.Wyatt was kind enough to eat his ham sandwich in thehal way, out of sight and out of scent.We were in the process of some steady hobbling around the bedroom, with me in Jenner’s bathrobe, whenPhin popped back in.“I have to leave,” he said.I nodded.“As soon as you know something—”“I’l cal.” He left again before I could reply.Saying “Good luck” would have been redundant anyway.I had to trust him.Stabbing aside, he’d kepthis promises.I just hated being left behind.“Think we can get these bandages off?” I asked Wyatt.“It’s hard to know if my knee can bear weight with it wrapped up so tight.”“Yeah, go sit.”He retrieved a pair of scissors from the nightstand while I plunked back down on the bed.The bandages kept my legs almost completely straight,and I was eager to make sure the bones had healed right.If they hadn’t and something went down tonight, I’d be hard-pressed to help.Wyatt knelt in front of me and raised my right leg so that my heel rested on his thigh.Inch by inch, he cut through, revealing pink skin mottled bythe tight pressure of the bandages.Up past my knee to where it ended mid-thigh.I flexed, feeling only a little pul as taut muscles started to loosen.Ibent the knee, twisted the ankle, and put my foot flat on the floor.“So far, so good,” I said.“Left leg.”He repeated the pattern, and on the surface, my left leg looked the same as my right.I moved my ankle first this time.Then lifted, bending gentlyat the knee.No pain.I bent it farther, drawing my thigh completely to my chest, stretching out the calf and thigh muscles.He stood and steppedback, offering his hand.I ignored him and stood up.The gentlest twinge crawled through my left knee, but it didn’t buckle.No more aching, no more pain.“Wel ?” Wyatt asked.“Good as new.”“Just don’t push yourself too hard.”I couldn’t help it.I started laughing.He scowled.“What?”“Don’t push myself too hard? You realize you’re talking to me, right?”“You mean tel ing you to be careful is like teaching a cat to read?”“Exactly.”He started laughing along with me, and the euphoria felt great.A release of tension and worry I hadn’t had in a while.It started in my gut andspread outward, from toes to fingertips.Tears trickled down my cheeks.I laughed so hard I lost my balance and flopped onto the bed, gasping forair.“You need to laugh like this more often,” Wyatt said, sitting next to me.I tried desperately to sober myself.“Why’s that?”“Because you’re beautiful when you do.”That worked better than a bucket of ice water.The giddiness disappeared, replaced by embarrassment at his compliment.He wiped the tearsoff my cheeks with the back of his hand.Traced a finger down to my chin.Tilted my face up.I gazed into smoldering eyes that sparkled with love.His mouth drew down toward mine, warm breath whispering over my lips—A sharp knock on the door took that warmth away, and we both looked up.Nothing happened.Supposing they were waiting for permission, Isaid, “Come in.”Michael Jenner stepped inside wearing baggy blue jeans and a brown T-shirt, with white socks on otherwise bare feet.The picture of comfortwas so far removed from the uptight lawyer I’d met twice before.He even smiled, and it made his face look ten years younger.“Ms.Stone,” he said.“You look wel.”“Almost a hundred percent.” I stil leaned into Wyatt, and it was obvious what we’d been attempting.Wyatt, for his part, also remained where hewas, unashamed at being caught.If anything, he drew closer to me, almost protectively.He obviously didn’t trust Jenner much.“Your healing abilities were not exaggerated.”“Yeah, they come in handy once in a while.” I cleared my throat.“Thank you, Mr.Jenner.For this.”He nodded.“I may have hidden it, being not my place to influence the Assembly, but I did believe you.I do believe you.I only hope tonight’saudience swings in your favor.”“Tonight’s audience?” My heart sped up, anticipating his response.“You’ve been summoned to appear before the Assembly of Clan Elders to present your case.”I very nearly leapt across the room and hugged him.Only the vaguest notion of propriety reined me in.“When?”“One hour.I’l drive you.”I shot to my feet; the briefest needle poked my knee.“Does Phin know?”“I only just received the cal , and Phineas is required elsewhere.He’l be absent from the Assembly, but his opinion is wel documented and shalbe voiced again by me [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]