I can't help but feel admiration. Without training, without preparation, she managed to manipulate air with enough precision to incapacitate a man Voronov's size. Even among Fae with natural talent, that's extraordinary.
“You're very powerful,” I admit in a moment of sincerity.
“Is that good or bad?”
“Depends on who you ask,” I murmur.
I fall silent. I don't even know the answer myself. I don't know Kaelisar's plans, but knowing him, it won't be anything good. The more power Nell holds inside, the stronger the bond between us, the easier it will be to achieve whatever he's planning.
**
Althea jumps up as soon as we enter the apartment.
“Are you okay? Fuck, I almost had a heart attack with all that waiting.”
I watch as her gaze moves from me to Nell. I know what she's seeing: the reddened eyes, the paleness, the almost imperceptible trembling in her hands. Nell tries to hide it, but fails spectacularly.
“The mission was a success,” I inform, leaving the keys on the table. “Nell managed to locate the safe and get images of the model.”
“What happened?” Althea asks, entirely ignoring my report. Small sparks jump from her fingers as she watches Nell. “What did that son of a bitch do to her?”
“Voronov tried to...” she starts, though she's unable to keep talking.
She doesn't finish the sentence. She doesn't need to.
“I'm going to kill him. I swear I'm going to kill him,” the Kobold growls, taking a step toward the door. “I'm going to enter that mansion and burn him alive from the inside out.”
“Althea,” Sylara's voice is calm but firm. She appears from the room where she was processing the data. “Sit down, please.”
“Did you hear what she said? That... that son of a bitch...”
“I heard everything through the earpiece,” the elf interrupts, and for the first time I see a crack in her usual composure. She's pale, even for her, with pressed lips. “I was about to tell Sabina to go in when you solved it yourself. Believe me, if I could, I'd make the roots of his trees strangle him while he sleeps.”
Sylara approaches Nell slowly. I watch as she places a hand on her cheek with a delicacy that provokes a stab of something I don't want to name, but that looks too much like horrible jealousy.
“Are you okay?” she asks in a low voice. “And I don't mean the mission.”
Nell swallows. For a moment, her tough girl facade crumbles completely.
“I don't know,” she admits. “But I will be, don't worry.”
Althea approaches too, wrapping an arm around her. The contrast is almost comical: the enormous Kobold enveloping the small Fae. But there's something in the image that squeezes my chest. Both of them are comforting her. Both feel the same as I do. But I'm here, standing, maintaining the distance I promised myself to keep. Though barely twenty minutes ago I was hugging her in the van. Though I can still feel her body trembling against mine.
Nell lifts her gaze and finds me.
There's a question in her eyes. Why aren't you here with them?
I have to look away.
The Fae lets herself fall on the couch and closes her eyes for a few moments. Unable to help it, I watch her: her short, rebellious blond hair, the pursed lips, the tension in her shoulders. Shit, I'm lost. Something in her attracts me in a way I've never experienced, and I just want to sit next to her and protect her.
“That safe model is the best on the market,” she suddenly sighs. “Triple biometric lock, rotating numeric code, and countermeasure system in case of tampering.”
“Do you know how to open it?” I ask nervously.
Nell shakes her head, frustrated.
“I don't, but I know someone who could help us,” she announces, taking out her cell phone. “Cherie is the best with safes. If anyone can open that thing, it's her.”
