Page 106 of The Knights of Gaia

“I’m fine.” I stretched out, wincing when my body protested with a jolt of pain.

Nevada’s lips pinched together. “That isnotvery convincing.”

Yeah, so I felt as sore as a bruised peach, but nothing appeared to be broken. And I wasn’t bleeding either. A total miracle, considering the day I’d had.

“I’m fine,” I said again. “Most of my body parts are still attached.” I managed to get one of my tired eyes to wink.

“Very funny.” But Nevada didn’t look amused. She looked worried.

“If I weren’t all right, could I do this?”

I jumped off the sofa and forced my aching body to dip into a bow. I’d watched Kato very closely when he’d bowed to me, so I knew it was a good bow. Maybe even a bow worthy of a Knight.

Nevada must have been thinking the same thing. “Practicing for your grand debut, Sir Savannah?” she asked, standing.

I made a face. “Err, please don’t call me ‘Sir’. It makes me feel like a boy. And I actually like being a girl.”

Nevada smiled. “Girls don’t get into half as much trouble as boys do.”

“Yeah.” I thought of some of the crazy stunts Dante had pulled over the years.

“Though you get into at least twice as much trouble as anyone I know,” she said. “But very well,DameSavannah.”

I nodded crisply. “Better.”

Both laughing, we fell back onto the sofa.

“I’m glad that you checked to make sure I’m all right.” I squeezed Nevada tightly to me, and it didn’t hurt nearly as much as it helped.

“And I’m glad that you’re all right.” She pulled back far enough to give me a curious look. “So, any idea who that madman at the Tournament was?”

“No.” Frowning, I started fiddling with a loose thread in the sofa’s stitching. “The Watchers took him away before we could talk to him.”

“I can’t believe you helped the Knights.” Her eyes were wide. “That was really brave.”

“Want in on a little secret?” I looked away from the thread. It was a poor distraction. “I was freaking out the whole time. And when he threw that big street sign at me, I nearly peed my pants.”

Nevada sighed. “You’re always in danger whenever that White Knight is around.”

“It’s not his fault,” I said. “I have a hard time minding my own business.”

“Really? I had no idea. You’re always so indifferent and unobtrusive.” She smirked at me. “Seriously, though, you really need to stop running headlong into danger, Savannah.”

That earned her a very big eye-roll. “Actually, Kato said pretty much the same thing to me.”

Except he’d called meSeven. I blushed again.

“Who is Kato?”

Nevada’s question drew me out of the memory.

“Kato is the White Knight.”

“I didn’t realize you two were on a first-name basis.” She hit me with a knowing smile. It was almost sappy.

My cheeks burned.

A chuckle still lingered on Nevada’s lips when she said, “You should invite him over.”

---