A tapping sounded. Faint and fleeting.
I slammed to a halt, eyes flying to the ceiling, the walls, the window, the door.
It came again.
The softest rap and the quietest voice. “Threads, open up.”
After pacing tens of kilometres and biting off my nails in concern, they were back.
I flew.
With super-human strength, I shoved aside the dresser and opened the door.
“Let us in. Quickly.” Vaughn’s voice was raspy and tired, but alive.
Thank God.
I stepped aside. The dark corridor hid my secretive visitors until they traded the gloom and darted inside. Vaughn prowled forward with Jasmine locked in his arms, moving through puddles of sunlight, as he headed straight for her chair.
Immediately, I closed the door again, deliberating whether to put the dresser back or not.
Jaz’s arm was slung over his shoulders, her body relaxed in his embrace. Something was different.
When he’d picked her up and disappeared seven hours ago, they’d been awkward and stiff. Now, they shared an experience, a mission I hadn’t been privileged to participate in.
Vaughn’s back bunched beneath a new t-shirt as he placed Jasmine gently into the wheeled contraption. I eyed him.He wasn’t wearing that last night.Theprevious wardrobe had been a bloodied dark blue shirt. This was a dark grey tee with a sports brand tagged on the front—not at all what my brother would wear.
My heart thudded with mysteries. What had they seen and done together? What rapport had they built? And why couldn’t I have been a part of it?
My jaw clenched as Jasmine smiled at V.
He tucked her useless legs onto the stirrups and took a step back. “You good?”
She nodded. “Thanks.”
I moved forward, feeling left out, lost, and entirely too close to tears.
She was on our side. She’d done what she could to save the men we both loved, but at the same time, I couldn’t forget how nasty she’d been. The ruse of making me hate her caused my feelings to split. I wanted to like her, but some part of me was still wary, still on edge.
She asked me to die for her brother.
But...wouldn’t I do the same if it were V?
Swallowing my hurt, I crossed my arms. “How did it go?”
Please tell me it was a success.
The rest of it: the sadness at not sharing their adventure and the grief at not being able to see Jethro would diminish the moment I knew he was in the hands of those who could heal him and Kes.
Jasmine adjusted herself in the chair as Vaughn took a step back.
Her eyes met mine. “We got them to the hospital.”
“Oh, thank God.” My heart tried to leap from my chest. “Did the doctors say anything?”
“Lots to tell you, Threads.” Vaughn came closer. His arms banded around me, squeezing tight.
Tears pricked my eyes.
