Page 59 of Salvation
Chapter Nineteen
Nick rested his head against the cabinet. Outside the wind roared around the cube-shelter shaking the walls, trying to force its way inside. The sound was creepier than a Hitchcock movie. It would be so much nicer to be snuggled in bed listening to this with Saku, instead of holding Dante’s pain-wracked body. On the other hand, as egotistical as admitting it sounded, hewasthe best choice for this job. No parent could have done better at raising the obnoxious teenager Nick Bock had been than Dante, and it would take a lifetime to repay that debt.
If only Saku were here, then they could heal him and the fear and uncertainty would be over. By now she must have figured out that he and Dante were MIA. Good thing she was too level-headed to demand a search and rescue be mounted tonight. Hopefully Dante would make it through the night, and possibly all of tomorrow. There was no telling how long the storm would rage.
Dante’s head rolled to one side against Nick’s shoulder and the healer grunted. Nick reached for a water packet and snapped the pouch open.
“Mother above, this is the worst hangover I have ever had,” Dante muttered.
Nick suppressed a quip about the dastardly effects ofryma. “I wish I could make the pain go away.”
“Me too. It’s not too intolerable at the moment, though.”
“Water?” Nick held the pouch in front of Dante, and his friend shifted to accept it.
“She was beautiful, like an ancient vision coming across the water,” Dante murmured.
Dammit. Delirium must be beginning. “Yes, she was.”
A jolt shook Dante’s body and Nick wrapped his arms around him to keep him upright in case the shudder turned into another seizure.
“I am coherent, Nick. It is Zumari I speak of, my wife.”
Warmth crept over Nick’s ears. “Oh. Sorry. I actually did think you were out of it and were about to seize again.” He loosened his grip. “If you don’t want to talk about this, I’ll understand.”
“I only want you to know that I love her, will always. But, her life depends on no one finding her, so do not seek her out once I am gone.”
“Dante….”
“This is my wish, Nick. Leave her in safety.” Dante turned his head, his dark hair tickling Nick’s chin. “Besides, Graig would kill you if you tried.”
A soft chortle escaped Nick. “I’m sure he would.”
“What I did to her was terrible. Mother above, it nearly ended my life. If not for Gryf and Graig…. Had I the ability to touch the source of my power as you and Sakura can, I would have destroyed my Gift.”
Jesus, what had Dante done that was so terrible he’d willingly snuff out the one thing that defined him more than anything?
“I altered her physical appearance. Not by much, but her eyes…they used to be jewel green, like Terrian emeralds. So beautiful.”
The corners of Nick’s mouth pulled down. Changing her appearance didn’t seem so terrible.
“Then I erased her memory.”
Holy, shit. Now that was bad. “Allof it?”
“Everything,” Dante said. “Everything. I gave her new memories, a life, and a family without me.”
“But, Dante, that’s…illegal. Even the healer’s oath forbids taking another’s memories.”
“There were extenuating circumstances, and it was sanctioned.”
“Like what sort of circumstances, and who’d sanctionthat?”
Dante’s soft chuckle reached Nick’s ear. “This is where my story ends, Nick. Everything done was done for her, and I only agreed to it because I love her.”
Love, not loved.
That must be why he didn’t destroy himself. A chill crept down Nick’s spine. If Dante had, then where wouldhebe? Alex and Saku, too? Lost, maybe even rogue. Their Gifts in the hands of people who would manipulate them in order to control even a portion of the galaxy, if not the whole thing. Dante, and others like him, made sure that didn’t happen by guiding new healers until they reached their potential.
