Blood Revenge

Chapter 20

I ran out of the room with athankful glance backward. I trusted Reif to handle Stefan. I neededto handle Anders. "Hey, wait up," I said, jogging to catch up tohim. He slowed and I matched his pace. "Anders?" I asked, unsureexactly what was going through his mind. When he said nothing, Ihurried to get ahead of him. I stopped in front of him, forcing himto halt so we were face to face. "Talk to me," I pleaded.

He sighed. "Listen, luv, youknow Stefan is a sore spot for me. I'm not trying to rain on yourparade, but I need time to accept that he's back, for real thistime, and you two will tend to make physical contact."

"It's been over between usfor a verylong time," I said. "What is going on with you?" I started tofrown. "I've never known you to be the jealous type."

He visibly shook off somethingand a smile graced his face. "I'm fine," he rubbed my upperarms.

I wasn't convinced. "No,you're not," I said. How could you tell if your spirit possessiondetector was possessed? My blood went cold. What if Anders waspossessed? How would Ifix it? I didn't know how to mend his aura. Could I meld with hislike I did Reif's? If he continued to act strangely, I wasdefinitely going to find out.

"Really, luv, I'll bealright." He took my hand. "Let's go collect our smitten elf,shall we?"

My mind made up, I playedinnocent. "Maybe she'll even smile," I said.

He laughed and started back downthe hallway. "If I could freeze that moment in time," he mused.

We soon heard the tell talescreams of a woman in labor as we approached. I let go of Anders'hand and stepped forward to knock on the door. Daeron opened it acrack and smiled when he saw me. "How's everything going?" Iasked.

"We're still early on, butshe's doing good so far. What brings you to our neck of the woods?"he asked.

"Actually, I need Beri," Isaid, hitting the urgency just right.

"Yeah, of course. I'll sendher out," he said.

He closed the door and I waitedpatiently. A few moments later, Beri opened the door and stepped out,closing it behind her. "Commander, you wanted to speak to me."

"Walk with me," I said. "Iwish to discuss a few things regarding our departure tomorrow."

Anders fell into step beside us."I thought you already had everything planned." She frowned.

I shrugged. "I'm assumingthat Daeron will no longer wish to accompany us, so we need to see toa few changes."

"Of course, commander," shesaid, then looked at me and frowned. "I see I've missed somethingin my absence."

I looked down at my still dampclothes and the numerous blood stains on them. "Quite a bit,actually," Anders quipped.

Beri, suitably distracted, didnot notice where we led her. "The good news about our trip," Isaid opening the bedroom door. "Is that we don't need to makeit."

She frowned but then tore hergaze from me to look at where I pointed. Stefan was sitting on theedge of the bed doing, of all things, reflex exercises. When Beri sawhim, she inhaled sharply. "Stefan," she gasped.

He looked up, his blue eyesfocusing on her. He stood. "Beriima," he smiled and startedtoward her.

She met him halfway, all of herusual stiff composure and stubborn anger melting away in theexcitement of seeing him awake. He took her in his arms and theyembraced warmly. Reif,we should leave them alone, Isaid, taking Anders' hand and backing out of the doorway, pushinghim back too.

Reif joined us in the hall and Itook his hand too. "I believe I'm going to bed, unless youobject." He frowned, catching my expression.

I turned to Anders. "Go on tobed. I'll be along in a minute. I need to discuss something withReif."