Page 47 of Into The Green

I moved to stand quickly, intent on looking at his back, and completely forgetting about my ankle. I stepped on it with full pressure, making me gasp as the impact sent of a shock of pain. It wasn't as bad as the day before, likely due to getting some rest, but it still hurt.

"Clumsy," Jasper said, his tone a little condescending.

My head shot up, my spine stiffening, something inside telling me that things had just taken a sharp turn into WhatthefuckdidIdos Ville. The actions of the night before could only end in one of three ways. We could acknowledge it and soften toward each other, maybe have things progress. We could both completely pretend it never happened, which was always the safest bet. Or, of course, it could turn ugly. My gut was telling me it was going to get ugly.

"Yeah, dragging your unconscious ass across a field made me less than graceful," I shot back. I moved over toward the satchels of spices and herbs, throwing bits of them into the mason jar, filling it with water, and starting a fire underneath it. He seemed fine, but another dose wouldn't do any harm. Things stayed completely silent while it boiled, steeped, and cooled. I wrapped the jar in a rag and hobbled over to Jasper. He chugged it back with a curse as I moved behind him to check the cuts. Under the sticky honey, the signs of infection were gone. The flaps of skin were still red and angry, but it seemed liked they were closing up.

"Looks better," I said, moving away from him to sit down and pick at the pile of food on the ground. Doyle must have gone foraging and dropped it all off.

"He's looking for information on Jade," Jasper answered my unasked question. "We need a direction so we don't walk in circles."

"Shouldn't we stay here for another day? Until we're sure you're better? You were raging with infection for a full day."

"And now I'm not," Jasper snapped.

"Aren't you a ray of fucking sunshine today?" I shot back, eyes shooting daggers at him, using every bit of self-control to not think about the night before because I knew he was mentally eavesdropping. Now that I understood it better, there were traces when someone was digging around in your head. There was almost a shadow, a cool spot, like a ghost inside.

"A ray of sunshine?" Doyle's voice asked, happy, boyish, as he walked up. "Were you talking about me, sweetheart?"

I felt my lips tip up ever so slightly. "Always, Doyle. I talk of nothing else."

"Did you find anything out?" Jasper broke in, impatient.

"Everyone keeps pointing me in the direction of the nymphs."

"You can't be serious," Jasper said, drawing my attention.

Doyle smile spread, boyish, charming. "I know. I guess I will have to endure their attentions to get some information."

Jasper exhaled, making some sort of resigned growling noise at the back of his throat. "Which nymphs?"

"Oh, the tree and flower ones to begin with."

"And to end with," Jasper said, rolling his eyes. "If they don't know anything, the water and underworld won't either."

"Oh, but wouldn't it be fun to ask?" Doyle shot back, eyes twinkling.

Nymphs. Them, at least, I was vaguely aware of from my history class. They were dancing, singing, beautiful young women who liked loads of sex. No wonder Doyle wanted to go visit them.

"So we'll go tomorrow," I said with a nod.

"No," Jasper snapped. "We'll go as soon as you've eaten."

"Jasper... your..."

"My everything is better," he said and something crossed his face that I didn't trust, something a little cruel, very much unlike the Jasper I had come to know. Cool, condescending, a little snippy, but overall good? Yes. Cruel? No. "Maybe all doctors should make out with their patients. Seems to work wonders."

There, right then and there, any small sliver of hope I had left for the male sex vanished. Fuck fuck fuck them. Where did he get off thinking he could say shit like that? Especially in mixed company? I felt my cheeks get warm and knew I was blushing and hated him all the more for it.

Jasper had leaned down to start collecting the mess of items we had strewn about. His head was tilted though, as if listening to me.

Anger making me determined, I slammed down the shield I had used with Declan, mentally reinforcing it with bricks, barbed wire, and trained fucking dogs. His brow raised for a split second, as if in surprise, before he snorted and finished what he was doing.

I couldn't bring myself to look at Doyle who also got up and started cleaning. I stayed where I was, eating a foraged breakfast and silently seething.

"You know she had to hold your nose shut and let you choke on that tea for a while before she finally got your stubborn, unconscious ass to drink it," Doyle said, likely trying to lighten the mood.

"Great bedside manner," Jasper said dryly in response.