Page 70 of Twist of Fate

Gomez’s eyebrows climbed. “Okay. That answered that.”

“It answered nothing,” Luke said.

“Well, your face answered several follow-up questions.”

“My face isn’t doing anything.”

“Your face is trying very hard not to do anything. There’s a difference.”

Luke reached for the water beside the bed and handed it to him. “Drink.”

Gomez accepted the glass. “Bossy. Glowing. Slightly rumpled. I’m building a compelling case.”

“I’m not glowing.”

One of the pixies flew closer to inspect Luke’s face. “A little.”

“Thank you, Fizzwick,” Gomez said. “You’re my current favorite.”

Luke gave the pixie a look. He darted back toward the tree, giggling.

Behind him, Connal made a sound suspiciously close to amusement.

Luke turned. “You’re enjoying this.”

“Yes.”

At least he was honest.

Heat rose beneath Luke’s skin as memories of the bathing chamber flooded his mind. He had spent years learning to keep his reactions from showing, yet Connal and Gomez had apparently destroyed that skill between them in less than a day.

Gomez took a long drink, watching Luke over the rim of the glass. When he lowered it, some of the teasing left his expression. “Seriously,” he said. “Are you okay?”

The question reached deeper than the teasing had.

Luke glanced at Connal. Nothing about the last hour had resolved the threat surrounding the drive or answered what the bond would eventually demand from either of them. Luke still had decisions to make that he wasn’t prepared to examine.

But Connal had listened and let Luke set the pace. That mattered.

“Yeah, I’m okay,” Luke said.

Gomez studied him before nodding. “Good.”

Luke took the empty glass and returned it to the table. “Now answer my question.”

“I feel like someone repaired my bones and forgot the part where the rest of me should have energy.” Gomez shifted against the pillows. “But nothing hurts. The healer said the weakness will pass.”

“And you’ve eaten?”

Every pixie in the room began talking at once.

Gomez lifted both hands. “I’ve eaten. Repeatedly. With exceptional supervision.”

Avaneel patted his arm. “He needs another pastry.”

“I always need another pastry.”

Luke checked the color in Gomez’s face and the steadiness of his breathing. Both had improved since the night before. Luke could still see the weakness in the subtle dimness behind Gomez’s eyes, but Gomez was safe and surrounded by creatures who seemed prepared to wage war against anyone who interfered with his recovery.