Page 108 of The Stone Initiation
Sleep tried to wrap its arms around me, but the sense of wrongness kept me out of its reach.
I had to wake up.
Now.
“Cameron? Hey Cameron, you awake?”
“Selas?” I cracked my lids to find her hovering over me.
“You can go now,” she said.
Memory came back in a rush. Serath was hurt and I’d been—
I sat up fast, reaching for him but the bed beside me was rumpled and empty. Oh god. Please don’t have let him—
“He’s fine. It’s okay, he’s fine.” Selas cupped my shoulders and smiled reassuringly.
Thank god. “Where is he?”
“Back at the outpost.”
I stared at her dumbly. “What?”
“You helped to keep him stable until we could administer the antivenom. He said to thank you.”
He said to say… “Wait. He left again without saying goodbye?”
“It’s for the best, Cameron. You know that. I’m sure you’ll speak on the phone when he gets back in a couple of days.”
Days? I wouldn’t get to see him or speak to him for days? My throat pinched and heat gathered behind my eyes. Disappointment, rejection, and finally anger. What the fuck? No. Hell no. Rage propelled me off the bed and across the room to the dresser where someone had placed my clothes. I tugged them on, fighting the vise around my lungs because this was bullshit. This weepy, fractured female wasn’t me. Fuck her. Fuck her hard.
“Cameron?” Selas reached for me, but I stepped away from her.
If she touched me…if she was nice then I might just lose my shit. “I have to get back to dorm.”
“Cameron, please. I know this is hard but—”
Damn her. “Do you?” I stared into her milky eyes through a sheen of stupid tears. “Do you know? Have you any idea how fucking pathetic I feel right now, all these emotions that just…” I threw my hands up. “Came out of nowhere. They just…are. And then he asks you to thank me.Thank me.” My voice went up an octave. “As if I made him a coffee or painted him a goddamn picture. Fuck this. I have to get out of here, I can still smell him and it’s messing with my head.”
Her shoulders slumped. “I’m sorry.”
This wasn’t her fault, and I was done yelling. “I’ll see you around, Selas.”
I made for the door.
“Cam, wait. I’ll meet you in the clearing for training at eight tomorrow. I checked your timetable, and you have classes till seven.”
I had no idea how long I’d been sleeping. “What day is it?”
“It’s Tuesday afternoon.”
I nodded and turned away.
“And Cam…” I paused on the threshold, waiting. “You did good. Thank you.”
My mouth slanted in a bitter smile that she’d never see. “Yeah, glad to be of use. See you at eight tomorrow. Oh, and pass a message on to Serath for me, please.”
“Of course.”
