Free The Tears of Elios by Crista McHugh Page B

slowly fell asleep.
    Gregor waited until her breathing became slow and even before moving. What did I just witness? Yes, she’d learned some of his secrets, but for once, he felt he’d learned more. He laid the mirror down and stared at the ceiling. There was more to this, and he would get to the bottom of it before she left.
     
    ***
     
    Ranealya lay on her side with her back to him when Gregor entered the study the next morning.
    “You're late.” She watched him over her shoulder with glittering green eyes, showing no signs of the previous night's distress. Her wound formed an exposed red canyon along her thigh. “I took the liberty of removing the hykona leaves for you.”
    He knelt by the bed and studied her injury. How can her wounds from last night heal so quickly, yet this one was taking nearly two weeks to heal, and only in stages with the use of his magic? His gaze flickered to her arms. They remain unblemished after the mauling they endured.
    “Are you going to heal me, or are you just going to stare at my leg like a half-witted fool?”
    Uh-oh , he thought as he rubbed his hands together. She’s in one of her foul moods again . Perhaps she knew he’d been spying on her last night. Thankfully, though, he saw only impatience in her eyes, not accusation. He exhaled, and the white magical light flowed from his fingers, closing the wound.
    She stared at the jagged scar on her thigh and sighed. “I suppose that will have to do,” she said and pulled her tunic over the wound. “Are you going to get breakfast?”
    “Breakfast, of course. You didn't get dinner last night. You must be starving.” He was so distracted by the goal of getting food, it wasn’t until he left the kitchen that he realized he left her alone and fully healed.
    He raced up the stairs, almost dropping the plate with two steaming meat pies Sal had just taken out of the oven. The door opened with a bang, startling Ranealya. “You're still here?” he asked.
    She slid into the chair, stretching out her long legs. “Yes, I'm still here.” She sniffed the air. “I suppose you slept through breakfast, and this is lunch?”
    He placed the plate on the table. “It’s just that the last time I left you alone after I healed your shoulder, you—um—”
    “—flew out the window?” She pinched a corner of a meat pie, blowing on it before she tossed it into her mouth.
    “Precisely. But back to my question—”
    “You weren’t asking a question—you were stating a fact.” She smiled and reached for another piece of the pie.
    “Will you please quit interrupting me? It's difficult enough to keep my thoughts straight without having to hear yours.” He bit into the other pie, burning his tongue. Of course, that amused her. She found pleasure in every embarrassing moment he had. He refrained from spitting his food out and swallowed quickly to prevent any more damage to his already blistered tongue. “What I was trying to ask is how long are you going to stay now that you're healed? Not that I'm in any hurry for you to leave. You're welcome to stay in my home as long as you want.”
    She took her time chewing. Then she looked out the window and back at him before answering, “You don't want me here too long. The Azekborn will be back, and I wouldn't wish their wrath upon you.”
    “My land is protected by spells. No one can find it unless they know the way here. You're completely safe.”
    “You obviously know nothing about the Azekborn,” she snarled, but then calmed herself and added softly, “which is a good thing. The less you know, the better.” She stood and began pacing the room, flexing her claws as if preparing for an attack.
    “On the contrary, I think my ignorance of them may do more harm, especially if you think they will come back.”
    “They'll come if I stay here, which is why I must leave.”
    “Oh,” Gregor whispered. The food tasted like sawdust now, and he tossed the rest of the meat pie to Duke. It was stupid