Dane led Cybil to the boxy woodstove with a smokestack that shot right through the kitchen roof. “Careful.” They held out their hands and divine heat warmed their frigid fingers.
“Cain, why don’t you come to my study where we can talk.”
“Don’t be long, Ezekiel,” Faith said, rolling out a thick wad of dough on the surface of the table.
Dane’s stomach growled with hunger. “Sorry.”
Faith laughed. “Help yourself to the sausage on the table.”
He gradually worked his way to the table but hesitated to help himself to their food. Cybil wasn’t so shy. She bit into a fat link and grinned at Faith.
“Do you like it?”
“She doesn’t talk,” he told the woman.
“Oh. Well, have as much as you like. We have plenty more.”
He stole a link and took a bite. The warm, fatty flavor of freshly grilled meat met his tongue, savory and more delicious than anything he’d eaten in weeks. “Wow.”
She grinned. “We make everything fresh here. No markets or pre-processed additives.”
He wondered why the rest of the world settled for anything less. He helped himself to another sausage.
“Nanna?” A female voice called from the front of the house and he stiffened, self-conscious of their presence once more.
“In the kitchen, Grace.”
A woman appeared and stilled the moment she spotted them. “Oh, I didn’t realize you had company.” She gave them the same strange look Faith had given them when they arrived. “Are they…English.”
“They arrived with your brother a few minutes ago.”
“Cain’s back?”
This beautiful woman was Cain’s sister?
She wore an identical bonnet to Faith’s, only her hair wasn’t tucked under the lace as neatly. A wisp of long, chestnut hair swept over her neck, and he wondered if she realized it had escaped.
He frowned at the sight of her bare feet. Weren’t her toes cold?
She giggled. “I said, ‘Hi, I’m Gracie.’”
Oh shit, she was talking to him? “Uh…”
Her smile was enchanting and her eyes were the prettiest shade of blueish silver he’d ever seen. “Do you have a name?”
“Um, yeah…” He swallowed and his sister frowned at him, jamming an elbow in his side. “Uh, Dane. I’m Dane. And this is Cybil.”
“Dane and Cybil will be staying with us,” Faith explained. “Why don’t you make them some tea, Grace. They’ve had quite a journey.”
“Sure.” She set a kettle on the woodstove and continued to study them. It was clear she had a few questions.
A few? More like a hundred—like where did they come from.
Dane’s back pressed to the chair and his mouth stopped chewing. He could hear her thoughts. How old was she?
Twenty-one. How old do I look?
The girl stiffened, her hand releasing the wooden handle of the kettle as she abruptly faced him. “Did you say something?”
Eyes unblinking, he pressed his lips shut and swallowed. “No.”
“Oh,” I swore I heard him.
I can hear you!
“How are you doing that?” Grace snapped.
“You can hear me?”
“Yes!” Her hands rushed to her temples, and she staggered away from the woodstove.
What am I thinking? Colby, Colby, Colby…
“A dog, but that’s not the point.” How are you getting into my head?
He frowned. Same way you’re getting into mine. I don’t know how it works.
“Well, get out,” she snapped.
“Grace!” Faith chastised.
“He’s in my head!”
“You were in mine!”
“I’m in everyone’s,” Grace argued. “I’m allowed. You’re different.” You’re just some kid.
And you’re just some girl.
“Stop that!” she snapped. “Make your own tea.” She stomped out of the kitchen, and Faith shook her head.
“I have no idea what’s gotten into her.”
Chapter 44
Larissa’s mind came awake with the life-affirming warmth of a new dawn, and she drew in an audible breath as her eyes found his. She frowned at his position on the chair. “Why are you over there?”
Eleazar leaned forward and collected her hand in a delicate grip. “How do you feel?”
“I feel fine—” Her frown deepened and her breath hitched.
He gave her a moment to recall the evening before.
Her eyes shimmered with a wash of fresh tears. “Where is he?”
“Gone.”
Her panic was palpable. “Eleazar, what did you do?”
He forced a smile, but his face wore the worry and exhaustion of the previous night’s events. “Nothing that you need to worry about. You’re safe. That’s all that matters.”
She pushed herself to sit up, not a single wince of soreness and her motions were agile once more. “I don’t believe you.”
He blocked his mind and stared into her eyes. “Do you trust that I will always protect you?”
She nodded, though her gaze pinched under the heavy concern that knit her brow.
“Then trust that I resolved the issue, and let’s never speak of it again.”
“His family…”
“I’ll handle it.” He reached behind him and withdrew the annulment. “He left you a parting gift.”
She accepted the sheath of papers with an unsteady hand and brought it to her nose. “Blood.”
“Yes. A mix of yours and his.”
The papers fluttered to the floor, and the wall of tears spilled from her eyes. “I’m sorry.”