“How’s the back?”
Hailey perked up.
“It’s just a little raw,” she told him optimistically, “and Giselle put some Indispensable Mend-a-Wound on it this morning.” Looking down at her backpack, she stretched her fingers apart in an attempt to reach it without bending.
“Stop,” Fin said. “I’ll carry your books.”
“Thank you.” She smiled, trying not to look as sore as she felt. Every breath hurt that day, and she sat on the edge of her seat through class, at first because shecouldn’t rest her back against the chair, but later because Dr. Woodfork lectured on Earth-bound Envoys—she was riveted.
The hour flew, and when Woodfork discovered he’d gone late, he hurriedly gathered his papers and headed for the door, yelling over his shoulder amidst the racket of swinging auditorium seats, “A reminder—instead of Weights and Measures, you’ll all go now and meet with your section leads… Oh!”
He spun around with his armful of papers.
“Next time, the White Forest,” he told them quickly. “Your assignment: Go into the White Forestwith a partner, please—we don’t need any missing students this year—and listen to the trees.”
He pushed the door open with his back.
“Write fifteen hundred words on what you hear there and how it relates, scientifically, to paranormal research. Due in class next week. Have a good weekend everybody,” he added, and the door closed behind him.
As Hailey exited, she had a flashback of her hellish night in Lab 1, and wondered if Asher would bother to show up.
He didn’t.
And she knew that meant one of two things: either she was expelled again, or he wanted her dead. She went to the observatory to find out which it was and discovered Asher there staring through his telescope.
“How can you see anything in the daylight?” she asked as the door closed behind her. “What are you looking for anyway?” When he didn’t answer, she huffed loudly and turned to leave.
“Forgiveness,” he called, and then he turned his gaze to her. “You’re injured again.”
“It’s nothing,” she lied. Actually, her back was on fire, but she was too angry to admit it. Not that Asher cared—he went back to his telescope. Fin was right…Asher was bored with her.
“I’ll leave you to it,” she said softly as she started for the door again.
Asher jumped from his platform, landing loudly in front of Hailey.
“Don’t go,” he said gently, and Hailey’s lip trembled.
Why? Why did she always cry when she was angry?
Asher touched her softly, tilting her chin up, but he didn’t heal her. “Why are you sad?” he said.
Hailey looked away. “I’m not,” she argued. “I mean, I am. Or angry or scared, I don’t know—I tried to find you last night,” she told him, her voice going to a croak. She swallowed hard and looked away. “I called for you, and when you didn’t answer me, I thought maybe you were waiting to see if I’d die…again. You seem…” She risked a look in his eyes. “Do you want me dead again?”
He brushed her tears away. “Yes,” he said. “But only temporarily.”
Hailey’s blood ran cold. “What?” she managed, stepping away from him.
“Let me heal you,” he pleaded, “and we’ll talk.” He held his hand out to her.
Not sure she wanted his help, Hailey stared at the ground stubbornly, and Asher waited.
“Sometimes you scare me,” she said without looking up.
“I don’t mean to,” he coaxed.
Hesitantly, she placed her hand in his. Drawing her into his powerful embrace, he slid his hands around her waist and under her shirt, gently gliding his fingertips across her skin as she silently cried. A torrent of tiny tickles rose up her back, and she cringed slightly under the cold sting of regenerating skin. When he finished his repairs, Asher hugged her tight.
“It upsets me to see you in Pádraig’s bed,” he told her quietly, and Hailey pushed him away.
