Page 249 of Fangs
“It’s hard… to separate the two now,” Sable confessed. “Sometimes I can’t remember Hattie’s face, and when I try to picture her, I just see Ember.”
“You’ve been lookin’ for her with me for a long time. I’d be more worried if you didn’t care about her.”
“I know. I just would never want Hattie to feelreplaced.”
Wolf stepped closer to Sable, and I watched him tenderly brush Sable’s hair back, tucking it back behind his ear. “I know I didn’t get to meet Hattie, but from what you’ve told me, I’d guess she’d only be happy to see you take care of another little sister who needs it.”
I watched them with an ache in my throat. I’d never seen my brother like this with anyone. I’d genuinely not paid much attention to the teachings of Carth, but I tried to imagine how it’d been for Wolf, constantly being told that a part of himself he had no control over was something bad, that any love he felt was twisted and wrong. I’d seen the twisted and wrong kind of love.Thatkind of love had been beaten into my body, mind, and soul. That kind of love was all I knew until Trey.
“Speaking of…” Wolf looked up and met my eyes, grinning. “Mornin’, Emmy.”
I flushed at being caught eavesdropping, but Wolf didn’t seem mad. Sable straightened and strode toward me, scanning me closely.
“Good morning, Ember. How you feelin’?”
I made a face in answer. “What happened?”
“You passed out,” Sable answered, frowning as he took my pulse from my wrist.
“No shit,” I couldn’t help saying, the corner of my mouth lifting.
Sable smirked, glancing at Wolf. “That smartass trait really must be hereditary.”
Wolf snorted, but the smile on his face was soft.
Sable grew solemn again as he turned back to me. “You didn’t get a fever, did you? After you… used your power?”
I didn’t miss the hesitation, but he was right. I’d been out of it after leaving the Voiceless camp, but not feverish. I must have expended a lot of power taking out the Voiceless, but no burnout fever followed. I swallowed hard, trying to keep from picturing the bloody mess. Was it because I’d… I’d killed them instead of healing?
I realized Sable was still waiting for an answer and shook my head.
“Correct me if I’m wrong, but based on your vitals, I would guess you still aren’t feeling great?”
“Might be the… the brand,” I mumbled.
“I suppose,” Sable replied, his tone doubtful.
“What do you mean, the brand?” Wolf asked from where he’d perched on the end of the bed.
“If her powers are working on healing the brand, the constant healing could be draining her.”
“So she might feel better once it’s healed?”
“I would hope so.”
I didn’t miss the look Sable was giving me. He suspected there was something more, but I did not want to dwell on what I’d done to the Voicelessorthe possibility that I was sick or, as Talmar put it,corrupted.
“Time to change the bandage?” I asked.
“Yeah, you ready?”
I nodded and slowly sat up, trying to brace myself for the pain. The bandage didn’t cling quite so badly this time, but cleaning it still hurt like a bitch.
“I owe you an apology, Em,” Sable said suddenly, causing Wolf and I to look up at him in surprise.
“For a long time, your brother would hide wounds from me, and I had to push him constantly before he let me help him. It drove me crazy.” He glanced at Wolf with a wry smile, and Wolf’s ears turned red. “You are like him in so many ways, and I think I instinctively started bein’ pushy with you like I would with him, but that wasn’t fair to you. You’re not him, you didn’t know me at all, and you have a lot of understandable trauma about being touched. I should have been more patient, and I’m sorry.”
I glanced between Sable’s serious, sincere expression and Wolf’s guilty one. “It’s okay,” I whispered, my throat constricting. “I’m… I’m so sorry about Juck—” a sob choked me, “and your s-sister?—”
