Page 161 of A Fate of Blood and Magic
“We could also go old-school if someone wants to go on a hunt for a DVD player,” Teddy said.
“I volunteer Donnie and Cierra.” Ryenne grinned when Donnie shoved her shoulder.
“I’ve been thinking,” Teddy said. “Back home we have a program that places children in homes. I’d like to start something like that here.” She paused, chewing on the side of her lip.
“What do you mean?” Brenton asked, shifting from his spot on the couch opposite of us.
Teddy took the time to explain the concept of foster care and the many ways she thought we could improve the system with the help of magic, like truth-tellers who could properly vet prospective parents.
“In many instances, CPS did exactly what they were supposed to and the kids benefited, but other times, wires got crossed somewhere and it all fell apart.” Donnie leaned forward, resting his elbow on his knee. “Are you going to head this?” he asked Teddy. “It’s a huge undertaking.”
She wrinkled her nose, but I felt the excitement that bubbled inside her. “I was kinda hoping I could convince Brenton to head it with me.”
Brenton leaned forward, his knee bouncing with the energy rolling inside him. “You know I’ll do it.” He tapped his fingers. “Could anyone take on a child, or would they have to be with their mate or intended?”
“Single parents are just as great as coupled parents,” Teddy said. “I may be a bit biased here, but I don’t feel like I missed out by not having a dad.”
Suddenly her eyes flashed, her smile dimming, as she nibbled on her bottom lip nervously.
“What’s wrong?” I asked.
“I’m not sure how to say this,” she said, shifting her weight, “but I kind of promised Pietro that he would never make the final voyage to the stars.”
I gaped up at her in stunned silence. But not allowing someone to take their final voyage was unheard of.
“I may have also told him that if I were to find a way to bind his soul to his body, that’s what I’d do.” She waved her hand. “You know, after I buried him in an unmarked grave.”
For some reason, Ryenne barked out a laugh. Still a little shocked, it took a few beats for my own laugh to escape me.
I pressed a kiss to the side of her knee, and when I looked up at her, I whispered, “My feral queen.”
“There is a spell for that,” Alastor said, his knees pulled up to his chest as he rocked himself forward.
“Of course there is.” Teddy huffed out a laugh.
While the blisters on my skin didn’t hurt as much as last night, they suddenly started to burn. The speed in which it hit me stole my breath.
Teddy leaned down to kiss the back of my head while I wrapped my uninjured arm around her leg, careful not to make my limbs tremble at the waves of torment that continued to rise with each passing beat.
Without saying a word, Teddy stood, offering her hand, which I took.
Probably recognizing my pain, Alastor said, “Rest well, Elias. Rest will soothe the pain.”
I nodded in his direction, appreciative of the fact that I didn’t need to explain how intense the pain had become.
Teddy led us to our bedroom, and when she pointed at thebed, I slowly got on it. My muscles ached, but it was the pain that shot through me every time I stretched the blistered skin that had me hissing in discomfort.
Once I rested the back of my head on my pillow, she sat on the edge of our bed with medicated cloths on hand.
“I’m sorry, my love, but we need to take off your shirt.” She pursed her lips together.
My love.I savored the way it sounded and wanted to hear her call me that again.
I edged up, biting the inside of my cheek at the hurt that spread everywhere. She took her time, inching my shirt off me so it wouldn’t brush against any of the blisters. While I appreciated her efforts, it was wasted now that I’d reached this higher degree of pain.
I reclined again, closing my eyes once my head hit the pillow. My breath wheezed out when she gently placed the cool cloth on the back of my hand. I fisted my uninjured hand into the bed sheet, flinching when she put another cloth around my wrist. She placed the rest on my arm and shoulder and another on my upper chest.
“I’m sorry.”
