The Forbidden Trilogy(194)

With her cheek pressed against leaves, she saw Luke's feet approach her. The gut-wrenching fear from her dream drained out of her when she realized he was still alive—that it hadn't been real.

He crouched down so she could see him better. The dark circles under his eyes hadn't been there before, and worry lines marred his complexion. "You're awake. I'm so glad. I thought... well, never mind. I'm just so glad you're okay. If anything had happened to you, I'd...."

Tears stung her cheek at the sight of her brother so upset. Had she really been that injured? Images of the lizard flashed in her mind—the pain as it tore through her back, Hunter slaying it and carrying her back to camp, the pulsing of the sphere and the warmth.

"Where's my pack? I need it."

"Hey, Luce, this is no time to go marching into the jungle again. You can barely move. You have to heal."

"I know. I'm not going anywhere. I just need it, okay? Can you get it?"

"Sure, if it'll make you feel better." He stood and walked a few feet, then came back and placed the pack by Lucy's hands.

The pack pulsed with life from the sphere, and Lucy craved the feel of the cool metal against her skin, but she couldn't take it out with her brother standing right there. Still, the pulsing warmth comforted her and took the sting out of her wounds.

Luke sat cross-legged a few feet from her so she could see his face even while on the ground. His skin looked pale, and dark circles loomed under his eyes. "It's amazing how fast your wounds are healing. When Hunter carried you here, your back looked like ground meat. Mr. K taught me how to make an herbal remedy to help, but still, you healed quite a bit in just the first few hours."

"Must be the magic of this place. Maybe the herbs you used had superpowers." Or maybe it's the sphere. "Where's Hunter? Is he okay?"

"Resting. He's been asleep almost as much as you." Luke adjusted his long legs, trying to make them fit in the small tent. "I managed to get most of the story out of him before he collapsed, though. Sounded pretty terrifying." His eyes clouded with tears but he shook his head and blinked. "I'm sorry I wasn't there."

Lucy reached for his hand, despite the pain pulling at her skin. "Don't blame yourself. There was nothing you could have done. Besides, I told you to stay here."

"Yeah, but I didn't have to listen."

"Of course you did. You have to respect your elders."

He dropped her hand and laughed. "Don't even start. Wouldn't want the elder to run out of breath."

"Wouldn't want to make the baby's head hurt from all the big words."

"Whatever. Get some rest, old woman. If being born one minute before me counts as old."

A new warmth filled her. Not the kind brought on by the sphere, but the kind that only lighthearted banter with her brother could bring. She'd missed this side of him and was so glad he was back.

"I am kind of tired." She closed her eyes.

The deep voice of Mr. K filled her mind. "Lucy, I'm sorry about what happened. If I'd been listening more, maybe I could have warned you. I'd—"

"It's okay," Lucy said. "It's not your fault. Thank you for helping Luke figure out the herbal mixture. It's really helped."

"You're welcome. I'm glad you're back."

"Me too."

The talking exhausted her, and she needed to sleep, but the pain throbbed and poked at her relentlessly. An idea formed, and she wondered if she could minimize the pain with the meditation she'd been practicing. With a deep breath—as deep as she could get without tearing at her back—she relaxed her body and focused inward. The pain throbbed in her like a living thing, so she visualized it getting smaller and smaller. Soon it faded just enough that she could sleep.

Dreams haunted her—memories of past assignments, visions of abnormal creatures attacking her. She woke on and off, sleeping in small increments, never really aware of how long she'd been unconscious or what time of day it was. She missed Hunter and worried about him. He came to her in dreams, but she needed to see him in person. When she woke next she asked Luke about him.

"He's still sleeping. Would you like me to wake him?"

"No. Thanks. He needs to rest, I guess. I hope he's okay." What's wrong with him?

She'd been the one torn up by the lizard, not him. But he did exhibit some pretty impressive acrobatics. Unless she'd imagined it all. And the change in his eyes.... She'd have to ask him about all of that once he woke.

In the meantime.... "Luke, I'm bored. Entertain me."

He bowed with over-the-top exaggeration. "As you wish, m'lady. As it so happens, I've been practicing something that I think you will find quite entertaining."