Page 91 of Boxed In

“You should have told him you’re not well enough to go to the temple yet,” she objected.

“I mend very quickly.”

Olivia narrowed her eyes as she watched him. No matter what happened after they returned the box, she wasn’t going to leave him on his own. “You’re not going by yourself,” she said.

“I have to.”

She looked at Frank and Brand. “They’re trained in covert operations. They can help you get there safely.”

“But the temple is in the city. And an escort would call attention to me,” Luke said. “I must do it alone.”

“No. I’m going with you.” As she spoke, she scrambled desperately for a good reason and came up with a logical rationale. “You need someone, in case you get into trouble. And I’ve earned the right to be that person,” she said, then held her breath, waiting for his answer.

“Okay,” he finally said.

“You shouldn’t be going at all,” Dr. Valero interjected, addressing himself to Luke.

Olivia gave him a grateful look, but Luke only shook his head. “I have to.”

“Give yourself a few hours. If you’re trying to stay inconspicuous, it makes sense to wait until after dark.”

Luke considered the advice.

When he nodded, Olivia breathed out a small sigh. “You can send a message to the Master of the Moon telling him that you have been shot trying to keep the box safe. I’m sure he will take that into consideration.”

“Olivia could tell Luke didn’t want to do it. Finally he nodded in agreement.

She felt her heart leap. If they stayed here for the rest of the day, that would give her more time to spend with him—before they left.

But the doctor’s next words dashed that hope. “You should sleep as much as possible. I can give you something that will put you out for a few hours.”

“The box . . .”

“You know it will be safe here,” Frank said. “I’ll keep it for you, so Olivia can also get some rest.”

“Thank you,” she breathed, then glanced at Luke. He gave a tight nod. His opinion of these people had changed. Too bad he’d earlier forced himself to have the bullet taken out without anesthetic.

She waited until Luke had sent the message and the doctor had taken him to a bedroom down the hall. Then she let Rosa Sanchez show her to another room-—with a promise that she’d wake her up as soon as Luke was up again.

Did she trust him not to leave her here?

Her chest tightened painfully when she considered that question. But she really had no option. She knew Zabastian was making the decisions. He was a stubborn man, and she couldn’t dictate terms to him. Too bad he couldn’t simply disappear. He’d almost gotten her and Luke killed. And he might still do it.

Now she could only pray that they made it through the completion of the mission.

As she plumped up the pillow, she thought about the man down the hall.

She’d said she wanted Zabastian to go away. But that wasn’t entirely true. In some ways, Zabastian had changed Luke for the better. The question was—who would he be when Zabastian left him?

And what would happen between her and Luke then? Did they have any kind of future together? She knew there was absolutely no way to figure that out until after he returned the box.

oOo

Down the hall, Luke stood beside the bed, feeling the need to sleep tugging at him. The doctor had given him a pill to take, and he’d said he would. But he didn’t need it. Zabastian could use his meditation techniques to induce sleep—if that’s what they decided.

You’re a chicken, the warrior said inside his skull.

About what? Luke asked, even when he knew exactly what Zabastian was talking about.

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