Page 57 of Taking Jenny
Mal smiled at me and patted my shoulder. “Then you’ll be happy to know that she’s going to be okay, Tiger.”
I looked to Surge. “Is that true?”
The tiny man nodded. “She’s responding well to treatment. I was able to reknit her wounds, including her nose and her concussion. She should be perfectly fine by tomorrow, like it never happened at all. But right now, she needs rest. No more training for today.”
I closed my eyes and the first wave of tension released. I slumped against the counter in relief.
“See?” Mal said gently. “She’s going to be fine.”
I nodded. “Surge, I’m sorry.”
He gave me a tired but understanding smile. “I’m used to it, kid. Why do you think I stay here at Mal’s palace, hidden away? Most people hate us. So don’t worry about it.”
I pursed my lips, trying to think of a better apology. “I don’t…there’s a lot that I don’t understand, but I want to. I shouldn’t have assumed all magicians are evil. That was ignorant. That was me clinging to old fears instead of facing what’s real.”
Surge looked at me, a playfully devious light dancing in his eyes. “Oh, I’m evil. Sometimes. But I’m good sometimes, too.”
Just like everyone else, I realized. I looked at Surge. Really looked at him. A magician. A healer. A smart-ass. A good man who’d saved Jenny’s life.
And for the first time in my life…I believed that was possible.
CHAPTER 18
Mal
“When will she wake up?” Tiger asked anxiously.
Surge adjusted the thin blanket covering Jenny’s sleeping form. “With any luck, not until the morning. But human biology is different than ours, and the sedation I gave her is calculated to the size of one of our usual teenagers to make up the difference, but I’m still not sure it will keep her out all night.”
“How did this even happen to her?” Discord glanced around the lab. “Where is Longshot?”
I’d been so focused on Jenny, I hadn’t realized he hadn’t returned yet. “I guess he’s still vomiting somewhere?”
“Strange,” she murmured, a small frown puckering between her brows. “I’ll go look for him and make sure he’s okay.”
She left the lab and Surge glanced at me. “You two go on with her. I’ll keep an eye on Jenny.”
But I shook my head. “I’m staying until she wakes.”
“There’s no need for that—”
“I’m staying until she wakes, Surge.” This time, my adamant tone brooked no argument.
His gaze softened and he gave me an understanding nod. “Alright then. Tiger, you implied you’d like to learn more about what I do and how things work. Do you want me to teach you some things about magicians?”
“I am curious,” he admitted. “I’ve never spent much time on the topic. I don’t know what it is you actually do.”
“You don’t know, and you still hated me that much?” Surge teased. “If you think you can stomach my presence, then I’d be happy to teach you. Come with me to the library—”
“Shouldn’t you stay here with Jenny?” Tiger asked.
“Not if Mal’s staying put.” Surge smiled to put him at ease. “The worst is over for Jenny and she’ll be fine without me standing over her.”
Tiger glanced at me for reassurance, and I nodded. “Go ahead. Have fun. Surge can show you all kinds of interesting things.”
He squeezed my hand in gratitude before he left. That simple gesture sent a warmth through me. It was nice, seeing them walk out together and getting along again. The tall gray Ladrian and the miniscule black magician chatted up a storm on their way out.
Wherever Longshot had gone, I was grateful he was not in the lab. The room was finally quiet and that’s what Jenny needed right now after what she’d gone through.
