The door in the middle of the corridor opened and Eve stepped out. They regarded each other, unmoving. The heaviness of the situation bore down on them.

After another beat, she said, “I’ve analyzed the blood sample I took at the safe house.”

“And?” He walked closer.

She shook her head. “Her body has turned. If we terminate the pregnancy now, she’ll die.”

“Fuck.” He slammed his fist against the wall. Pain exploded in his knuckles. “Why did she have to run off like that?” Because she didn’t trust him, and he couldn’t blame her.

“I’ll do what I can,” Eve said, laying her hand on his arm.

He knew by Eve’s unusual display of affection that the pain he felt had to show in his eyes, but he couldn’t cry. Instead, it felt like his soul was sliding like a rain shadow wind on the lee side of a mountain. Dry.

“Time…” His voice was gruff. “Will it be enough?”

“I don’t know, Lann.”

He nodded.

“I’ve never had an actual case to work with before,” she said. “It’s difficult to conduct research in theory only. Maybe this will give us the breakthrough we need.”

Eve was offering consolation, but that wasn’t what Katherine needed. Katherine needed a hell of a lot more. She needed a miracle. He closed his eyes. Eve squeezed his arm.

Lann looked back at her and tried to smile. “Thanks.”

He continued down the hall and stopped in front of the last door, remaining outside for a moment to regain his composure before he entered.

Katherine sat on an ottoman facing the fire and Clelia was brushing her hair. When Lann walked into the room, Clelia got up and left the brush on the dressing table.

“Kat had a warm bath and ate a big bowl of tomato soup.” Clelia looked happy with herself. “The baby’s going to love tomatoes.”

The baby. The cause of Katherine’s death. Lann pushed the thought away.

“Thank you, Clelia,” Kat said.

“We’ll have dinner with Eve in the dining room later if you want to join us. If not, just help yourself to anything in the kitchen. While you’re staying, this is your home.”

Lann gave a small nod to show his appreciation for Clelia’s consideration. He’d sensed the gentleness in her from the first time they’d met, when Joss had abducted her. That was why she sheltered a whole zoo of stray animals. Firestarters were like that. Fire was the only element not from Earth. It gave light, energy, and wisdom without needing to receive anything in return for its endless capacity to give. Him, he was remote, cool, and would rather analyze a situation with reason than emotion. He was like the disciple, Thomas. He needed physical proof to believe. But that was before Katherine. All of what he was seemed different. His perfect control was slipping. Right now, he was about as stable as a low-pressure weather system. Joss’s words rang in his mind. He needed to hold onto his control. For her.

“I could bring your dinner to the room if you prefer,” Clelia offered.

“Thanks,” Lann said. “I’m good.”

The last thing on his mind was food. He wanted to be with Katherine. Alone.

When Clelia left, he walked over to the fire and looked down at Katherine. The atmosphere changed. A wave of air rippled down his chest. Without lifting a finger, she moved the air for him. Her presence was like a ribbon flying in the wind. With every minute he spent with her, it became stronger, her pull more undeniable. A week ago, he’d nearly killed himself by cutting off the oxygen that fed his soul. When he’d set her free, he’d thought his addiction would destroy him. Rather him than her. Now it was too late. For both of them.

Burgundy curls fell over her shoulder. She was dressed in a purple polo neck dress. Her skin was soft and tanned, her lips red and plump. She stared up at him with those blue eyes that always made him falter. Before, he’d found her breathtakingly beautiful, but now there was a new glow about her, a blush on her skin and a light in her eyes that shouldn’t have been there after what she’d just been through. The best and worst was the desire she tried so hard to deny shining in her eyes, a secret part of her only he knew.

She cleared her throat. “I know we need to talk about what I did at the clinic.”

“It’s done. We can’t turn back time. I understand why you did it.”

Her voice was hopeful. “Do you?”

He sat down next to her. “Yes.”

“Thank you.” She looked at her hands. “I don’t have enough energy left to fight over that too.”

He traced the perfect line of her jaw with a finger, but she pulled away. He hated the distance she put between them. It left him powerless when she needed him most.

Tags: Charmaine Pauls Seven Forbidden Arts Fantasy
Source: readsnovelonline.net