Page 20 of Fire Touched

Carter himself sits up in bed, a white shirt over his bumpy, bandage-covered chest. He blinks when he sees me. ‘Katherine’s not here,’ he says quietly. There’s a half-eaten sandwich beside him and an empty glass.

I clear my throat. ‘I wasn’t looking for her. I came to talk to you.’

Carter grits his teeth. ‘If you’ve come to tell me to surrender to my uncle and go home—’

‘No,’ I say quickly. ‘Not at all.’

‘Do you want me to go?’ Ella says, looking between us.

Carter holds her gaze, shaking his head.

I’m glad to see he’s formed a friendship with her. Not because he’ll be any less friends with Katherine, but because I’m sure Ella helps him. ‘That’s not what I came for.’ I rest my hands on the footrail of his bed, then worry it could jostle him, and fold them in front of me. Then cross them over my chest. Why is this so difficult?

I drum my fingers on my opposite arm. Katherine was upset yesterday, and many days before that, because of my attitude to Carter. After what he did yesterday, jumping not only in front of my mate, but me to take that knife… I’m done. ‘What you did. Yesterday.’ I roll the words around in my mouth, trying to find the modesty I’m unfamiliar with. ‘Thank you.’

Ella’s mouth drops open in a little ‘o’ shape, but she has the grace to quickly shut it.

Carter just stares at me, as though, despite my words, I’m about to set him on fire. He leans back, waiting, and it takes me a moment to realise his reaction might have little to do with me. Not that I’ve exactly been friendly. Sympathy rises in me. I lower myself to a chair beside him, instead of towering over him. ‘I mean it. Thank you. You saved her life, and mine. I’m grateful.’

Despite Ella’s mouth firmly shut, her blue eyes are wide. I’m tempted to make her leave afterall. Is it really so rare and shocking for me to be polite? Never mind.

Carter lets my words settle between us. Finally, he gives a nod. And that’s that.

‘How is Katie? We expected to see you guys for breakfast.’

I dip my head to hide the heat crawling over my cheeks as memories of our explicit shower-time come to mind. ‘Yeah, we slept in. I left food for her. Actually, have you seen Elijah, or maybe Prescott? I was hoping to have a word with the Earth alpha. Thank him for letting us stay.’

‘Moira drank something last night. I think she’s sleeping it off,’ Ella says.

‘Wait, what did she drink?’

‘Elijah said she found Starlight Wine in the back of the fridge, and that there was a warning label on it she didn’t see. But she’ll be okay,’ Ella adds.

‘Right.’ I get to my feet, unsure what to do. I tap my thighs a couple times. ‘Yup. See ya.’ As I’m about to none-too-awkwardly leave the infirmary, Ella catches at my wrist.

‘Hey,’ she says, her voice low. ‘That was really nice of you.’

‘You looked like you swallowed a chunk of ice you were so shocked,’ I gripe.

Her lips turn down. ‘I’m sorry. It was unexpected. Did Katie ask you to tell him that?’

‘No, she didn’t.’ Over Ella’s shoulders, through the gaps in the soft, white curtains, I watch Carter wince as he moves, his eyes squeezed in pain. ‘I’ve been an asshole.’

Ella bites her lip, probably to keep from agreeing. Instead, she brushes my arm. ‘I know she’ll be pleased, Killian. You know he’s no threat to you, don’t you? That Katie’s all yours?’

I lower my gaze. Part of me knows that, sure. Doesn’t stop me from disliking the guy most of the time. Can’t help it. ‘Do you think she still… shares a bond with him?’

Ella lowers her voice. ‘I don’t know. I think all that matters is she picked you. Trust her.’

Simultaneously, I want to agree—because I do trust Katherine—but I also want to roll my eyes, as though it is that easy. This isn’t helpful, though, so I offer my best attempt at a smile, nod, and make my way back toward the last place I saw the alpha, up those twin, stone steps in the estate.

As though all at once, every member of Terran accepted our presence. The guards don’t stop me from entering the alpha estate, instead politely inclining their heads, and opening the large, double doors for me, though I don’t miss the dubious look they share as I pass.

I’m not entirely sure what I want to say to the alpha, but I feel it’s my duty to say something. I know one thing. He and my father never got along, just like their fathers before them. What if there’s a chance for me to turn the tide here? To be allies?

Then again, if I offend him, we’ll be out on our asses again. And Katherine would be furious. Not to mention the grief that would cause Elijah and Moira. And I don’t know that Carter would survive being moved right now.

Shit.

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