“Whose fault is that? You’re the one who got yourself grounded. It’s not like Wesley could just bring Daegreth over to meet you.”
“What’s ‘grounded’?” asked Arista.
“It’s my middle name,” Beth quipped. “Come on, Alora. They’re guys… they don’t need more than five minutes to talk. Let’s go.”
Beth powered down the hallway to Daegreth’s room, towing Alora behind her as she clung to Beth’s shirt.
“You have a middle name?” Arista asked, following along.
“Her real middle name is trouble,” Alora complained as Beth burst into the room.
“Hi, Daegreth. I’m Beth. It’s great to finally meet you.” Beth stuck out her hand.
“Well met, Beth.” Daegreth mumbled his reply, averting his eyes.
“Oh, I forgot they’ve got you tied up.” Beth withdrew her hand. “Did it hurt very much to get shot? Or when Dr. Sanders dug the bullet out? Alora told me he didn’t use any anesthetic. You don’t mind if I look at it, do you? I’m an EMT, and I’m going to be a surgeon some day.”
Daegreth’s lips moved, but no audible sound emerged. His wide eyes blinked at the force of nature packed in Beth’s compact body as she picked at the tape covering his bandage.
“Look, Alora.”
“Beth, you’re crazy. I have no desire to see a gunshot wound.”
“I’d like to see,” said Arista, crowding beside Beth.
Alora moved to the head of the bed, bestowing a kind smile on Daegreth. His eyes darted away from her gaze as if she’d burned him. She leaned down to whisper in his ear. “I want you to know I don’t blame you, Daegreth. I’m gifted in discernment, and there’s no darkness in you.”
Daegreth turned back until his eyes met hers. His voice was so low, Alora had to strain to hear. “Truly? Am I not tainted by Vindrake’s vile spirit?”
“I wouldn’t lie to you, Daegreth.” Alora started to pat his shoulder, but she sensed Kaevin’s jealous glare. With a parting smile, she moved to stand beside Kaevin. The pain seeped back into her head, remaining steady after Kaevin reached out to take her hand. Once again, she pondered if this indicated a change in the soulmate bond.
Arista peered over Beth’s shoulder, while she worked intently to remove the bandage and expose the wound on Daegreth’s side.
“Beth, won’t you make it start bleeding again?” Alora tried to sound discouraging.
“Don’t worry, I’m being really careful. You don’t mind if I take a peek at this bullet hole, do you, Daegreth?” She continued to pull at the tape, not waiting for a reply. “Oh, it’s all stitched up. I thought there would still be a hole.”
“Incredible!” Arista’s expression was rapturous.
Alora’s heart went out to Daegreth, whose face couldn’t possibly turn a brighter shade of red. “Cover it up, Beth. Isn’t there a danger of infection or something? Dr. Sanders said he’s not out of the woods yet.”
“Out of the woods?” Arista questioned.
“Sorry,” said Alora. “It means out of danger. Dr. Sanders said his spleen could have been hit. Anyway, we’re here to pick Daegreth’s brain about what we might find when we get to Portshire.”
“Pick his brain?” Arista’s expression morphed from confusion to horror.
“That’s just an expression,” Beth clarified. “I promise we’re not going to poke around inside his head. We’re just going to ask some questions.”
Daegreth cried out in a loud voice, jerking against all his bindings and rattling the bed frame. Everyone jumped away from his frenetic form.
Everyone except Arista.
She froze, cocking her head sideways and pushing a few long, tangled blond locks out of her face so she could see him better. “What’s wrong with you? Are you in pain?”
“I’m dangerous!” Daegreth’s brows bunched in a fierce glare. “You shouldn’t stand so close. You can never relax—not for a moment.”
Arista straightened, placing her hands on her hips. “I’m not afraid of you. I’m a real warrior.