"I am going to be immortal, but I am still a female, and if I want to be able to fight off a Brotherhood soldier, I need to learn how to do that."
"I can't teach you."
She blinked. "Why not?"
"Because I would not be a good teacher for you. I am too close. I would not throw you the way you need to be thrown to learn what a real attack feels like. The clan has a self-defense class. It is run by Kri, and it is designed for female immortals."
"Kri. I know who she is. She's nice."
"We can still train together," he said. "Work on strength and conditioning in the gym."
It was a compromise, and she was going to take it.
"That sounds like fun."
He looked relieved. "I'm glad that you like my plan."
"It makes sense." She waved a hand at the steamy shower. "I think it's ready."
He came over and helped her stand and then walked her to the shower where she could sit on a special chair while washing herself.
"Do you want me to wash you?" he asked.
"No, but I want you to stay in the bathroom."
"Of course I'll stay."
"Thank you."
An hour later, Arezoo was back in the hospital bed, wearing her yoga pants and a long T-shirt, and the room was full to bursting with her family.
Her mother was on her right, holding her right hand in both of hers, and Ruvon was on her left, holding her other hand.
Yasmin and Parisa were behind Soraya, Rana stood at the foot of the bed with one hand on Arezoo's blanket-covered foot, and Azadeh was wedged against the wall beside Donya and Laleh. Donya was filming on her phone.
Several of the cousins were standing in the open doorway. Jasmine was somewhere behind Yasmin. The rest of Rana's boys had been bribed into the waiting room with promises of pastries, and Arezoo could hear them out there laughing and arguing.
A commotion at the door announced new arrivals.
Kalugal stepped into the room with Jacki.
The cousins on the far side of the bed shuffled aside, and Donya and Laleh squeezed into the wall to make room.
"I hope you don't mind my intrusion," Kalugal said. "It seems like a family-only celebration."
"You are family," Ruvon said. "Thank you for coming."
The door opened again, and Julian came in carrying a small tray.
He stopped at the threshold and surveyed the room. "This is more people than can fit in here."
"And yet we are all here," Soraya said. "We are not going anywhere."
Julian chuckled. "All right. May I have access to the patient's hand?"
"You may."
Soraya squeezed Arezoo's right hand once and reluctantly let it go.
