Total pages in book: 115
Estimated words: 107619 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 538(@200wpm)___ 430(@250wpm)___ 359(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 107619 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 538(@200wpm)___ 430(@250wpm)___ 359(@300wpm)
Perhaps just a small rest.
18
EMMA
It rains the next day and night, cooling everything off and leaving behind a damp cloud of moisture that hangs in the still air. I gaze out the broken window of the apartment, watching fat droplets fall from the sky and cover the wet, broken streets in puddles. The overgrown grass making its way through the cracks in the pavement soaks it up, and I have no doubt that in a few more days, it’ll be twice as tall.
I don’t mind the rain. After several days of heat, I’m happy with the temperature change, even if it does make my hair puff up and curl like a big, dark nest. It’s less great for my scavenging around the city after dark, because it makes it that much harder when there’s no moonlight and everything’s soaking wet.
Nothing to do but get it done, as Jack used to say.
Get what done? comes the sleepy voice in my head.
I turn and look over at the bed in the center of the floor. Zohr is awake, his golden eyes sleepy and his magnificent hair tousled. He gets to his feet slowly and then sways.
“Nope,” I tell him firmly, moving to his side. “You need to stay in bed.”
Bah. I am strong. I am a drakoni warrior—
“That may be, but you’re also suffering from blood loss and you had a hellish fever for the last few days, so you’re going to do as I say.” I put my hands on his arm, trying to support his weight without touching his back.
I do not want to sleep if you are going out. I want to help you.
“You can help me the most by not dying,” I tell him playfully. “Because that would really chap my ass if you did.” I gesture that he should lie down, but he sits instead and crosses his legs under him. All right, then. Sitting’s not so bad. I hand him a plastic cup filled with fresh water and move to the tiny grill I have set up near the window so the smoke can pour outside, and stoke the coals to reheat the stew. Funny how when Zohr was captured we had so much to talk about. Now that we’re together and trapped in this small room alone there’s a weird lull between us, as if we don’t know what to say.
I have plenty to say. I am merely listening to your thoughts.
“Quit peeking,” I tell him, still a little disturbed that he can pluck everything out of my head.
We are connected in spirit. It is something you will need to get used to. He stretches one arm and winces, and I get a sense that his back is tight, his stitches causing a dull ache.
“Yeah, well, I would like to keep some of my thoughts private. This is all really new for me.” I wish I had asked Sasha more about it. Not that it would change anything, but at least I’d be better prepared.
Zohr simply blinks at me. It would change nothing between us.
He’s really not helping the situation. I just give my head a little shake and go back to stirring the cold stew. Of course, that small movement makes my bushy hair fall into my face. Maybe it’s time to cut it.
Why?
I glance over my shoulder at him. “Why cut it?” When he agrees, I shrug. “It’s annoying and it gets in the way. Sometimes I’m not near a place where I can have a bath and so it gets dirty and I get tired of braiding it.”
I like it. It carries your scent thickly. I like all of your hair.
I can feel myself blushing. I’m going to ignore where that’s leading, especially since I’m starting to pick up sexy thoughts from him. He needs to rest, not mate. I don’t care how frisky he might think he is.
But he only asks, What is a braid?
“Oh, you know, a plait. You weave your hair together to get it out of your face.” I send him a mental image.
I like that. Will you braid mine? To keep it out of the way?
I look over at him in surprise. “If you like.”
I would like. And then I shall braid yours for you so it is not a bother. He sends a wave of pleased thoughts to me.
How can you refuse after that? “All right. Let me find a comb.” I move to my new “bug-out” bag I’ve created. Jack taught me that you carry a bag of supplies with you at any time, and my last one was left behind with Azar’s people. I’ve been working on making a new one. The current incarnation is in a pink and purple Barbie backpack that I found upstairs, but it’s got some good stuff like needles, fishing line, more duct tape, knives, spices, and some other useful stuff.