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“Not a chance,” I assured her. “But sometimes it helps me to remember that because it gives me hope that there’s still a good future out there. If we can convince them we aren’t so bad, that they don’t have to fear us, well, there might be a better tomorrow, then.”
She shifted her hand, that shaking causing her to stick the needle into her finger. She hissed and brought the bleeding wound to her lips, a grimace there and a shine to her blue eyes that said she held back tears.
Bowen appeared in front of us so quickly I hadn’t realized he’d even moved before he dropped to one knee in front of Soshi. He took her hand in his, a reminder of how much larger he was than her. “You need to be more careful,” he gently scolded her as he peered at the welling drop of blood. “I won’t always be here, you know.”
That made her bottom lip tremble just as Bowen blew a breath across the wound, the skin knitting back together before my eyes.
As soon as her finger healed, Soshi tore her hand away and bolted, a glimpse of those tears she’d held back running down her face before she disappeared through the door.
Bowen sighed, still on his knee. “She doesn’t like the idea of me not being here.”
“She’s already lost a lot,” I guessed. “I don’t think she can stand the idea of losing anyone else.”
“Maybe,” Bowen agreed, “but she doesn’t have the luxury of pretending about life.”
“Is it pretending? I’m pretty sure she knows exactly what could happen. She’s just not willing to let it cause her pain now because later, when it does happen, it’ll hurt enough.”
Bowen tilted his head as he stared at me. “You’re not as stupid as you look.”
“I get that a lot. In reality, it’s just that I changed when I was even younger than her. It’s different when you’re that age. I find the younger they change, the better adjusted they are to this life later, though. Silver lining, huh?”
Bowen rose, brushing off his knees. “Probably true. I doubt it’s much of a reassurance to her at this point, but it makes me feel a little better.”
“You might be the first person who has ever felt better after talking to me.”
Bowen chuckled then nodded toward where Hera, Brax and Knox all sat. “Come and take a seat.”
I sighed but forced myself to follow. I’d take sitting and talking to kids over hearing adults argue any day of the week.
Knox
The speed with which Bowen moved forced me to acknowledge him in a new and wholly unwelcomed way. It was easy to think of him as just a house spirit, as something cute and innocent, but each time he did anything, he made it clear that he went far beyond that simplistic description.
He had helped Hera, though. Even if I might have been tempted to remove him—especially because he knew about us and could turn us into Larkwood if he wanted to—him saving her made me begrudgingly allow him to live.
At least for now.
“Not that I’m rushing you, but just how long do you plan to stay?” His words proved he was rushing us.
Which was fine by me. The quicker we could get out of here, the better. While he seemed willing to help us for a short time, I couldn’t shake the feeling that he’d turn on us if it served him better.
“Tonight,” Brax said. “We’ll get out of here before the sun’s up. We’ll need a few hours to make sure we’re ready. Fair?”
Bowen nodded. “Fair enough to me. In fact, I’ll offer you a vehicle to make it a quicker process, and we will remove your bands. You can eat, rest for a while then get packed up. I’m thankful to Hera for her help, but I’m sure you can understand why I might not want the sort of scrutiny you all are under to upset our lives here anymore than it needs to.”
I nodded, sitting back in the chair that rounded the large table. “Understandable. You’ve got enough on your plate.”
He rose from his seat. “I wish you all the best of the luck, and if I can give you some advice—head north. People are far friendlier to our type in that direction.” With that, he nodded and took off.
Brax stood next, the same tension he’d had since we’d arrived wearing on him. “I’m going to take a better look around.” No doubt, by that, he meant that he’d find all entrances and exits as well as scoping out all weaknesses and potential strongholds. Brax’s berserker side was always on alert for danger, always expecting a fight, which meant when somewhere unfamiliar—especially when surrounded by people he didn’t know or trust—he’d find himself eased by making preparations.
There just wasn’t any getting around that.
After he left, Wade peered slowly between Hera and I, then muttered out a half-assed excuse about needing to count cactus spines before he went as well.
Which left Hera and I alone in the room, the first time we’d been alone in what felt like years.
And that gnawing hunger inside me roused at her closeness. It had grown since before the escape, since Wade had put that side of me asleep and I’d lost myself in Hera’s warmth.
