Page 109 of Silver Elite

I hold my breath, waiting for the flow of energy I assume will come.

Within seconds, it happens. A tingling sensation washes over me, starting at the tips of my fingers and spreading up my arm like wildfire. I bite my lip as I feel the bones in my wrist realigning themselves, the pain melting away. A strange rush of heat penetrates my flesh, like the rays of the sun breaking through the clouds on a stormy day.

I’ve never been healed by a Mod before. It’s astounding how quickly the pain begins to dissipate. The warmth flowing beneath my flesh. The pins and needles in my bones. I canfeelthem knitting back together with each passing second. The healing energy envelops me, sealing my fate.

“You don’t have any questions,” murmurs Ellis.

I lift my gaze to his inquiring one. “What?”

“Everyone I heal asks questions. How I do it. How my mere touch can mend bones and soothe wounds with nothing more than the power of my mind.”

“I don’t care how you do it as long as it gets done.”

But I can’t deny there is a sense of awe as he continues to work, his palms pressed over me as if, by sheer force of will, he can command the fabric of reality itself.

When he finally withdraws his hands, I flex my newly healed wrist, marveling at the strength that now courses through it. Then I remember why I broke it in the first place, and my spirits sink like a stone.

“Thank you,” I say tightly.

“My pleasure.”

Once he’s gone, I close my eyes, fighting back tears of frustration. This isn’t how things were supposed to be.

Dr. Harumi returns to examine me, clucking happily at my miraculous recovery, then dismisses me. I’m subdued when I return to the barracks. I missed dinner, but I don’t care. My appetite left me around the same time as all my hopes of getting off this base.

“Wren!” Lyddie jumps up from her bed. “Your wrist!”

“All better,” I joke weakly, holding it up.

Kaine, who was reading on his source, slides into a sitting position. He’s bare-chested, his hair rumpled. “They have a healer on the base?” he says in surprise.

“They flew one in from an outpost.”

“Whoa.” Those green eyes, usually so playful, narrow at me. Kaine’s a lot shrewder than those lazy smiles lead you to believe.

“I guess it’s good to know they won’t let us break bones here,” remarks Lyddie.

“I’ll just have to break it all over again tomorrow,” a snide Kess calls from her bunk.

“Piss off, Kess,” I mutter. I’m done with that bitch today.

“You okay?” Lyddie asks me.

“Just tired. I’m going to change for bed.”

I hit the lav, where I stare at my reflection in the mirror. My face is…aglow. The dullness of my eyes contrasts with the sudden radiance of my skin. Whatever Ellis did to me, his energy seems to be flowing from the inside out.

I slide into bed, truly exhausted, ready to forget the entire world. But then I feel the poke in my mind, and I realize the world has not forgotten aboutme.

For the first time in weeks, since the night I arrived in the Point desperate to rescue Jim, I hear from Declan.

The network has decided to grace me with their presence.

I squeeze my eyelids shut, every muscle in my body trembling. That’s how angry I am when I open the link.

“You fucking asshole! You left me here to rot!”

“If I’d known you were going to be this dramatic, I would have kept the link closed.”

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