I hesitated. Now wasn't the time for the truth. Not until I'd spoken to Jeremy first.
"Heart attack," I said.
Paige frowned. "But her heart--"
"Welcome back!" Adam shouted from across the parking lot.
I turned to see him running toward me, grinning.
"You look good," Adam said. "Well, except for those cuts. We'll get them back for that. How are your arms? The burns, I mean. I never got a chance to explain. I didn't mean it, which I guess you figured, since Clay didn't kill me for it. Anyway, I'm sorry. Really sorry."
"To be honest, I'd forgot
ten all about it."
"Good. Then forget I mentioned it." He turned as Clay reached us. "How come you didn't take me along? I could have helped with the rescue."
"There was no rescue," Clay said, looping his arm around my waist. "While I was trying to find a way inside, Elena escaped. All I did was provide the getaway car."
"See?" Cassandra said as she joined us. "I told you Elena was a resourceful girl."
Paige rolled her eyes at the use of "girl," but Cassandra ignored her.
"Congratulations, Elena," she said, laying a cool hand on my arm. "I'm glad to see you out and looking well."
She sounded as if she meant it. I stopped myself. Why wouldn't she mean it? Because I'd dreamed that she'd counseled the others to abandon me and made a play for Clay? A dream, I reminded myself. A manifestation of my own insecurities. Cassandra's welcoming smile was genuine enough. If Clay's arm seemed to tighten around me, well, that was probably coincidence. Or my imagination.
"We should get this meeting started," Paige said. "We'll keep it brief. I'm sure you're exhausted, Elena. We won't pester you for details to night. I promise."
CHAPTER 40
LOYALTIES
At the meeting, Jeremy summarized what my escape added to our knowledge. By combining my info with Clay's, we had a good picture of the internal and external geography of the compound. Perhaps most important, we knew where to find our enemies. Given the size and complexity of the operation, it was unlikely they'd move camp anytime soon. So, Jeremy reasoned, we could take the time to plan an infiltration strategy, end the threat permanently, and release Ruth and the others.
As Jeremy said this, I realized everyone assumed Ruth was still alive. Why wouldn't they? I hadn't said otherwise.
"Ruth--uh--didn't make it," I said.
"What?" Adam's gaze darted to Paige. "You mean she--"
"She's gone," Paige said, her voice hollow and small.
"Shit." Adam walked over to Paige and put his arm around her shoulders, then looked at me. "What happened?"
Now I was trapped. Would I lie in front of the entire group, knowing they'd learn the truth after I explained everything to Jeremy? Or would I be honest and have Paige wondering why I'd lied only minutes before? How did I get into these scrapes? Better make a clean breast of it before I dug myself in any deeper.
"It's--uh--complicated," I began.
"They murdered her, didn't they?" Paige said. "I know the kidnapping must have been stressful, but she was in excellent health."
In other words, Paige hadn't bought my heart-attack story. I mentally thanked her for giving me a graceful way out and not calling me on my lie.
"Actually, no," I said. "They didn't kill her. Not the people who kidnapped us, anyway. It was one of the other captives. But it wasn't her fault."
Paige frowned. "An accident?"
"Umm, kind of, but not exactly." I inhaled. "Ruth didn't tell you every thing when she contacted you. There was another witch there. A young girl."