“You never say it,” she whispered, almost inaudibly.

“Can you not feel it when I touch you, when we make love, when I hold you?” He stroked his fingertips along her jaw. “Actions speak louder than words, Em.”

She shook her head. “Not when it comes to I love you.”

Mike’s breath stopped short of his next word; he let it out with a long sigh. “You’re right. You’re right, Em. I’m sorry. I just didn’t realise, but—” he dried her tears with his thumbs and said with a laugh, “But I love you, okay? I love you.”

“Really?”

“Yes, really. You silly girl.” He pressed her delicate little face into his giant chest. “Don’t ever doubt that.”

“I’m sorry,” she said, wiping her nose with the back of her finger. “I just…you’ve just been so busy lately. I thought maybe you—”

Some cue, some touch or whispered word he spoke made her stop talking; he pressed his brow to hers and his shoulders lifted slowly. “I am never too busy for you. But you’ve got to tell me what you’re feeling, Em. I’m not David; I’m not a mind reader. If you’re worried I’m ignoring you or mad at you or don’t have time for you, just tell me, because it’s not the case. Got it?”

She nodded and smiled at me over Mike’s shoulder when he hugged her; I gave a little wave and a smile, then headed off to sit by the bed of David, near enough to cause me pain for not being able to hug him, but far enough to keep my pain from spreading.

Chapter 28

When mid-spring set in with the warm sun, and the sparkle of green leaves filled out the trees, David could finally open his mouth; I flooded his lips with my blood every hour, trying to make him heal faster.

“How is he?” Emily closed the bedroom door behind her.

“He’s good. He’s breathing again—every day now, and he can close his eyes, too.” I pointed to his face. “Look, see? He has eyelids.”

“Good. And it’s good to see him in clothes again, too.” She smiled and sat on the carpet. “I’m sorry I haven’t been around much lately.”

“It’s okay. How’s renovations on the manor going?”

“Good. I picked the curtains for your room.”

I smiled. “Then I’m sure it’ll look great. And how’s Mike, did you meet any of the knights?”

“Yep. They’re great. He’s great. Actually came home with me this time.”

“Really? Mike? Home? On a weekday?”

“Yeah.”

Weird. “You mean, you managed to prise him away from swords and sparring?”

“Miracle, huh?”

“He must be missing you,” I noted.

Emily nodded, tucking her hands in her pockets. “You look tired, Ara—have you slept since you were rescued?”

“A little.”

“Look, I know you care about David, but you can’t keep going on like this. You’re not doing him any favours by running yourself into the ground.”

“It’s only been three weeks, Em. I’m fine. I don’t really need sleep like I used to.” Because every time I close my eyes, I dream about Jason—the things we used to talk about in the mind-links—then wake up in a cold sweat, believing I’m still in that chair. “And besides, it seems the more I coat him in blood, the faster he heals. Look at his hand—the one that was stripped to the bone.”

She knelt up a little and looked at David. “Yeah. Hey, that grew back in four days.”

“I know.” I nodded. “I spilled most of my blood on that one spot. It’s just a bit pink, as you can see, but no worse than sunburn.”

“Can he talk yet?”

I sat back down and shook my head. Emily sat too. “Morgaine says that once his hair grows back he’ll heal rapidly from that point. That’s when I’ll get some rest.”

“Yeah, but you look kind of scary. You’re all blue and pale.”

“I know. But I’m not as scary-looking as David.” I shrugged; David’s chest lifted, like he was laughing. I’d give anything to hear that sound.

“Well—” Emily shuffled closer. “Do you wanna know why Mike came home this weekend?”

“There was a reason—other than missing you?”

She lifted her left hand and frayed her fingers.

“Oh my God!” I squealed and jumped up to hug her. “Oh, Emily. I’m so happy for you—when did he propose?”

“Just now. He asked me to come for a walk with him, by the lake across the road, and he got down on one knee.” She grinned, holding her hand so I could see the heart-shaped diamond. “He said that he gave me his heart—” she tapped the stone, “—so I never forget that it always belongs to me.”

“Oh, Em. He’s so sweet.”

“Yeah. He said he tried to propose all week, at the manor, but he couldn’t get the guts up.”

I laughed. “So? Where is he now?”

“Well, that’s why I came in. He wants you to eat, then he wants to talk to you—alone.”

“Alone?” I frowned, taking Emily’s wrist.

“Yes.” She winced as I bit into her skin. “Ow. Your venom really hurts.”

Her blood tasted fruity and sweet, as if I’d warmed a peach in a pot of cream then bitten into it. As I closed my eyes and swallowed back the nourishment, Emily reached over and took David’s near-healed hand.

I pulled back from my lunch and smiled at David, his eyes open, directly on me. They didn’t have that sparkle they once did, but he was finally conscious behind them. “Is he okay?”

Emily nodded and smiled, as if her eyes were talking to him, her voice to me. “He’s fine.

“So—” I wiped my mouth on my sleeve, “—why does Mike want to see me, alone?”

“I don’t know.”

“Okay, just—take care of David.” I stood up, pointing to my husband.

“I always do.” She smiled and sat on the bed.

“Mike?”

Broad as a soldier, my Head of Security stood by the lake across the road; his arms folded, his attention on the hills in the distance.

“Hey baby,” he said as I stood beside him.