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.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 the hallway, 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, when Phin popped back in.“I have to leave,” he said.I nodded.“As soon as you know something—”“I’ll call.” He left again before I could reply.Saying “Good luck” would have been redundant anyway.I had to trust him.Stabbing aside, he’d kept his 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 by the tight pressure of the bandages.Up past my knee to where it ended mid-thigh.I flexed, feeling only a little pull as taut muscles started to loosen.I bent 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 gently at 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 stepped back, 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.“Well?” 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 telling 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 and spread outward, from toes to fingertips.Tears trickled down my cheeks.I laughed so hard I lost my balance and flopped onto the bed, gasping for air.“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 tears off 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, I said, “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 comfort was 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 well.”“Almost a hundred percent.” I still leaned into Wyatt, and it was obvious what we’d been attempting.Wyatt, for his part, also remained where he was, 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’s audience 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’ll drive you.”I shot to my feet; the briefest needle poked my knee.“Does Phin know?”“I only just received the call, and Phineas is required elsewhere.He’ll be absent from the Assembly, but his opinion is well documented and shall be voiced again by me.”“Do you think I can convince them?” Good God, was I doubting myself in front of Jenner? Seeking his approval?“You speak with passion, Evangeline.Like humans, Therians are guided by our emotions.We’re more alike than you think.”I was beginning to see that and more.I was also beginning to see how the Therians were a threat to other races.With larger numbers and more diverse personalities than vampires or goblins—and with distinctly less political power than the Fey—Therians were an uncontrollable element.They rarely attacked humans, so were rarely hunted by the Triads.And we knew next to nothing about them, as I was quickly learning.I also hadn’t forgotten his fairy-tale riddle, and, with gratitude and confidence spilling all over the room, it almost seemed like the right time to ask.Would he give me the answer? Probably not.Maybe after the Assembly ruled in my favor….An awkward silence had settled on the room.It was my turn to speak, but I had gone off into la-la land.I said the first non-riddle-related thing that came to mind.“I’m going to need clothes.”Jenner’s gaze flickered to Wyatt, who stood and opened a dresser drawer.Inside were neatly stacked and folded jeans, tops … Wait.“That’s the stuff I took from my apartment,” I said, thunderstruck.“How’d it get here? I left that bag in the stairwell at the factory.”“Phin found it last night,” Wyatt said.“He went back to see if he could track the gremlins to their new location, but no luck.The bag we tossed because it stank to high hell, but the clothes washed up.”“What about the photo and laptop?”He pulled the next drawer.Acrid air drifted up, and I peeked inside.One item on top of another.The photo was facedown, but I had memorized the image the first day I saw it.As I stared, heart swelling with gratitude, a thought struck me.Something I’d been missing recently without realizing.“Wyatt, do you still have the ne—”He dangled it in front of me, the silver cross flashing in the room’s lamplight.I hooked the chain around my finger, amazed at my attachment to the simple trinket.Part of it was Chalice’s love for her dearly departed best friend; part of it was my own fondness for the man I’d known for just a few days.It was the only physical object in my life with a sentimental value.“I’ll let you dress,” Jenner said, and bowed out of the room.I put on the necklace.My fingers tangled in knotty hair.I knew I’d been sponged down and smelled pretty clean, but my hair seriously needed washing.I doubted the Assembly would care about my appearance; I just despised greasy hair.I changed into clean clothes without much thought to Wyatt’s presence, choosing the nicest of the pieces that I’d grabbed.Black jeans, white tank top, and button-down short-sleeved blouse [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]