Stolen (Otherworld #2)(64)

"Paige is right," he said after a few minutes. "It wasn't your fault."
"Yes, it is. I wanted to get Savannah out. But I didn't. The moment came and I choked. I told myself that I was doing the best thing, leaving her in there, but deep down I knew better. I saw my chance to escape and I took it. To hell with everyone else."
"I don't believe that. If you left her behind, it's because you had to. We'll get her out when we go back."
"But it doesn't sound like we're going back anytime soon."
Jeremy stepped up behind us. "We'll return as soon as we're ready, Elena. You're safe, so I won't rush."
"But Savannah-"
"Our main objective is to stop these people, not to rescue anyone."
"But you were planning to go in for me."
"That's different. Clay and I were willing to take the risk. Everyone else was free to make their own decision. I won't risk your life or Clayton's by rushing in to rescue a stranger. Even a child."
"What if I decide to take that risk myself?"
"You're not free to make that decision, Elena. So long as you're part of the Pack, I can make it for you, and I am forbidding you to return.""That's not-"
"Not fair," Jeremy finished. "Yes, we've been through this before. But it's Pack law. And don't threaten to leave the Pack because I will make certain you don't go back to that compound alone, no matter what rights to self-determination you claim. I take the responsibility for this decision. We'll make every effort to save this child when we return. If anything happens to her before we get there, blame me, not yourself."
I started to argue, but Jeremy was already walking away.
***
I didn't chase Jeremy down to pursue the matter. After ten years of living under his roof and his rules, I knew what worked and what didn't. Hounding him didn't. Once Jeremy made up his mind, the only way to change it was to erode the obstacles with logic and persuasion. Bring out the battering rams and he only doubled the fortifications. I'll admit, patience isn't one of my virtues, but I resolved to give the matter some time. A few hours at least. Maybe overnight.
***
"So the security system requires both a fingerprint check and a retinal scan?" Jeremy asked.
He was seated at the tiny dining table in our room. Clay and I were sprawled across the bed, Clay dozing, me trying hard not to join him.
"Uh, right," I said.
He jotted something onto his papers. "Index finger?"
"Huh? Oh, no. Sorry. It's a handprint, not a fingerprint. You grab the handle and it reads your handprint."
"We don't have to do this tonight. We'll have plenty of time later."
Not if I had anything to say about it. "I want to do it now, while it's fresh in my mind."
"Have we had dinner?" Clay's muffled voice floated up from the pillows.
"What?"
He rolled onto his back. "I'm counting meals. We had breakfast in Maine, then another breakfast here. Or was that brunch? If so, was the picnic lunch or dinner?"
"I'm counting it as lunch," I said.
"Good. Then let's go get dinner."
***
Jeremy insisted on being polite and inviting the others to join us. As Clay knocked at Kenneth and Adam's room, the neighboring door opened and Adam stepped out, turning to say a few words to someone inside. When Kenneth opened his door, Clay went in. I waited outside for Adam.
"We're going to dinner," I said. "Have you eaten?"
"Nope. I was just about to ask you guys the same thing. Let me grab my car keys."
"Was that Paige?" I said, nodding to the next room. 
"Yeah. She's pretty upset."
"Should I ask her to join us?"
He shrugged. "You can ask, but I don't think she's feeling up to it. If not, tell her I'll bring something back."
I'd rather Adam asked Paige himself, but he vanished into his room, leaving me to it. I was probably the last person Paige wanted to see. Her aunt was dead and I hadn't even had the decency to tell her straight off. I inhaled, walked to her door, and rapped lightly, half hoping she might not hear me. After a second's pause, I turned to leave. Then I heard the clank of the chain lock and the door opened.
"Hey, there," Paige said, managing a wan half-smile. "You still up? How are you feeling? I've got some sleeping teas if you're having trouble."
How was I feeling? Oh, about two inches tall. Paige's eyes and nose were splotched red, as if she'd spent the last couple of hours crying, and she was worried that I might not be able to sleep?
"I'm really sorry," I said. "About your aunt. I don't mean to intrude, but we're heading out for dinner and I was wondering if you felt like joining us."
"No," she said. "Thanks, but no thanks."
"Adam said he'd bring something back for you."
She gave a distracted nod, paused, then said quickly. "Could you-I don't mean to be a pain. Really. I know you're tired and sore, and I hate to pester you, but could you stop by when you come back? I have-"
She stopped and looked over my shoulder. I heard Clay's footsteps behind me. Paige paused, then straightened up, as if bracing herself, and went on. "Clayton, I was just asking Elena if you could spare her for a while tonight. Thirty minutes tops. I promise."
"You're not coming to dinner?" he asked.
"I'd rather not."
"No one stays alone," he said. "That's Jeremy's rule." I shot him a glare, warning him to be more sensitive, but he didn't catch it and continued. "Cassandra will stay with you."
"Oh, she'll love that," Paige said.
"If she doesn't like the rules, she can leave."
"We should all be so lucky," Paige murmured under her breath. "Seriously, though. You don't need to leave someone behind with me. I have plenty of protection spells."
"Those are the rules," Clay said. "No one stays alone. It's not like Cassandra eats anyway." He started to leave, then added, "If Elena's feeling up to it, she can stop by with your dinner. Twenty minutes. Then she needs her rest."
"Gee, does that mean I have your permission?" I called after him.
"I'm not answering that," he said without turning.
"Smart man." I looked at Paige. "I'll pop by afterward."
"Thanks. I appreciate it."
CORONATION

At ten I returned to Paige's room, her still-warm dinner in hand. I found her alone.
"Where's Cassandra?" I asked.
"Out. Trolling for dinner or companionship. I refuse to be the former and I don't qualify to be the latter. Wrong gender."
"No one is supposed to be alone. Does Jeremy know she's taking off on you?"
"No, and I'm not tattling, so let's keep it between us. Personally, I feel safer when she's gone. A vampire isn't exactly my ideal choice for a roommate. One attack of the midnight munchies and I'm a goner. I was bunking up with Adam, but sharing a room with Cassandra was putting a definite strain on Kenneth's nerves, so we switched."
"So you and Adam are… together?"
She frowned, then caught my meaning and laughed. "Oh, God, no. We've been friends since we were kids. Trust me, we know each other too well for anything else." She walked to the mini-fridge. "Can I get you something to drink? I have bottled water, diet soda. Nothing stronger, I'm afraid.""That's okay."
"Just get on with it, right?"
"I didn't mean-"
She waved a hand. "Don't worry. I know you're tired and, again, I apologize for bugging you. It's just, well, I'm working on specs, blueprints, and such for the compound. I know we don't need them right away but, well, I want to keep busy. It's easier-" She nibbled at her lower lip, looked away. "Easier if I have something to do, keep my mind occupied."
I knew what she meant. Last year when two of my Pack brothers died, only action had assuaged my grief. I'd thrown myself into plotting against the mutts who'd killed them, partly for revenge and partly to keep from dwelling on their deaths. In preparing for our onslaught against those who'd killed Ruth, Paige was doing the same. I understood that.
"I've got most of it done already," she said, passing me a notebook from the table. "All I need is for you to fill in a few blanks."
I flipped through her notes. "Actually, Jeremy has most of this. You could-"
"Get it from him. Right. Sure." She turned, but not before I saw disappointment flicker across her face. "Guess I should have known he'd be two steps ahead of me. Okay, then, well, that's all I wanted. Sorry about that. I wasn't thinking."
"Oh, wait. There's a couple of things here Jeremy hadn't asked," I lied. "Tell you what. I'm not tired yet. How about I fill in everything you're missing. Even if I've already told Jeremy, it never hurts to have two copies."
"Oh?" For the first time since I'd arrived, her smile touched her eyes. "That's great. Thanks."
Like I said, I knew how she felt. Well, I didn't know exactly how she felt, having no idea how close she'd been to her aunt, but I understood that she needed something to do, something to make her feel that she was taking action. Providing that was the least I could do.
When we finished, I offered to spend the night in Paige's room, arguing that Cassandra seemed in no rush to return and that Jeremy was sharing our room, so no one would be alone even if I stayed. Paige refused. She assured me her lock spells would keep out most intruders and her protection spells would warn her if anyone bypassed the locks. I suspected she wanted to be alone with her grief, so I didn't push the matter.