Blood Revenge

Chapter 12

Stefan's behavior becameincreasingly disturbing the more I watched him. Under watchful eyes,he was his old self, cheery, erratic, sometimes broody and when heand Beri got together, verdantly flirtatious. If that wasn'tstrange enough, when he was alone and thought no one was looking, hisexpression would go slack and he would just stare off into thedistance at nothing. It was like he was in a trance, but every time Iapproached to investigate closer, he would snap out of it. It wasvery frustrating.

"I don't like it," Iannounced to Reif while I kept watch over his bed ridden self on theship to Coranthine. It was our first moment alone while Steph took abreather to do some sparring with Weston.

"What is bothering you,Stasia?" he asked, his eyes closed and his face twisted in agrimace.

"Stefan. He's acting so...peculiar." I pouted.

He opened one eye to look at me.The usual lilac of his iris was a deep shade of orchid that indicatedconcern or discomfort. I wasn't sure which one was currentlypredominant. "If you had just risen from the ether, would you notbe behaving strangely?" he asked.

I stood, climbed into the cotnext to him and sighed. "Probably. I just have this gut feeling..."

He lifted an arm and wrapped itaround me while my cheek rested on his chest. "Don't say gut,Salonul Sange.It is in poor taste at the moment."

I snickered. "Sorry."

"As for your feeling, I believeyou are trying to make an issue out of a miracle so you'll havesomething to worry about," he chided.

"Maybe you're right," Isighed again. "It's just... he's unsettling."

"You agreed to bring him withus," Reif pointed out.

"Only because Beri was soadamant," I said.

"Beriima does seem to havegrown quite attached to him. I never thought it possible," hemused.

"Daeron once told me, after youbrought Stefan back, that he thought Beri had fancied him. Is itpossible she still does?" I wondered.

"With you around, Stasia, itseems the impossible becomes possible more often than not." He ranhis finger down my arm.

My palm had inadvertently foundhis bare skin beneath his tunic and rested lightly. "I just wish wewere able to figure out how Stefan returned. I might feel better."

"There will be much researchwhen we return to Malourne, I think," Reif agreed.

"I'm going to talk to him,"I said, moving away from Reif. "Will you be alright?"

He nodded slowly then lookedpleadingly at me. "Would you mind, sending for Stephanie?"

I smiled and kissed his forehead."Of course."

"Thank you, Stasia, foreverything," he said meaningfully.

"Get some rest," I smirked."You're turning green."

I walked out of the cabin insearch of Steph. I found her, not sparring with West, but puttingthem back with the crew and Daeron. When he saw me approaching, hepaled and stood, nearly taking the table with him. "Ana! I wasjust... showing Steph the proper..."

"Save it," I smirked, holdingup a hand. My gaze flicked to a guilty Stephanie. "Reif hasrequested you sit with him."

"Yes, Mama." She slipped fromatop her barrel and slunk away.

When I looked back at Daeron, heflinched. "Don't cut off things Wen needs later."

I waved him off laughing. "Godistract your sister. I wish to speak with Stefan."