“Besides...brother of terrorist. Hello? They’d put me in jail.”
“Me too,” Cass said cheerfully. “I’m a sympathizer.”
I shrugged, trying to act nonchalant. “Okay. But so you know...India smells bad. I mean...open sewer bad. The water’s not right. No matter how many showers you take, you never really get clean like at home. I can’t promise we’ll be doing anything but hiding, either, so don’t expect this kind of excitement on a daily basis. And wait until you try seer food...”#p#分页标题#e#
I couldn’t pretend I wasn’t relieved though, and Cass laughed.
I glanced at Revik, wondering how he’d take to the idea of my friends coming along, but he wasn’t looking at my face. As I’d leaned down to open the refrigerator, the chain I wore fell out of my shirt. Following his eyes down to the silver ring that dangled there, I felt my face warm. Before I could tuck it back into my shirt, he reached out and cupped it in his hand.
There was a silence as he fingered it.
I took a breath when he didn’t speak.
“Terian gave it to me,” I said. “To convince me you were dead, I guess.”
Hesitating again, I reached back to unhook the clasp. Before I could find it with my fingers, though, he caught my wrist, stopping me.
I glanced up. Seeing his face tighten, I swallowed.
“Don’t you want it back?” I said.
“No.” His eyes left the ring, meeting mine. For a moment he only looked at me, then he gestured vaguely, clearing his throat. “...It was my mother’s. My real mother’s.”
He paused again, as if unsure what to say next.
“I’d like you to keep it,” he finished.
I processed that information, feeling another whisper of pain when his eyes didn’t leave mine. Embarrassment reached me, but I couldn’t tell if it was his or mine, or both of ours. Maybe it was just an inability to deal with him that close, looking at me the way he was.
He let go of my wrist. Forcing my eyes away from his, I focused back on the small refrigerator, fighting to catch my breath.
“Do you want anything to drink?” I said. “You should eat something, Revik. It’ll help replenish your light.”
“Yes.” A second later, he reconsidered, gesturing negative. “...No, Allie. Not right now.”
“No?” I glanced back. “Are you sure? They probably have something in here you can eat. Even if it’s just juice or peanuts, or...”
I trailed when his arm coiled around my waist. Gently, he pulled me upright, then back into the corner of the leather limousine seat by the door. Leaning over where I sat, he half-trapped me there with his arms, turning to shield most of me from the rest of the car. For a long moment, with his light encasing mine, it felt almost like we were alone.
He just looked at me, his colorless eyes clear.
“Are you all right?” I said.
He shook his head. “No.”
He looked like he wanted to say more. He lowered his mouth to my ear, speaking in a near-murmur.
“I missed you, Allie,” he said. “...so much.”
Fighting a tightening in my throat, I braced against a sliver of pain that hit at my chest. I felt it in my fingers.
“I missed you, too.” My voice came out soft, lower than a whisper. “A lot, Revik...every day.”
Warmth pulsed off his light, but I felt him pull it back, restraining it.
I felt him wanting to say more. Finally, he caressed my face, his fingers gentle as he brushed hair out of my eyes.
“You saved my life,” he said. “...again, Allie.” His jaw tightened. “I don’t know why. I heard you. With Galaith. You have no idea how wrong you are...about what I think of you. You couldn’t be more wrong about that, Allie...”
Glancing up at him, I smiled a little, in spite of myself.
“Just a little slow, right?” I said, my voice teasing. “...A little worm-like?”
He gripped my hair. “You saved my life. Again, Allie.”
My smile faded as I looked at him. I watched his mouth harden, felt his fingers tighten on me as he searched for words.
“You’re all I’ve thought about,” he said. “For months, Allie...even before.”
I didn’t ask him before what. I was staring at him again, a little thrown.
Cautiously, I let my fingers trace his jaw. For a long moment, he didn’t move, letting me touch him as he held me against the seat. I caressed his neck, even his fingers, before going back to his face. I didn’t hide my reactions to how thin he was. I felt his light start to respond, coiling deeper into mine as he lowered his mouth. My hand tightened in his shirt as his lips touched my throat. I jumped when I felt his tongue glide over my skin.