Wilson grabbed his shoulder and squeezed. “This isn’t your fault. It’s the Slains.” He must have seen something on Cam’s face.
Cam clenched his jaw and nodded. “I’ll try to keep that in mind.”
They walked toward the entrance of the building, the cool air on his face.
“I didn’t know the Slains would have us surrounded and be monitoring our traffic so closely.” Cam’s voice sounded distant. He focused his gaze on Lissa’s pack, not meeting Wilson’s eyes. Cam was afraid he might unravel if met with too much sympathy. “I’m going to wait.” He couldn’t lose her when they’d just found each other.
“Why now? I wonder,” said Captain Wilson, drumming his fingers against his thigh while the other held open the door.
Cam stopped. “What do you mean?” His voice was sharp as a blade.
“You came back months ago. Did she wait to travel in the spring, or did something send her on the road looking for you?”
Cam hadn’t consideredwhyshe’d appeared. He’d just been thankful she was alive. He swallowed. The crates at Fort Robinson meant the Slains might have plans there too. Maybe her home was in danger, and she’d come to him for help or refuge. He resumed walking. Hopefully she would be okay, and he could ask her the reason for her journey when she woke after surgery. Wilson was right, she wouldn’t have left her cats behind without cause.
***
After her successful surgery, the doctor let Cam sit with the unconscious Lissa in Recovery. They’d assured him that post-surgery, her vitals were stable even if they didn’t know when she might wake. They’d given her a blood transfusion, and she still had an IV tube attached to the back of her hand. Despite the transfusion, her skin remained pale as chalk.
His heart swelled at the prospect of getting an opportunity to take care of her, not just to repay his debt, but because he cared. He hauled his chair beside the hospital bed and took hericy hand into his much larger, warm one. Yawning, he glanced at the clock. 4:30 a.m. He’d been awake all night, something he hadn’t done in years. His eyelids drooped as he settled in to wait, hoping everything would be okay when she woke.
Twice he nodded off, his head jerking up, before he shifted closer, scraping his chair against the floor. He laid his head on the edge of her bed near her lap. He’d just rest his eyes for a few minutes.
Some time later, Cam returned to awareness. From the crick in his neck, he must have slept for longer than planned. He lifted his head, his gaze switching to Lissa at once. With an ear-splitting yawn, he sat up, stretching his sore neck. He rubbed at the stiffness and picked up her hand again. He couldn’t seem to stop touching her, as if to remind himself she was actually here. In xTerra. With him.
Her eyelids fluttered open, and her amber eyes met his startled gaze. “I wondered how long you’d sleep,” Lissa said, her voice barely more than a whisper. Tears slid down her cheeks.
“You’re alive.” He grinned, unable to contain his joy. “What did the doctor say?”
“I haven’t spoken to anyone,” she said, wiping the tears with the back of her hand. “I was letting you rest.”
“Are you crying because you’re sad or because you’re hurt?” He was touched she’d let him sleep, but he wanted to be the one taking care of her this time.
Her eyes widened, her gaze serious. “I’m relieved I found you. There’s something you need to know.”
He pressed a kiss to her palm. “I missed you. Last night, you terrified me. I wasn’t sure you’d survive. How did you end up shot?”
“I encountered a jeep full of men yesterday afternoon. I ran for hours. At dusk, I was exhausted and tried to hide, hoping they’d give up in the dark. I scaled some boulders, and it almostworked. One of them gambled, climbed up, and took a few random shots. One ricocheted and hit me, but they didn’t realize because I kept quiet and didn’t move.”
She must have been in agonizing pain.
“A flare recalled them, and they left. It wasn’t easy getting down, but I knew if I made it to xTerra, and to you, everything would be okay.” The trust in her gorgeous eyes meant the world.
He swallowed the lump in his throat. He didn’t deserve her trust after giving the Slains an opportunity to hurt her. “I should get a doctor. Then I’ll come back.”
Wide-eyed, she shook her head. “Wait. The reason I came. I have important news. I need you to find someone in charge. The Slains are planning to bomb your walls and invade.”
Chapter 21: Lissa
Lissa sat up straighter in the hospital bed, smoothing the pale blue blanket draped across her legs. She folded her hands together, and then unclasped them, unable to keep still. Too much was riding on the imminent discussion. She pressed down on the bed beside her, flattening her palms against the fuzzy blanket to keep from fidgeting. The sterile room had the scent of cleaner, underlaid with a faint hint of something sour, like many hospitals and clinics. Maybe that was contributing to her nerves.
She exhaled and checked the clock on the side table. Cam should be back any time with the mayor and his Watch captain.
She’d told Cam a condensed version of what she’d overheard at Fort Robinson before he’d rushed off to collect his superiors. Half an hour later, she’d received a message sent via a nurse that he would bring people to speak with her at noon. She swallowed and stared at the clock. One more minute. She wasn’t much of a talker and even then, she wasn’t accustomed to being the focus of attention for several people at once. Especially strangers.
Right on time, from down the Medical Center’s hall, Cam’s voice floated through her open door. She squared her shoulders while her long-unused public persona slid into place—the mask slipping on as it always had, just like riding a bike.
He appeared in her open doorway, flashing a quick smile, which she took as reassurance. “Ready?”
