Page 57 of Lost Girl

Setting my hand over hers, I beg her with the fiercest stare likely known to man.Please let me be there.

For the briefest moment the possibility she might concede hangs thick in the air, but all too soon she’s denying me with a meager shake of her head. "Please, Ihaveto do this alone. I swear to you, once this is all over, I'll tell you everything. From start to finish and everything else in between."

I can’t disprove her again, regardless of how much I may want to. I respect her far too much for that.Her body, her decision."Fine." A sigh shoots free from my throat as I release her and watch her retreat into the room.

“I promise,” she mouths silently, and then Ward’s nodding reassuringly, shutting the door in my face.

Just walk away. Walk away.I’m forced to repeat it like a mantra, taking deep breaths as I turn on my heel and head back into the waiting area. Planting my ass back in the stiff seat, I cross my arms and take a look around the small office. Despite living here all my life, I haven't been here much. Mama preferred a more holistic approach to anything in the medicinal field so Lil and I rarely ever saw Ward. Everyone may not agree on that, but hey—my sister and I are still alive, right?

Not that what Ward does is any less honorable or valued—dad's needed him a few times in recent years, and if it wasn't for him, I suspect there might be bigger issues at hand now.

I sit there for God only knows how long, memorizing every golden frame hung on the wall, the colors of the pinstripe wallpapering, counting how many clocks he has running down the length of the hallway. I count all the books on the shelf, how many windows surround me.

Until finally I hear the door open and out comes Wendy. I’m scooting to the end of my seat in a nanosecond, heart free-falling when I note she's been crying. It's clear as day from the glassiness of her eyes, the slight blush heating both her cheeks and nose.

Mine.

Grinding my jaw tightly, I thrust the idea asideyet againand latch onto the armrests. It’s the only thing keeping me from rushing her and taking her in my arms.

The good doctor relays some information to her in a hushed voice, seafoam green irises cutting to my form from over her shoulder. Wendy nods and thanks him in an identical hushed voice, and then she starts for me.

Only she doesn’t stop to wait for me.

She hustles right out the door into town, the bell above chiming in her wake.

I’m literally scrambling out behind her, thanking Ward over my shoulder. “Wendy! Wendy, wait! What happened?"

She doesn't answer me, just keeps stalking the way we came with determined strides, each step somehow echoing against the cobblestones.

"Wendy, c'mon. You promised," I remind her, trying to ignore the questioning looks we're receiving from some of the townspeople.

I’m sure they’re wondering who the hell she is and why the hell the Chief’s son is chasing her down.

"Tavi, please. I'm exhausted," she sighs, stare trained straight ahead.

The fact she won’t look at me—tied in with her refusal to bring me up to speed—sends a primitive burn rushing through my veins. Whipping a hand out, I catch her by the arm and spin her around with a quickness, hurling her towards me.

Compelling her to engage.

"I know you are. I am, too, but you promised me—you promised you'd tell me once you saw him, and now you did, so tell me. What is going on with you? Are you at least okay?"

She isn’t fearful, but the shock of my sudden outburst blazes in her gaze. "I-I..."

"You, what?" I hedge, ignoring the dozens of eyes watching us.

"God,” she glances around us nervously, “I don't even know where to start."

"From the beginning." I’m moving, hauling her with me and away from prying busybodies. If that’s going to get her to talk…

"Can't we do this later? Please?" Her tone is so beseeching that every molecule within me demands my attention.

Another quivering lip awaits me. "Oh, no. That lip isnotgoing to work a second time. I let you have your way back there, I respected your decision. If nothing else, Wendy, at least do the same for me. I don’t want to pry, I just need to know you’re okay."

And it’s the truth.

All I want to know is that she’ll live to make it home. That she’ll live to have a happy and healthy life.

"Tavi, please." Wendy whimpers, shaking her head, evoking another outburst.

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