Page 69 of Shadow Fall: Part Two

She rolled her eyes in true scornful teenage fashion, dropping into the chair opposite mine, then swinging her legs over the chair arm. “I was thinking,” she began.

“Wonders will never cease,” I drawled, grinning when she scowled.

“Wane’s gonna wake up soon,” she said, picking at the black polish that clung in scraps to her fingernails. “And I’ve heard there’s a team being put together to find all Cronus’s goons who ran from Harvey. I should join them.” Before I could speak, or Wyn could argue, she rushed on, “That way I’ll have something to push me to learn my magic better, and I can be out of your hair. With a new baby—”

“I presume you say new baby because you’re my old baby?” I asked, burying the shards of pain that punched my heart.

She narrowed her green eyes at me.

“You’re not going anywhere,” Wynvail said firmly. “And that’s final.”

Verena’s scowl deepened. “You really want a teenager around when you’ve got a newborn? Or even when you’ve got a hormonal, temperamental pregnant lady?”

“I do,” Wyn said without hesitation. “Stop thinking you’re anything but family. We’re keeping you. Besides, if you ran off to join a hunting team, you know Haley would just follow you to drag you back.”

“I would,” I agreed, hugging my cushion and trying very, very hard not to cry. But I’d been through nightmare after nightmare lately; I deserved to cry a lot. I’d earned it. “Not that they’d take a kid with them, even if you’re a tough little badass.”

“I’m not little,” she snapped, annoyance flashing across her freckled face.

“You’re tiny.”

Her eyes narrowed to slits.

“And very cute,” Wyn added, suppressing a smirk.

“Adorable,” I agreed.

She made a throaty sound and swung her legs off the chair arm, throwing herself to her feet. “You’re so annoying.”

“Don’t go far,” I called when she headed for the door. “Remember Cerberus are sweeping out all the spirits left in this place, so we’re under a six p.m. curfew.”

Verena’s baleful irritation faded, replaced with a serious fear I hated to see. She glanced back at us and begrudgingly said, “I won’t go far.”

“Have you heard from the guard you have a crush on?” Wynvail asked, settling into the chair she vacated with a groan that betrayed his tiredness and worry. He smiled more freely so it was harder to see the lines cut into his eyes and around his mouth, an exhaustion barely concealed by his quicksilver eyes.

“I do not,” she snarled, starting forward a step like she’d fight him. “Have a crush. On anyone!”

“The lady doth protest too much,” a croaky voice drawled, and we all startled like we’d been shocked by the same lightning bolt.

“Wane!” I cried, spinning in my chair and grasping his hand, squeezing tighter than I should have. “Are you okay? Are you in pain? Tell me where it hurts.”

“Will you kiss it better?” he asked with wickedness twined among the weakness in his eyes.

“Always,” I promised.

“I can’t believe you woke up just to tease me about having a crush,” Verena muttered, stalking back towards the bed and resting against the wooden footboard.3

“I’m not in pain,” Wane assured me, trying to pull himself upright. Wyn and I left to our feet, fluffing up the same pillow so Wane had something to rest his back against. “Just weak. My shadows feel… drained.”

I brushed an errant lock of chestnut hair off his forehead and said nothing. We’d all agreed it was better that Wane didn’t know Cronus had sucked his magic out of him, using the shadow he stole like a straw. He’d struggle to sleep as it was; the truth would only give him worse nightmares. So I kissed his stubbled cheek and said, “You were stabbed by a massive fucking sword, Wane. Give yourself time to recover.”

He was an awful patient, though. Harvey would lay in bed all day when he was sick, getting us all to dote on him. Wane would assume everything was fine and get up and act normal even with a fever and sweat running down his face.

“It wasn’t the queen who ran me through was it?” he asked, reaching for the glass of water on the bedside table; Wyn got there first and pressed it into his brother’s hand so he didn’t have to strain.

“Verena,” I murmured, catching her eye. “Go run and get everyone else. Harvey first.”

She nodded seriously and didn’t argue, though her eyes lingered on Wane. “I’m glad you’re alright.”

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