He frowned. “What happened?”
The ghost of hollow agony rose up within her. “I can’t let that happen again,” she said, then meeting his gaze, hard with cold conviction. “If he hurts you... Iwillkill him.”
His eyes tracked down to where her fingers rested. He started to reach for her, but she turned her shoulder to him.
“Because of what I did to you,” he said darkly.
“What does it matter why?” she said to her knees. “Whatever the reason, it’s true.” She gave him a hard look. “Isn’t that enough? You wanted to know if you could trust me, if you were helping him through me, but that could never be, because I could never put you at risk. If I joined with him, he would know the truth, he would find you, and that would destroy me and then I would have to destroy him.” She pushed to her feet. “Have you thought about that?”
“About what?” he asked softly.
“About what it will do to me if you follow through with your plan. If you lose?”
His jaw hardened and he stood. “But you forget, my heart, if I die, he can heal you. Tell me you would still turn him away then.”
“Would you believe me if I said I would?”
“That you would turn your back on love”—a taut pained expression rolled over his face—“for a friend?”
Before she could respond, he moved around her, heading towards the door.
“Where are you going?” she said after him.
He opened the door.
“You can’t—”
The door closed.
“Magda.”
She rolled over, her silken robe falling open over her bare legs.
Through the mist of sleep still thick upon her, she squinted at him.
He sat on the edge of the bed, near her shins.
“Kaelan?” She propped up on her elbows. “Where have you been? What time is it?”
She glanced towards the curtained doors, no light shone around the cracks. She had dimmed most of the lamps after taking off her clothes.
“Early,” he murmured, rubbing his face roughly. “I went to see Honey.”
“And?”
“And nothing,” he said. “If she knows anything, she’s a very good liar.”
Letting out a heavy sigh, she fell back. Hero remained curled in a ball at the foot of the bed, next to her face. She had fallen asleep watching him.
“And what about our small friend?” she asked of Kirk. “Have you seen him?”
“No. Damion and I questioned everyone who was still out in the field, but turned up nothing useful.”
Her hand flopped to her chest, only then did she realize that the robe had fallen completely open and she was naked. She sat up, body burning, clutching at her robe. Kaelan’s gaze slid sheepishly to the floor.
“Have you slept?” she asked.
“A bit, in a chair in mymother’ssitting room,” he said, eyes tracking from her exposed legs to her hand holding the robe closed at her chest and then to her face. “My mother and Damion both wanted me to return here sooner.”
