The doctors had assured him there wasn’t any swelling in Leyna’s brain and that the break in her leg would mostly heal clean. They’d also issued a warning against any more magical healing since it was unknown whether too much of it could harm a patient. Apparently, all records had been lost in the great purge of Feiru-related information in the 1950s.
If Will had anything to say about it, he would help rediscover the limits of his own power.
But that didn’t help him in the present. Neither doctor had guaranteed anything about Leyna waking up without any brain damage. He hated being powerless to change that.
He murmured, “Come on, woman. We wasted two years. Let’s not waste any more time.”
Leyna remained motionless except for the rise and fall of her chest.
With a sigh, Will adjusted his position in the chair. He debated telling Leyna another memory from their past before their lives had separated when the door clicked open. Turning, he spotted Neena Chatterjee. He growled out, “What do you want?”
Neena entered, shut the door, and tilted her head. “You should be happy to see me, William. After all, I am a very busy woman.”
Remember she’s in charge here. Remember. Taking a deep inhalation, Will forced his voice to be less hostile. “Then would you care to tell me why you’re honoring us with your presence?”
Neena skipped to the other side of Leyna’s bed. “A bit better, although if you add ‘your highness’ to the end, it might win you some favors.”
Will gritted his teeth. Neena had visited once before, when they’d first landed. She’d merely said, “She’s still the living dead,” before disappearing.
Millie had stressed the importance of remaining on Neena’s good side. However, his patience was quickly evaporating.
Shrugging, Neena placed a hand on Leyna’s forehead. “I think you’d enjoy Leyna-slash-Petra’s dreams. She really should pick a name and stick with it.”
Ignoring the latter statement, Will dared to ask, “How would you know about her dreams?”
“Because I’m a Dream-Speaker, of course.” Neena lowered her voice. “Recently, I’ve needed a few cold showers after talking with Little Miss Slash here.”
Will’s eye twitched. “Her dreams mean nothing if she’s trapped in them forever.”
Neena grinned. “Considering they’re sexy and feature yourself, you might approve.”
The woman’s words pumped up his ego a notch, but Will pushed it aside. “Maybe you should stop violating people’s privacy.”
“I’m not so sure about that. Call me ‘your highness’, and I just might be able to persuade her to wake up.”
Will wanted to tell the woman to bugger off, but Millie’s warning replayed inside his head: Neena can become your greatest ally, but she can also become your worst enemy. Tread lightly.
He forced his voice to be even. “How?” Neena merely raised her brows and Will resisted sighing. “How, your highness?”
“Now, that wasn’t so hard, was it?” Neena stood a little taller. “As for how, watch and be amazed, lad. You’re going to owe me a few favors for this.”
Neena closed her eyes and stood silently. Will squeezed Leyna’s hand in his. Each second that passed only irritated him. If Neena was giving him false hope, then he didn’t bloody well care who she was or what she could do, he would find a way to tie her up and get some answers. Who knew what other powers the woman was hiding from him; there might be one to help his Leyna.
~~~
Petra stood inside her old apartment, the one she had shared with Will until two years ago. The secondhand couch took up most of the living room, with a small TV and stereo near the front. Five paces away was the small kitchen. Beyond was the tiny bedroom that was barely big enough for their bed.
Two graduate students couldn’t afford anything better in the greater London area. Yet as she surveyed the small space, each slightly used item brought back the memories of comfort and happiness with Will.
God, she’d loved him so much. No one had been able to make her laugh with a corny joke as much as him. Not to mention he’d always tried to tickle her when she least expected it. Back then, Petra had been the more serious of the two.
She should mourn the loss of the easygoing version of Will. And yet, Petra loved the more discerning, determined man he’d become. Both of them had changed, and in an odd way, they might fit better than before.
If only she could find him.
Petra had tried countless times to leave the apartment. However, every time she exited the door, it only put her back into the small set of rooms again. Maybe she had died after all and existing in the apartment was her personal version of hell.
No. She didn’t want to be dead. Not just because her brother’s life would be in jeopardy without her help, but also because she needed to tell Will how she felt. Kissing him back in the helicopter wasn’t enough; Petra wanted to state her feelings without leaving any doubt.