I want to tell him not to go. But I know I can’t. I can’t do anything. I can’t even trust Gage.
“I’ll return you to the manor and then go.” He reaches down and wraps me up in the scratchy blanket.
“Valen.” I grip his wrist.
He closes his eyes, almost wincing. “What?”
“I need to stay here.”
“No.”
“Yes. I need the lab.”
“I’m not leaving you here withhim.”
“I think you made it clear that I’m off limits. The whole strangling thing definitely left a mark.”
“It would be clearer if I gutted him.”
“I need you to trust me.” I get up, the blanket still wrapped tightly around me.
“I trust you. I don’t trust him.” He turns his head quickly to the side. “Fuck! I must go.”
“I’ll be safe here. Promise. I’m going to Evie’s room right now. And in the morning, I’ll be in the lab. Gage has his own work or whatever it is he does. Don’t worry.”
“I always worry about you.” He glowers. “Especially when you run from me at your first chance.”
“I didn’trun!”
“I will always catch you.”
“Let me stay. Please. I have to do this. My friends are here, and we can work to save my people. You have to let me do what I can. That’s who I am. Youknowwho I am.”
“Obstinate human.” His eyes narrow. “If he touches you, I will kill him. I’m warning you,kedves verem. I obeyed your wish earlier, but I cannot make that promise again. I will end him.”
“He knows. I’m pretty sure everyone in this bunker knows after how loud we were.” I shake my head.
“Good.” He kisses me hard, clutching me tightly to him. When he lets me go, I keep my arms around him, lingering a little longer.
He presses a kiss to my hair. “I’ll return to you,kedves verem.”
“Please be careful.” I dread what Gregor might do to him. “Come back to me. Promise.”
“Always.” With that, he turns and strides to the door. When it won’t budge, he smashes the control panel and pulls it open. Pausing, he looks at me over his shoulder. “To Evie’s room, my Blood. Now. I’ll kill any man who sees you like this, so hurry if you care, but be assured that I do not.”
12
“You’ve lost weight.” Evie stares at the simple light green long-sleeve shirt and pants that I’ve belted to within an inch of my life. “A lot of it.”
I shrug. “Chic, right?”
She wrinkles her nose.
“Okay, so not that chic.”
“It’ll do for now. We’ll get you some better fitting stuff from the Quartermaster later.”
Our room is a simple cube with a few lockers and storage cubbies along one wall, two sets of bunk beds, and a small desk at the back. Small, but the bed wasn’t too uncomfortable, or perhaps I was just worn out from everything that happened yesterday. I’m definitely sore, and I don’t think it’s from the helicopter trip.
