Page 35 of The High Priestess

“Doesn’t matter.”

Jasmine hightails it out of the room while Knight moves closer and places his palm over my forehead.

Seemingly pleased with my temperature, he asks, “Is the pain better?”

It is. I’ve been so focused on the man I didn’t even realize the pain meds started working.

“Yeah,” I whisper.

Knight checks the time on his wristwatch, then mutters, “It’s six-forty-three pm.”

I didn’t ask, but okay.

An uncomfortable silence falls between us, making me remember how I cried in front of him.

Shit. Why did I do that?

“About earlier.” I clear my throat. “Don’t tell anyone.”

He nods.

The uncomfortable silence returns, feeling thicker than before, and it has me asking the first thing I can think of. “What’s your real name? I assume Knight is a nickname?”

“Knight is my last name,” he grumbles while his eyes lock on me with an intense expression I can’t place.

“What’s your first name?”

“Lincoln.” He takes a breath then adds, “My friends used to call me Link.”

“Used to? You don’t have friends anymore?”

He stares at me for the longest moment before he replies, “No. I don’t. They are from before –”

He stops talking the instant Jasmine returns with a tray. I wish she could’ve taken a little longer.

Slowly, I sit up in bed, and when she lifts the silver food cover, the delicious aroma of roast beef, butternut squash, and creamed spinach hits my nostrils.

Fine. I’ll eat a little.

I smile at Jasmine. “Thank you.”

“You’re welcome.” She glances at Knight, then asks, “Are you going to eat?”

“I’ll grab something later,” he replies.

“I can bring you a tray,” she offers.

“Yes, he’ll eat. You can bring the food, Jasmine,” I answer on behalf of Knight. “Thank you.”

I can feel his eyes burning on me while she leaves the room, and avoiding his gaze, I take a bite of the sweet butternut.

After swallowing, I say, “You’re going to thank me once you taste the food.”

“It smells good,” he mentions.

I take another couple of bites, then risk a glance at him. “So…no friends?”

I’m only given a nod.

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