“Is Jebback?”
August sighed, probably not wanting to discuss my uncle right now. “He’s at the inn with Lucy, putting it in order. Liam gave it back to them.” August tried to tow my hand off my face, but I resisted. “You don’t have to hide fromme.”
I didn’t say anything . . . I couldn’t. The lump had grown too much to speak aroundit.
“Ness. . .”
I turned my face away and stared at the dancing boughs of the oak tree, trying to settle my churningthoughts.
August’s knees clicked as he rose. For a long moment, neither of usspoke.
Then, “Can you ask Sarah to come back in here? Just Sarah. No oneelse.”
A moment later, his footfalls petered out. While I waited for her, I wondered if she’d already glimpsed my face without thebandage.
When her lavender-and-silk perfume replaced August’s heavy, heady scent, I turned. Making sure no one else was in the room and that the door was shut, I lowered my hand and exposed my ruinedface.
Her gaze didn’t waver in surprise, didn’t widen in horror. It remained steady on mine. I guessed she’d known what toexpect.
“You know what’s insane?” she finally said, blowing a puff of air out of the corner of her mouth. “It’s how ridiculously pretty you still are in spite of your battle scars. Here I thought I’d finally have a chance to outshineyou.”
Tears tracked down both my cheeks. My left eye was inept at capturing images but not at producingtears.
“Oh, sweetie.” Sarah dropped down on the mattress, making it bounce a little, and then she wrapped her arms around my neck and hugged meclose.
“I know it’s stupid to be angry about this, seeing as I could be dead, but it sucks,” Iwhispered.
Sarah pressed away. “It’s not stupid. You’re allowed to be angry. I don’t think it would be healthy if you weren’t.” She combed a lock of hair behind my ear, exposing more of thehorror.
“Everyone’s going tostare.”
“Everyone alreadydid.”
“But not for the samereasons.”
“You’re right. Most people are probably going to wonder how you got your scars. Better come up with a good story that doesn’t involve a duel with a massive wolf. You don’t want to frighten the townspeople.” She smiled, but it didn’t reach hereyes.
Her perfect eyes and her smoothskin.
“I can’t drive. Not for a while. Depth perception,” I addedglumly.
“Good thing I’m an exceptionally great chauffeurandwe go to the sameschool.”
“Sarah . . .” I pressed my trembling lips together. Tears circled around them and dripped down my chin, plopping onto my hospitalgown.
“What?”
“You’re not going to spend your days driving mearound.”
“Why not? I love driving, and surprisingly enough, I love spending time with you. It’s a win-win forme.”
A knock on the door had me quickly wiping the tears on my sleeves and finger-combing my hair to shroud half myface.
“Ness?”
Jeb. . .
“Should I let him in?” Sarah askedquietly.
