Kaevin chuckled, rumbling in her ear. “I haven’t seen Alleraen, but I heard him. His loud voice carried as if he were right in this room, so he must be nearby. He was objecting to something called a bed pan.”
Just as she was feeling better about Jireo and Alleraen, a new worry struck. She looked at the small room with bare white walls and their twin IV poles.
“Jiminy Cricket! We’re back in the hospital... both of us in one room... in the same bed! Isn’t that nurse going to call that reporter guy and sic him on us?”
“We’re not at the healing house... Correction—we’re not at the healing house where the suspicious woman resides.”
“Then where are we?”
He shrugged. “I didn’t ask. I’ve not been allowed out of this room.”
She digested this new information. What else did she need to know?
“Is Vindrake dead? I mean, I’m not sure how they would have killed him since he’d done something wonky to his skin so he couldn’t get cut. It was just like what that Abaddon guy did. Remember? And here we were thinking it was such a good thing we’d found metal blades that would transport. Meanwhile, Vindrake does this black magic voodoo, and we would’ve been better off with ceramic blades, after all. So, is he dead, or not?”
Kaevin was silent, but she felt his muscles tighten.
“I’m guessing we didn’t kill him, huh?”
“They thought he was dead, but now they believe he lives.”
She blew a piece of hair off her face. “That’s okay. I’m happy just to be alive and away from him.”
“Brightness!” He slammed his hand down on the bed. “You can’t know how I longed to go after you. But no! I was confined to this bright bed. I would’ve cut off my arm for an opportunity to kill him—to wipe his evil from the face of Tenavae. Instead, I lay in this bed, imagining how he might be torturing you. Reaching out and feeling nothing, knowing you were hiding your pain from me. I wish you’d never been taught how to properly use your gift. At least before, I could share your pain, even when we were apart.”
What can I say? If I tell Kaevin everything Vindrake said... everything he did... he’ll only be more angry and frustrated.
“It wasn’t so bad, this time. He mostly just threatened me.”
Kaevin raised an eyebrow. “If you looked in the mirror you wouldn’t bother lying to me.”
She gave him a playful punch, careful to avoid any bandaged areas. “Ha! You lied to me too. You told me I didn’t look bad.”
“No, I said you looked beautiful to me. And I didn’t lie.” His lids closed halfway across his deep green eyes, as his lips grazed her cheek.
Feeling cherished, she nestled against him, grateful that the grown-ups had allowed them to be together. Though their separation had been rather short, the soulmate bond felt totally depleted. Thinking of Vindrake’s threat, to allow them to die slowly from separation, sent a shiver down her spine.
He hugged her even tighter, rubbing her arm. “I was so afraid, Alora.”
“I know—I felt your fear. I wanted to help you feel better, but I couldn’t.”
“I don’t fear death. I don’t fear battle or pain. I have no fear of Vindrake or anything he might do to me. But when I woke up and learned he’d taken you, all I could imagine was more of the last time...” His voice cracked. “I wish I could talk to you about it. But I know you have to avoid those memories, so your control will be effective and your stored pain won’t exit all at once.”
“Actually... I’m pretty sure it’s all gone now. As best I can tell, I’ve got nothing stored up anymore. So we can talk about it, if that will help.”
“It’s gone? All that pain is gone? How did that happen?”
“Laethan didn’t tell you? It was genius, really. First, he used his empathy gift so Vindrake would let him get close to me, and then he grabbed my hand and... Zap! He knew just how much pain I could handle and live through it, and I guess he sent as much as he could to Vindrake, ‘cause we were all three screaming bloody murder. Of course, Laethan had to endure it, too. Thank goodness, I finally blacked out. I don’t know what happened after that, but I’m assuming that’s how they got me away from Vindrake. I can’t believe Laethan didn’t tell you.”
Kaevin looked away, blinking a little too fast for normal.
“What? Did Laethan pass out, too?”
Kaevin nodded, and she saw his Adam’s apple bobbing up and down.
“He’s not awake yet?”
“Alora... Laethan has passed on.”