Enchanter (17 page)

Nicolas ran his hands over my thighs and down my legs. “There’s one break and a twisted ankle. I can heal both, but you’ll have to take it easy. Your balance will be off.”

“I’ll rest.”

“Good.” He smoothed around my calves and continued to work down until he’d encircled my feet. Bones popped and refused. His golden glow slowly diminished. “The healing is complete.” He rose to his full towering height. “But take care, as I said. You’ll be extremely sore for a few days.”

Compassion shone in his eyes.

“Thank you, Nicolas.” Now, that was something I never thought I’d say to a warrior.

And now, what did I say to Guy?

9

“You’re not to move.” Guy paced the short space at the end of the room after Nicolas had left. He shoved his tan shirtsleeves up.

“So far I haven’t.” I rubbed my achy chest. What could I do to calm him?

“How bad is the pain?” He knelt beside me.

“I can handle it, with some bed rest. You couldn’t whip to Earth and grab me some pain killers, could you?” Keeping him busy might help.

“I’ll do better than that. I’ll take you home. You should be with your family, not here amongst strangers.”

“You’re not a stranger, and I’ve got the girls’ problem to deal with.”

“You can deal with that after you’ve rested. Nicolas said a couple of days.” His pale blue gaze swept me from head to toe. “How could I have let this happen?”

“I heard him, but I should still stay.” I gripped his hand. “Please stop blaming yourself. This isn’t your fault.”

“On both those counts we disagree.” He scooped me up with the gentlest touch. “You’re going home. Enough damage has been done here. Close your eyes.”

“Can’t we at least talk about this?”

“We’ve already talked. Close your eyes or I’ll blindfold you.”

“You’re so obstinate.” Still, I squeezed my eyes shut.

“Thank you.”

“It wasn’t a compliment.”

“Keep your eyes shut.”

“I am.” Only as he ’ported, I couldn’t. I needed a way back in. One look. That’s all it would take so I had the image.

As we passed through the dome room, I memorized the space. Yuck. It was nothing like I’d imagined, although the smell was the same. So dark and dungeon-like. There weren’t even any doors, just four gloomy walls constructed of a gray-black brick with slabs of floor-stones in a dull gray-green. Aged cracks in the floor’s surface oozed with slimy green moss, and right there in the center, a well. It was no wonder not one protector had ever visualized this as the entry point. Even I couldn’t believe it. Not that I would ever reveal it. No one could know I held the knowledge. I slammed my eyes shut as we continued on.

“Here we are. Your room.” Guy’s voice rumbled over my head as we arrived.

I lifted my eyelids. “What do we do now?”

He walked to the bed and carefully laid me down. “What we discussed at the cliff. Our memories will sustain us.”

“What?” He couldn’t mean this was it.

“I had to get you out of Dralion without any argument. I’ll speak to Faith and make sure she’s aware you’re not going back in.”

“You can’t be serious?” He couldn’t leave me. Not now.

“You fell off a cliff, and then broke almost every bone in your body. It’s my job to keep you safe, not to see to your harm.”

“It wasn’t your fault I speed-jumped. I’d have rather it not been off a cliff, but you were there and brought a healer.”

“You have your own healers here, and you would have found a softer place to land had you been here.” He gripped my hands between his. “And now one of the leading eight is aware I’m mated. No more, Silvie. You’re not going back into Dralion.”

“You want to end things, just like that?”

“I’ve aided you as Faith foresaw.”

“I still have to get back there. I haven’t done what’s needed. I haven’t even gotten close.” What else could I say to convince him?

“Maybe you’ve done enough, and if you haven’t, you’ll have to do it from afar.”

“You don’t want to be a part of this anymore?”

“I can’t watch you get hurt again.”

“I’m not ready.” My chest squeezed in on itself. I couldn’t lose him, not now. “I want more time with you.”

“As I do with you, but we’re getting dangerously close to the point of no return.” He pressed my hands to his chest. “I wish you every happiness, and—”

How dare he? I jerked free. “Don’t you dare trivialize what’s between us by saying you wish me well.”

“I’ll tell Faith to bring the pain killers.” He stepped back, his expression anguished.

“Great. You do that.” I squeezed my eyes shut. I couldn’t watch him go, not after all we’d been through. He was the one man I should always be able to count on, and now he was going.

“Get plenty of rest.”

“Go.”

The air moved. My arm hairs bristled, and I slowly opened my eyes.

He was gone.

Tears fell. I gripped his mother’s ring and tore it off. I wanted to toss it, to never lay eyes on it again, but instead I shoved it on the third finger of my right hand, where it fit the best.

“Hey.”

Faith shut the door behind her and strode to the bed. She popped the lid on a bottle of water and passed me a packet of pills. “I saw. Sorry.”

“Don’t be sorry, just help me out of these clothes, and no, I don’t want to talk about it.”

“Water and pills first.” She passed them across and I downed them.

“I should have thought of a softer landing, only there wasn’t much choice.”

“You did just fine, and Nicolas healed you. Wiggle up, okay? But slowly.” Gently, she eased the leather pants down my legs, and then with as much care as she could, unbuttoned my shirt and slipped it off my arms.

“My pajamas are in the dresser.”

“Gotcha.” She found a brushed cotton top with yellow sunflowers embroidered on the pockets, and white pajama shorts. My favorite set. “Are you sure you don’t want to talk?”

“Absolutely.” I changed and eased my head onto my pillow. “I can’t believe he’s gone.”

“You had next to nowhere to land, and he feels responsible for your injuries.” She scooted onto the golden covers beside me and pulled her knees to her chest. “He just needs some time.”

“Do you think Nicolas will be a problem? He knew we were mated, but we told him we were cousins.”

“Physically and emotionally it goes against the grain for healers to bring any harm to another. Think of Belle. She’s compassionate, kind and understanding. Healers, and those with empathy, have the same qualities.”

“Well, Guy’s gone.” And my heart was lodged like a stone in my chest. “Have you had any further forewarning?”

“No. Perhaps he’s done all he needed to in assisting you. You’ve always been the key, not him.”

I turned onto my side and winced. “I hate that I miss him.”

Soothingly, she rubbed my arm. “I’m always with you.”

I yawned. “I’m so tired, and sore.”

“Then get some rest. I’ll watch over you.”

“We stick together,” I mumbled as I tried to keep my eyes open, only, the dark took me.

Sleep. I so needed sleep.

* * * *

“
Silvie?
”

Faith’s voice rattled around in my head.

“
Yeah?
”

“
Just checking on you.
” She’d been with me for the past two days, but this morning I’d sent her to school.

“
I’ve showered, eaten, and now I’m back in bed. Are you taking notes for me?
”

“
Yep. What do your bruises look like today?
”

I lifted my shirt and touched the dark marks across my chest, most of them in line with the injuries I’d sustained. “
A touch better than yesterday.
”

“
Then get some more sleep.
”

It was lunchtime, and Friday. At least I had the weekend ahead. I plumped my pillow and snuggled deeper. I dreamed of Guy, of his soft lips brushing across my forehead, only my dream flittered away before I could grab hold of him.

The dark ensued.

* * * *

Hot.

Why did it feel so hot?

I lifted my heavy eyelids and blinked against the bright midday sunshine streaming into the room. Faith tied the golden folds of velvet back. “Did you have to open those?”

“That’s not like you. You love the sunshine.”

“Because I don’t feel like me. The one man I should be able to count on ditched me, and I have to soldier on. Again. My life sucks, and I still have to fix your problem.”

“Don’t worry about my problem right now. You need to heal first. You’ll feel more like yourself once you get moving, and it’s time.” She tugged her blond ponytail as she crossed to me. “And before Saturday’s completely gone.”

I wriggled my toes. The aches were gone, the bruising having mellowed more to a splotchy yellow.

“Oh, and check out the flower someone brought you.”

In a fluted glass vase, a single golden rose with a deep red center bloomed. Next to it was a note. I picked it up. Please let this rose be from— No. Soldier on.

Dear Silvie,

Vitaria says hello. She asked about you. I told her of your accident, that you’re not coming back. This rose is from her, and I asked Hope to pass it along.

You’d better be taking care of yourself.

Guy.

Well, no words of I miss you there. My heart had certainly taken a beating, just like my body had.

“The flower’s from Vitaria. Hope dropped it and Guy’s note off.” I passed her the sheet of crisp paper.

“I’ve met Vitaria. It’s so sad about her mother’s illness.” She frowned as she read. “Hope hasn’t dropped by today. Silas and Davio snuck in while you slept this morning, but not Hope.”

“You must have missed her.” I eased my legs over the side of the bed. “Okay, I agree. It’s time to get moving.”

“And what are we going to do now we’re moving?” She held me steady, helping me find my feet.

“Not we, me. I want to cook, and no, you don’t have to help.” My kitchen was the only place I longed to be, and right now I needed some space for what I had in mind. I was about to prepare Guy and his father a meal. I had to get closure, and cooking was the only way.

I showered, and then changed into a pair of hip-hugging jeans and my favorite flame-red t-shirt. Okay, time to ’port, and to get it right this time. I brought the image of my kitchen into my mind, and from one second to the next, I was there. Oh yeah, so cool. At least for a moment, my heart lightened. I tapped the bright red countertop, and a small sense of peace stole through me. It would be enough to keep me going, or it better be.

Time for that meal. I opened the fridge. The shelves were stocked, and I took out a cut of beef, one the perfect size for a small roast.

I mixed it with herbs, set it into a deep dish then slid it into the oven to cook. Next, I prepped the vegetables, peeling sweet potatoes and pumpkin. I scattered them over another oven pan and popped it in too.

While the roast cooked, I foraged in my garden. Mmm, fresh beans and mint. Those would be perfect. I sliced and steamed them. With the meat done, I skimmed off the juices and made a rich gravy, one bursting with all the right flavors.

I plated two dishes then opened my link to Silas. “
Hey, Faith said you dropped by.
”

“
Yeah, but you clearly needed the rest so I didn’t wake you. Do you feel better now?
”

“
A bit. I’m in my kitchen and I—
”

He shimmered into the room, sword dangling from his hand and his loose white shirt plastered to his sweaty skin. Davio blinked in beside him, heaving in deep breaths, his black jeans sticking as damply to him. Silas pulled me into a hug. “I hated seeing you down like that.”