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“It wouldn’t be right if you didn’t.”
Blade knew the moment that she was back on the mountain. He felt the disturbance in the molecules of the already brisk wind, even through the rock wall of the cave, and his only thought was…
Please, no.
Sitting on the bedding platform, he knew the reason she had come, but as he checked his watch, he saw that she was early—and he worried that he was going to have to congratulate her and pretend that he was fine. That everything had worked out as it should be. That the future was bright becauseit was assured, and optimism was the sun that outshone the moonlight.
The reality was that he was sitting here in his red robing, like a young scolded for bad behavior, his hands twisting with torment in his lap.
Because her hello was his goodbye.
As the footfalls in the tight throat of the cave grew louder, his emotions got turned up even further in volume. For a male, and asymphathat that, he found the inner quaking very unpleasant, but when the center of the chest was affected, one had no choice except to ride the wave. The truism of “everywhere you go, there you are” was never more apt than when the wolven you loved was going to mate another—
Blade jumped to his feet. “Oh, it’s… you.”
As Xhex stepped into the open area, she crossed her arms and then eased into a lean on the cave’s granite wall. With her gun belt on, and the knife strapped to her thigh, she was as close to being in wedding attire as any fighter was willing to get.
At least she was not in white, he thought with a surge of fondness.
“Expecting someone else?” she murmured.
But that wasn’t really a question. His sister knew who he’d thought it would be.
“Here early for the festivities?” he asked. “Is yourhellrenwith you?”
“He’s on his way.” Those wise, gunmetal gray eyes dropped to the bag that was by the end of the bedding platform. “Going somewhere?”
He nodded. “I rather thought I would take a vacation.”
“Where to?”
“Here or there. Everywhere.”
After a stretch of silence, she shook her head. “You’re not coming back, are you.”
A lie would be easier, but he owed her better than that. “No. But I think my presence is best… in other places.”
“Were you going to say goodbye?”
“To her… or you.”
“Both. Either.”
Blade bent down and picked up the bag. It was not that heavy. He had been given some clothes by Daniel, and indeed, he was currently dressed in a pair of the man’s blue jeans and a parka that was very warm and soft. The wardrobe donations had been delivered by the doctor, Gus St. Claire, who, having operated quite competently on Blade’s abdominal perforation on the black-and-white marble flooring of that foyer, had become a bit of a friend: During Blade’s recovery up here, following his transfer from that house, the two had enjoyed fine conversation about a variety of topics.
He would miss that.
Focusing properly on Xhex, he resolved that he would miss a lot of people, and opening his mouth to speak, he… found he did not have the words.
“It’s okay,” she said softly. “I don’t take it personally. And I’ll tell her when she comes up here.”
“What will you say?”
“What you would have, if you were here.”
As their eyes met, he knew she was reading his grid. He did not return the imposition. He already knew that his sister was healed—he could tell just by the way she held herself with such calm ease. She was truly at peace. Finally.
Funny, he had intended toahvengeher by blowing up all those labs. But the true balance had come not from the explosions, but from her knowing the truth of what he had been doing. That loyalty and revenge had brought her back.
