Flesh and Blood by Painter Kristen

Author:Painter, Kristen [Painter, Kristen]
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
ISBN: 9780316084765
Publisher: Orbit
Published: 2011-11-02T07:00:00+00:00

Chapter Twenty

Chrysabelle was home. Mal could hear the rhythm of her pulse beneath the swooshing palms and the chorus of nocturnal insects. It was faster than her resting heart rate. Maybe she was training. That was a good sign. If she was training, she was okay. Still, he hesitated to knock. She’d be mad he’d climbed the privacy wall and circumvented her security. Or maybe she’d be mad he’d demanded she run from the Nothos. Or maybe she’d still be steamed about him fighting in the Pits or drinking her blood or a whole host of other things he could think of. She was good at being mad at him. Drain her, then.

They were good at being mad at each other.

But right now, he couldn’t think of a single reason to be anything but concerned. All he could think of was finding out if she’d been hurt by the Nothos. Or that whack job Creek. Kubai Mata. Did he also moonlight as the tooth fairy?

Mal walked to her door and knocked.

Predictably, Velimai answered. With her usual cold glare, she studied him for a moment. Then shut the door.

Cursing under his breath, he knocked again. ‘Velimai, get Chrysabelle.’

The bothersome fae opened the door and shook her head. Her hands and fingers flew.

He held a palm up. ‘You know I can’t understand a word you’re signing.’

Velimai rolled her eyes and disappeared into the house, leaving the door open. She returned, writing on a tablet with a stylus. Her mood didn’t seem to have improved. She turned the tablet so he could read what she’d written on the screen.

Chrysabelle is resting. Cannot be disturbed. Go home.

So. Not training. Not good. ‘No. I need to see her. She won’t mind being disturbed, trust me.’ Or maybe she would. But she’d get over it. He needed to know she was okay. You need her blood.

Velimai hugged the tablet to her chest and shook her head.

‘You’re not the only one who can yell.’ Mal glared back. ‘You want me to wake her up my way? Then you can explain why you didn’t go and get her in the first place.’

Velimai flipped him a sign he understood perfectly and walked away in the opposite direction. Hopefully to get Chrysabelle.

A hundred hours later, Chrysabelle appeared, skin as pale as the big white robe she was wrapped in, hair loose around her face, and dark circles beneath her eyes. She moved tentatively, like she was in pain. Even at this distance he felt her body temp was off. Too high. He was relieved she was alive and upright, but her condition left a lot to be desired. ‘What’s wrong?’

‘Can we go out to the lanai?’ The words were strained.

‘Sure.’ He could argue a thousand other days to be let in. ‘Meet you there.’

It took her ten minutes longer to join him than it should have. She delicately sat onto one of the chaise longues, then eased her feet up and patted the cushion. ‘Sit.’

Bite. He did as she asked, welcoming the closeness and instantly wishing for more.

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