He spun around. “Hailey, I wish to heal your foot.”
“You can do that?”
“Yes,” he said, looking apologetic. “But not here. It has to be done on Earth. May I come see you?”
Hailey beamed. “Of course!”
She reached out to him, and he moved his translucent hand over hers.
“Then I will see you soon.”
Hailey woke just as Asher was leaving her room.
“Asher. Wait,” she said groggily, and he hesitated at the door. “Won’t you stay and talk to me?”
His eyes glowed warmly when he turned to her. She swung her feet over the side of her bed and wiggled them excitedly.
“Did you fix my foot?”
“I did,” he answered even as Hailey unwrapped the bandages.
“This is amazing,” she said, pirouetting and laughing her relief. “Thank you!”
Without thinking, she danced to the door and flung her arms around him, hugging him tight— something she’d always longed to do when she’d seen him in the Aether. It felt good to feel him close; it felt warm and safe.
But when Asher didn’t embrace her, she slid her arms off him and stepped back.
“Why did you do that?” he asked.
“I guess I was happy to see you,” she said, cringing inside. Clearly, she’d invaded his personal space. “I’m sorry.”
“Don’t be.” Asher took her hand and pulled her back into him. “I can never predict you,” he said, stroking her back, and Hailey melted into his powerful arms.
“Clothes,” she blurted, leaning slightly away. “I was only wearing Fin’s clothes because a poltergeist stole mine. I wasn’t—”
“I’m aware,” was all he said, and Hailey studied his eyes.
“So, you’re not going to kick me out of lab tomorrow?” she teased.
“No.”
“What are we going to work on—crystals?” Sliding out of his arms, she pranced to her pile of school materials, unable to hide her curiosity as she held up the vibrating box.
“Or…” She put those down and pulled on her Magnoggles, which reminded her of something the Red Baron would wear. “What do these do?” she asked when she found him looking perfectly normal on the other side of the lens.
“They allow you to view the Northern Lights.”
“Oh.” Pulling them off, she turned them over in her hands. “You can’t see the Northern Lights without goggles?”
“Not properly,” he told her. “I’m afraid we won’t be using them until November.”
“What about this?” She held up her vial of gold dust and shook it.
“For calibrating a ghost trap,” he said striding toward her.
“You have to calibrate them…oh…” Hailey said thoughtfully.
Very gently, Asher took the vial from her hand, pausing to brush his fingers across her skin. “You remind me of the wonder I felt when I first came to your world. And I very much look forward to working with you.” He gazed into her wide eyes for several seconds before placing her vial of gold dust back on the desk.
