Free Shades of Gray: A Jude Magdalyn Novel by L. M. Pruitt Page B

before Gillian herded me down a long hallway, presumably toward a bedroom.
    She did take me to a bedroom, but only to drop me on the bed, plant herself on a chaise, and read me the riot act as far as Williams was concerned. I tuned out ten seconds into her speech. I’ve never been one for taking directions, even less so when it relates to my personal life. Gillian noticed, and zapped me with a little of her extra energy, anger, or plain bitchiness.
    After I quit yelping and rubbing the singed hair on my right arm, she continued. “You cannot allow your lust to overtake your common sense. Believe me when I say these types of things always end badly.”
    “Anastasia. Funny movie, although I don’t think you got the quote quite right. I know you didn’t get the voice.” I flopped back on the bed and pulled a pillow over my face. I wondered if it was stuffed with feather down because it sure as hell felt like it. The fluffy cushion was heaven to my tired senses. “Geez, Gillian, lighten up. I may not be able to set people on fire like others in the room, but I know when someone’s pissing on my shoes and telling me it’s raining.”
    “Just like your mother. So sure you know what you’re doing.” I could hear her voice through the pillow, an odd combination of anguish, regret, and exasperation. “Even the smartest people can be fooled, it doesn’t make them any less, it makes them more human.”
    I sat up, tossing the pillow aside to tilt my head and stare at her curiously. “I think that’s the least critical thing you’ve said to me in the short time I’ve known you. And, truth be told, vaguely insulting.” Pulling my t-shirt off, I tossed it toward the hard-backed chair by the bathroom door, giving a small “whoo-hoo” when it draped over the back. My bra and track pants were going to have to stay on. As much as I would love to strip down completely and turn my brain off, I wasn’t getting naked in a house full of strangers.
    “I’m well aware that my personality is fairly abrasive, but being in a position of authority does not afford one the luxury of being polite and tender when dealing with allies and enemies.” Gillian rubbed her eyes, one of the few signs of weakness I’d seen from her, and pursed her lips before continuing. “We, Williams and I, have placed the lives of hundreds of people in your hands. Perhaps you can understand our - my - position better, knowing the Covenant’s future lies with your ability and willingness to learn.”
    “Well, nice of you to make sure I know there’s no pressure.” When she opened her mouth to respond with an equally snarky comment, I held a hand up, palm out. “Seriously, can we just table this until we’ve both slept? I’m not at my best without sleep, and if we’re going to be throwing fireballs or moving mountains, or whatever the hell I have to learn how to do, I’d like a little sleep before I have to start learning.”
    Gillian rubbed her eyes again, a gesture I could understand. It doesn’t really make you feel any better, but it helps.
    “One day[?].”
    “I swear, if you say one day ‘when you’re older’, I will throw a temper tantrum without the aid of magic that will make you look like an amateur.”
    My threat fell on deaf ears as Gillian continued speaking over me. “I’ll tell you more about your parents, and hopefully you’ll better appreciate the delicate position you’re in. Until that time, I trust you’ll rest well. You’ve little need for alarm during the day with a house of trained warriors.”
    “Yippee,” I muttered into the pillow, pulling the unbelievably soft sheet and comforter up to just under my chin. “For now, I’m serious about the checking out thing. We’ll talk more when I wake up. Later. Much later.”
    I was ninety percent asleep before I finished speaking. Maybe I dreamed it, because it didn’t strike me as something Gillian would do, but I would have bet she tucked the covers around me and