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“Don’t kill him. We can use him as bait. Owen rescued him before and may again.”
“You sound just like the others.”
Which reminded me. “How are Janco and Onora doing?”
“They’re bickering like brother and sister.”
In other words, fine. “Reema and Devlen?”
“Devlen is coordinating with the authorities. Reema is safe in Ixia with Ari. And before you ask, Kiki is impatiently waiting for you in the local inn’s stable.”
Good. I told Valek about Owen’s confidence regarding the Commander’s continuing support. “Maybe something growing in the hothouse.”
“Leif’s already compiling an inventory of the plants.”
And what he couldn’t identify, our father would know. “There might be more of those hothouses in Sitia. This isn’t the end.”
“It never is.”
Depressing but true. “I’m sorry.”
“Nothing you can do about it. It’s the way of the world.”
“No. I’m sorry for not telling you about...you know. I didn’t want to worry you.”
Valek pulled the glass from my grip, set it on the table, then took both my hands in his. “When we’re apart, I worry about you. Even when I know you’re fine and doing some boring research for Bain or visiting your parents, I worry. Even though you are more than capable of taking care of yourself, I worry.”
“I was capable.”
“You still are. Owen couldn’t break you.”
“If it wasn’t for you, he would have. Your voice gave me the strength.”
“You used your own strength. I just reminded you that it was already within you.”
I didn’t know if I agreed with him or not. “Then it’s a good thing you showed up in time. How did you find us?”
“Later. You need your rest.”
He leaned in and kissed me lightly on the lips then tried to let go of my hands.
I wouldn’t release him. “Stay.”
“All right.”
I scooched over, making room on the bed. Valek kicked off his boots, removed a number of weapons and then stretched next to me. I snuggled against him, breathing in his scent. Safe and warm. My eyes drifted shut.
“Yelena?”
“Hmm?”
“I’d like you to stay with me while we figure out how to unblock your magic. We’re stronger together.”
“All right.”
He laughed. “I thought I’d have more of a fight.”
“I’m too tired to argue.”
“Then I should take advantage of the situation.”
I cracked one eye open. “And?”
“I’d like you to stay with me forever.”
My heart jolted with surprise. Wide-awake, I pushed up to my elbow. “Is that a proposal?” I demanded.
“Uh...no. Not at all. Because that would be very unromantic.”
“Right.”
“Guess I should find a better time and place?”
“There’s no guessing about it.”
* * *
The smell of wet dog intruded on my dreams. They weren’t the best dreams, but far better than the stink of damp puppy.
“Go away,” I said without opening my eyes.
“No,” Leif said.
An image of him crossing his arms and setting his square jaw formed in my mind. It’d be easier to get rid of a splinter driven deep under my skin than my brother. I opened my eyes. Sure enough, that Zaltana stubbornness stiffened his posture. He held a cup of steaming liquid—wet-dog tea.
“If that’s your idea of a peace offering, then I’m going to declare war,” I said.
“Valek has charged me with your care. Since you haven’t been eating, you need to drink this to regain your strength.” He handed it to me.
It had been a couple of days since I last woke, but my body still ached, I had no energy and my stomach remained unsettled. The encounter with Owen had left me feeling raw and exposed. Even the blankets chafed against my skin. Sunlight reflected off the window’s glass.
I sipped the tea. It tasted better than it smelled. “Happy? Now go away.”
Leif stayed by my bed. “Yelena, how many times do I need to apologize? I was following orders and you were going to put yourself in harm’s way.”
“That’s what I do. It’s my job so others like Reema are safe.”
“I agree. Except now you need to be more cautious and have backup.”
I changed the subject and asked about the plants in the hothouse.
“The ones I recognized all have medicinal applications, but there’re a few that I can’t identify. Father’s coming to help.”
“Are any of them like Curare, with extraordinary properties?”
“Valek asked about that, too. They’re good for fevers and coughs and constipation. Nothing significant. Maybe our father will discover what Owen was talking about.”
“Can you ask him about my problem? He might know if a poison caused it.”
“Does this mean you forgive me?”
I huffed. “Oh, all right, but only because you’re my brother.”
“Gee, Yelena, don’t get all mushy on me.”
“You’ll talk to Father?”
“Of course. Now finish your tea.”
Holding my breath, I managed another swallow. “How did you know we were here?”
Leif plopped into the chair next to my bed. “After realizing we’d been duped, we trudged back to Fulgor with our tails between our legs. Captain Alden pounced as soon as we arrived, and Hale and I hightailed it back to the Second Chance Inn. I talked to the staff, visited the Clever Fox stables and followed your scent.”
“My scent?”
“It’s hard for me to explain as it’s not really a smell, but rather a primal certainty that you went in a certain direction. Plus Rusalka and Garnet acted as if they knew where they were going. Opal said the Sandseed horses think of us as part of their herd, and they’re very protective of the members of their herd.”
Leif chatted until I finished my tea. My stomach growled with hunger for the first time in days. My brother jumped to his feet and hurried to fetch me a bowl of soup.
Janco arrived with the promised bowl.
“I see your talents are being put to good use,” I teased.
“Real funny.” He handed it to me.
I sniffed it. Chicken noodle. Yum.
Janco settled into the chair. “You look better. When Valek carried you up here, I’d thought I’d have to get a shovel and start digging.”
“Thanks, I think. How about you? How’re the ribs?”
“Tender.”
“And your head?”
He scowled. “Other than feeling like my brain has been sliced and diced, fed to a cat and horked out along with a giant hair ball, I’m peachy.”
“So back to normal?”
“Normal? I think I’ve lost track of what normal feels like. Do you know what I want for my birthday?”
“For magic to disappear forever?”
“You know me so well.”
“You may have your wish. Whatever is blocking my magic might be the next weapon against magicians. In the hands of the wrong people, they could make magic disappear forever.”
