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“Mmm, that’s better.”
They both chuckled. Aidyn pointed to her jacket. “Do you want to take your jacket off?”
“Not yet.”
“I thought I heard voices out here.”
Lara walked into the room looking beautiful and confident and like she belonged here. Of course she belonged. Lara stopped near her chair and held her hand out.
Elena lay her hand in Lara’s and they shook. This time she squeezed a little bit too and Lara smiled.
“It’s nice to meet you, Elena. I’m Lara.”
She nodded. “I know. You’re famous up there.”
Lara faltered on her way to sit on the other side of Tate. “Famous?”
“Everyone knows you’re Kent’s sister.”
Lara swallowed but said nothing and Elena was immediately sorry she said anything.
Lara leaned in then. “What happened to you Elena? Oh my God, is your face... Did someone hit you?”
Elena held her hand over the left side of her face and looked down at her lap.
Lara came over to her chair once again and kneeled down in front of her. She spun the chair so she faced Lara. “You don’t need to be embarrassed. I’m sorry I blurted it out like I did. I couldn’t see the bruising before. Do you need an ice pack? I have one.”
Before Elena could answer, Lara jumped up and strode to the refrigerator.
Elena’s breathing faltered and she wanted to leave. She stood and turned to Aidyn. “I should go. I’m causing trouble. I don’t mean to be trouble.”
Aidyn stood and stepped up to her. He wrapped her in his arms and rested his cheek on the top of her head. His voice was soft as he crooned, “You’re no trouble. You need assistance and we all want to help you.”
Lara came to her side. She held her hand out and pulled a towel open. “This is an ice pack. It will help reduce the swelling. The towel over it is to buffer your skin from the cold. Hold it against your cheek.”
She swallowed and held the ice against her cheek. It did feel better.
She sat again and tried to get her breathing under control.
Tate turned the papers on the table to her.
“Elena, these are maps of Hickory Hills. Can you show me on these maps where your house is?”
ChapterThirty-One
Aidyn watched with a proud heart as Elena pointed out places on the map at Tate’s request. After she pointed out where she brewed the elixir she asked, “Why do you need to know this?”
Aidyn turned her chair toward him. She lowered the ice pack and stared into his eyes. Hers were clear and alert despite the day she’d had brewing all day.
“Elena, we want to help you get down here for good.”
Her eyes filled with instant tears. “It’s dangerous.”
“Yes.” His fingers brushed her bruised cheek. “It’s dangerous for you as well.”
She stared into his eyes but said nothing. “Can you tell me what happened today?”
She swallowed and took a deep breath. “I told you I sassed at Craig.”
