Page 152 of Feathers of Ash and Hope
“Everyone believes Summer to be in the healing quarter. So we are good for now,” he tells me. “Just know this could get ugly. Cassius already demanded an update from me as soon as I showed my face. Calix demanded answers, too.” He looks at Ara. “Your girl sure knows how to pick her friends.”
I savor the sound of those words.
My girl.
The hours go by, and Jared has gone out to check the status and said he would bring some food as well. Not that I’m hungry. I contemplate asking Jared for help as soon as he’s back, but how can I explain that he needs to separate us if I exhaust myself? Who will protect her when I am out, and Jared watches over me?
What if she wakes right after, and I depleted my gift for nothing? Also, even Jared will start to ask questions at some point.
I’m ripped out of my gloomy thoughts when Jared hurries into the room and slams the door shut behind him, turning the lock immediately.
“Shit, man, I have no idea who your girl is, but this is about to get ugly,” he declares breathlessly.
“What do you mean?” I push away from the wall I leaned against for the past hour, stalking over to him.
“I have no idea what he's doing here, but I just passed General Blackstone. He was hurrying toward the healingquarters, demanding updates on Summer. That guy looked pissed.”
“Shit.” I run a hand over my face, looking at Ara’s unresponsive form on the bed. “I think they know each other.”
“No shit, I figured that one out already. But who is she to him?” Jared looks at me like I have the answers to that.
“Fuck if I know,” I mutter. I guess there is still a whole lot I don’t know about her.
“Sooner or later, someone will remember they saw you leaving with her,” Jared warns.
“Let’s hope it’s later.” I sigh.
Jared doesn’t leave again after that update. Both of us lean against my desk, talking in hushed voices, my eyes flitting to Ara regularly, checking if anything has changed. Worry presses so hard on my chest that I’m sure I will suffocate if there isn’t a change soon.
A loud knock on the door has us straightening. Jared and I exchange a glance before we both look at Ara’s still form. The door handle jiggles, but the door is locked.
The knock sounds again. A twisted kind of déjà vu overcomes me. What wouldn’t I give to go back to the last time someone knocked on my door while Ara was in here? This is so much worse.
“No one knows we’re here, right?” I whisper to Jared.
“I’m not sure. I haven’t seen anyone, but there is still the chance someone saw me coming here.” His eyes are as worried as I feel.
The sound starts again, a pounding now instead of a knock.
“Open up right now, or I’ll kick in this door,” a male threatens from outside. He sounds familiar.
I sigh and move to the door. Jared positions himself next to me so the open door will hide him from view. He gives me a nod, indicating he’s ready for whatever or, better, whoever waits onthe other side. I look at Ara one last time before I turn the key and open the door.
Chapter
Forty-Five
TATE
I comeface-to-face with Darren Blackstone. I close the door behind me, using the moment to get a protective shield in place.
“Is Summer here?” he asks, and I have to give it to him that even in all this, he uses the right name without pause.
“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
His eyes flare. “I know you left together.”
“Whoever told you that?”
