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Silence. Then -
"I can't believe you're still defending her," a third, softer, feminine voice jumped into the mix. Eva, this time.
"I'm not defending her," Owen replied. "But Salina obviously needs help. "
"Oh yeah," Finn sniped. "She
needs help in the form of a bullet to the head - nothing else. "
All the voices started talking at once, arguing with each other. I sighed, wondering how long my friends, family, and lover had been fighting. Probably since they'd brought me here. I glanced over at the window. Morning sunlight was creeping through the curtains, warming the entire room, and the clock by the bed read eight thirteen. We'd gone up to Cooper's about four o'clock yesterday afternoon, which meant I'd been in bed for more than twelve hours. Not surprising. Air magic always took a toll on you mentally as your brain tried to catch up to the fact that your body was well once more. Plus, I'd gotten my ass kicked. I still needed a few more hours' sleep to really be myself again.
The voices continued arguing, telling me it was time to rise and shine, whether I felt like it or not. I sighed again, threw back the covers, sat up, and realized I wasn't alone.
Kincaid was there with me.
The casino boss sat in a chair in the corner, reading one of Jo-Jo's beauty magazines. He looked up at the sound of me stirring in the bed.
"Getting some tips on how to keep your ponytail looking all nice and shiny?" I quipped.
He put the magazine on the table by his elbow. "Well, I always like to look my best. Apparently, it's all about which conditioner you use. "
We fell silent. Kincaid sat there studying me, and I did the same to him. Instead of his usual suit, he'd dressed down today in a pair of black jeans, boots, and an expensive gray polo shirt that stretched across his shoulders.
"Welcome back," he said, for once without a trace of sarcasm in his voice.
"I suppose I have you to thank for that. "
He nodded. "I saw you take off into the woods after Salina so I chased after you while Owen stayed with Cooper. I had an idea of where she would go. "
"The creek. "
He nodded again. "The creek. Salina used to spend hours there sitting by the water when we were younger and Owen was busy working with Cooper. She saw me coming and took off through the trees, and I realized you were in the bottom of the creek. I'd just started to wade in to try and get you out when this silver light erupted out of the water, and the whole creek froze over, like it was the dead of winter instead of early May. "
Kincaid gave me a calculating look, and I knew he was thinking about my magic and what he'd seen me do with it. But I didn't volunteer any more information about my power. That was my business, not his. Especially when I still wasn't sure whether or not I could trust him. Kincaid might have saved my life, but he had his own reasons for doing so - like me killing Salina for him.
"Then what?"
He shrugged. "I saw you there under all that elemental Ice, and I saw you blasting it again and again with your magic, trying to break free. I thought you were going to make it on your own. You got one hand loose and up into the air, but then it just sort of flopped there on top of the Ice. So I fished you out, dragged you up the bank, and did CPR. "
I looked at his shoulders and at the muscles in his arms. "Guess that extra strength you have came in handy. "
He shrugged. "You were right before. I don't know who or what my parents were. Maybe dwarves, maybe giants, maybe one of each. But I'm strong, and I use it to my advantage. "
"Thank you," I said. "You saved my life. "
He shifted in his chair, seeming uncomfortable with my thanks. "Just returning the favor you did me a few nights ago. "
"I guess that makes us even then. "
He didn't say anything, but for the first time, a hint of a real smile softened his face.
Below us, the voices kept arguing.
I jerked my head at the bedroom door. "What's all that about?"
Kincaid sighed. "Just Owen being Owen. "
"Is he still defending Salina?"
