Starcrossed (Starcrossed 1)

she just picked Claire up off his lap and carried her into the house

for him.

?My room. Quickly,? Jason croaked as Helen carried Claire into

the crowded kitchen.

She ducked past the startled faces of the Delos family, cradling

Claire close to her chest to shield her from prying eyes as she and

Jason made their way to the stairs. Halfway up the staircase she

felt Jason put his hand on her shoulder and lean into her for support.

He was so weak he could barely put one foot in front of the

other. Eventually, he made it the rest of the way.

?How can I help you?? Helen asked Jason, easing Claire down into

his bed.

?You can?t,? he replied as he stretched his big frame out alongside

Claire. ?I made my choice, and we?re tied to each other until she recovers.

It?s sort of like a Healer?s last stand. At this point we?ll

either make it through that desert together or we won?t.?

?Oh, good,? Helen sighed, finally feeling hopeful. ?Claire would

never allow someone she cared about to just go and die, especially

not to save her own life.?

She saw Jason smile and nod humorously as he remembered that

no matter how dire the situation seemed, at least he had tied his

life force to a genuinely legendary fighter.

?I did everything I could to keep her out of this, to protect her

from our kind,? he whispered, meeting Helen?s eyes.

?Yeah, I know. All that arguing you two did, even though you?re

obviously perfect for each other,? Helen said, feeling guilty. Jason

had tried to push Claire away to keep her safe, but Helen hadn?t. ?I

get it now.?

?You have other things to deal with,? he said, his eyes already

starting to close. ?Go. I?ll guide her through.?