“Paige, do you know how long you were out?”
“You said I slept through the night after,” a blush highlighted her cheeks, “yesterday.”
“You did, but you were out for a week before that.”
“A week?”
Cal nodded his head. “The infection was deep. We believe the Sudir seeded the tool he used to take your skin and mark you so deeply with a substance used to incapacitate as well as possibly kill without the right treatment. No doubt he intended to make sure you didn’t die after he took care of us.”
A week? She could barely wrap her head around it. She wasn’t ready for whatever the ultimate battle was supposed to be and what did she do, she slept through time she could have been learning or at least spending with Cal in case she didn’t make it.
“I’m sorry, Cal, why didn’t you wake me? There is no excuse for my lazy behavior.” She was required to pull her weight in the orphanage unless she was on her death bed. How could she have let him down?
“Paige, you almost died.” He punctuated each word grinding his teeth together. “You have no need to be sorry. I took you into a battle you weren’t prepared for and nearly lost you. Yet I can’t be sorry, Paige, you saved us as well as saving Vick. Your energy was enough to spark both Victor and myself. The Sudir underestimated the human in the room. Stupid creature.”
“You’re not upset I slept so long? What if we die because I spent a week sleeping and not coming up with a battle strategy?”
“Sunshine, the more I am around you the more I believe in your talents. Think of this reasonably, you were dying, Paige. What do you think you could have done beside sip soup and allow me to hold you infusing you with strength?”
Those strange memories of him holding her, patiently spooning soup into her mouth even when she turned her head pursed her lips and refused to eat, came back to her. He was so kind to her. She remembered him picking her up and taking her to the bathroom. How did she ever deserve someone like him?
She threw a brilliant smile at him.
“Shower.” She sniffed herself wrinkling her nose. He was a keeper if he could sleep by her when she smelled like this.
“Then breakfast.” She nodded at his words before disappearing into the bathroom.
It was the song she found herself humming that had her grinning with joy. He loved her, he had to. Why else would he treat her like this? Did she love him? Her smile disappeared, she didn’t know. Along time ago she decided that love was for fools, she would never be one of those fools who walked around with stars in their eyes only to fall into the pit that led straight to the hell known as heart-break.
She stepped into the water letting her thoughts drown. She luxuriated in the spray pouring over her knowing that soon she would have to face the world known as Cal’s family.
Turning off the water she stepped out. She left the bathroom so Cal could take a shower. Getting ready didn’t take long. She gave a deep groan of remorse when she realized there was nothing else to do.
“Ready?” he asked looking over at her.
She stood; she was as ready as she was ever going to be.
He took her hand and they walked out together. “Where is everybody?”
“Mckayla and her mother are in your old suite. Rylan is in one of the suites across from her, his brother is in the other one. Joaquin is in the suite across from us.”
“Why didn’t you want him to stay here? I think I know enough to know it wasn’t a money issue.”
“The Arbrin have always kept a distance from those of his kind.”
“Why? It is because he can shapeshift into different forms?”
“That’s part of it. We had run-ins with them when we first came to earth. The high council at the time decided it was in our best interest to keep our distance and solitude. It’s now ingrained in us to stay away.”
“I like him. He protected me when I needed him, besides I think it’s kind of cool that he can change forms. He’s like you.”
“Sweet Paige, I love how you challenge my prejudices. He was very concerned about you and wouldn’t relax until I was able to let him see you. He doesn’t seem very friendly but he does care about your well-being.”
“You’re not sure if you like his concern.”
“You’re starting to get to know me.”
They walked into the dining room to find everyone waiting for them.
“Paige!” Vick screamed her name with joy before throwing himself into her arms. “I knew you would be ok.”
He hugged her tight while planting a kiss on her cheek. Paige held him and closed her eyes. Family. She blinked fast to contain her tears.