Page 51 of Wraithwound

“He deserved it. Trust me,” he said, using a small blade to sort through glass vials on a cloth in front of him.

“How’d you get me here?”

Cross turned to a length of rope sitting near his supplies by way of answer.

“The Taryk treatment, then,” she said. He smirked.

“Some would say you deserved it, too,” he said, but then the smirk slipped from his face. “Are you going to tell me why you did that? And now you’re⁠—?”

He gestured at her with the small blade in reference to her apparent change in motivation.

“I—thought I had lost someone. As it turns out, he’s still alive. I have to help him.”

“How do you know that?” he asked.

“I just do,” she said.

Cross nodded. “How’s your neck?”

“I think you can guess,” she answered.

“And your ankle?” he added, his gaze meeting hers.

“Same as my neck,” she answered.

Cross nodded yet again. Then, he rose and lifted his shirt, turning to the side so that Lena could see his ribs and lower back. Lena rose as well, unable to contain her astonishment. Without thinking, she walked over and placed her hand on the newly formed scar. Tracing the area, she examined the new skin there. His slight shift at her touch revealed the tiny crystal-like shards reflecting the aurora’s glow. Lena bit her lip to keep from asking him about them. She had so many questions about their origin and function, but asking questions usually invited questions. And that was never a good idea in Reimar.

His touch was ever so gentle as he removed her hand. A flush so fierce crept up her cheeks she might as well have been on fire.

“I’m so sorry. I was—am—a healer, and I wasn’t sure how well—what the skin might look like. And so fast?” She was rambling now.

But Cross was still holding her hand. He flipped it over, palm up, and stared at the scarred, blackened skin there. “How did you heal me?”

Lena pulled her hand out of his and went back to her place across the fire.

“I’m not sure,” she lied.

“Okay, then why?” he asked.

But Lena merely shrugged.

“Your turn. What can you tell me about that?” she said pointing behind him again. He didn’t miss a beat. “Oh that, I have no idea what that is.”

“You said you knew!” she protested.

“I said I would tell you what I knew, and it’s not much, except for the planet you see there has been getting clearer over the last few weeks. The first time I noticed it, it was very faint. It was also after I got injured, so there were a few nights I questioned my sanity. Now, well, it appears to be closer, and a lot more visible.”

Weeks?

“Okay, not very helpful there,” she said.

“I could say the same about you,” he said, shrugging.

Okay, fair. Lena sighed.

“All right. What can you tell me about wraiths?” she tried.

“What would you like to know?” he asked.