Page 98 of The Warrior
“I know I said that, Mila, but you’re a smart girl, and you should always listen to your instincts. Don’t ever put yourself in danger because of a stupid boy.”
Her eyes widened. “You shouldn’t call anyone stupid.”
“Oh, believe me, stupid is the nicest thing I can think of at the moment. There are other words that I would like to call Plato.”
Mila lifted a hand to her mouth, her cheeks blowing up and her eyes bulging with urgency.
Laura was quick with a bucket and I held Mila’s hair back when she threw up. From the look of it, there wasn’t much left in her stomach but bile. I knew from experience how painful it was.
“You can give me the bucket.” Finn spoke behind us. “Magni, it might be a good idea to take Mila to your cabin. The kids have been quiet so far, but school is almost out and I would prefer that Mila rests.”
“Sure.” I handed him the bucket while Laura helped Mila drink a little.
“There are teeth cleaners in that drawer.” Finn pointed to a blue dresser along the wall. “She likes the ones with the strawberry flavor.”
Laura and I wrapped Mila in the thick duvet before I carried her to my cabin. Her head rested against my shoulder, and I placed a kiss on her hair before I gently laid her down on the bed.
Mila gave me a tired smile. “Laura wants to name your daughter Aubri.”
“What daughter?” I looked from Mila to Laura, and down to her belly.
“No, it’s not like that. I’m not pregnant or anything,” Laura said with blushing cheeks. “Mila just asked me what names I like.”
“Audrey.” I tasted the name.
“No, it’s Aubri with a b, right, Laura?”
Laura nodded. “Yes, that’s right, with a b.”
“That’s a pretty name,” I said in a soft voice, and pulled a chair over to sit next to her.
“Laura is okay with naming your boy Mason. She told me that she likes that name.”
Laura was sitting on the foot end of the bed, her hand running up and down Mila’s good leg on the top of the duvet. There were so many questions in my mind that I couldn’t ask Laura in front of Mila. First of all, I was dying to know what Laura was doing here when she had been clear that she chose the Motherlands over me. A part of me wanted to believe she had changed her mind, but if that was the case, why hadn’t she told me that she was back? Maybe she had come back to collect her things. The thought alone made me want to throw up in a bucket of my own.
“Close your eyes, and rest. Magni and I will wake you up every hour like Finn instructed. You don’t have to worry about anything,” Laura said with a soft smile to Mila.
“Laura,” Mila whispered. “Will you tell me about the time that Magni fought for you in the tournament? He told me the story, but I would love to hear your version.”
Laura and I exchanged a quick glance. “Okay, but I’m not a very good storyteller.”
Mila pulled the duvet to her chin. “My mom used to twirl my hair and tell me stories. Sometimes she would sing to me. She had a beautiful singing voice.” A few tears escaped Mila’s pretty blue eyes.
“I’m sorry you lost your mom.” Laura gave Mila’s good leg a sympathetic squeeze. “Did Magni tell you that I lost my mom when I was little too?”
Mila nodded. “I was so sad to hear it.”
“It’s okay. It was a long time ago.”
“For me it’s worst at night. When Shelly and Kya have the night shift, they let me sleep with them sometimes, and when Magni is here, he holds me and calms me down. One time we went outside to look at stars.” Mila turned her head and looked at me. “That was nice, do you remember?”
I lifted Mila’s hand and kissed the back of it again. “I’ll never forget it.”
Laura gave me a surprised look that I didn’t know how to interpret. If she thought less of me for being soft around Mila, there was nothing I could do about it. Mila was too important to let that influence me. With my little girl in pain, I would give her all the support she needed.
“I don’t feel so good,” Mila said in a weak voice.
“Do you need a bucket again?”
