Yet hisanistaaappeared unnerved, rather than happy, with Jillian’s newfound progress.
“Does she speak?” It had been years since he’d heard hisle'ven'a’svoice. So long ago, he’d since forgotten what she sounded like.
“No. Not yet. Although I believe she will find her voice soon.” The frown had returned to pull at the corner of her eyes. She turned from the table and picked up the other two plates, handing one to Wolf. “Sit. Eat. Only then will we talk.”
Although he wasn’t hungry, he followed hisanistaato the table and took a seat opposite Jillian. His mother took the chair between them. Before he had a chance to pick up his fork, Jillian rose from the table and silently drifted out of the room. He watched her wander down the hall before disappearing into one of the bedrooms. Moments later, she re-emerged with a bundle of clothes. His eyebrows rose as she walked across the hall to the bathroom and closed the door. Seconds later, the sound of running water drifted down the hallway.
“Did you tell her previously to shower?” This was something his shadowle'ven'ahad not undertaken without direct instruction for years.
“No.” hisanistaashook her head while watching the hall. That strange look of hesitation touched her face again. “She bathes now, and changes clothes on her own initiative. Just as she eats.” She paused before adding with a slightly stunned note to her voice, “When you sent your helicopter for us, I could not find her in the house, so I went looking. She was outside, sitting next to the creek. Herheschrmalbeside her, lying with its chin on her thigh.”
“You said it visits her often?” He should ask O’Neill if Gracie’sHo'ceevisited her often as well. “These visits must signify something…but what?”
“I do not know,” his mother said quietly, her gaze still locked on the hall. “But with every visit of her spirit guide, Jillian appears to grow stronger, more aware.” She sighed and shook her head. “If only we had aTaounahato explain what this behavior means.” The annoyance had left her voice, only for worry to replace it.
“The multiple visits are not the only anomaly,” Wolf reminded her. “The fact it chose Jillian out of all the Kalikoia available is strange as well.” He hesitated, reluctant to return to Aiden’sTaounahacalling, but this information would ease her worry. “We do have a possible recourse in our efforts to communicate with the elder gods.” He chose his words with care, aware hisanistaapreferred to pretend his father’s other children did not exist. “Benioko has been walking through Aiden’s dreams. Passing on wisdom from the Shadow Warrior. I have convinced Aiden to ask Benioko about Jillian’sheschrmalclaiming next time he dreams.”
Hisanistaa’sface shuttered. “I am not one to question the elder gods’ wisdom. But mark my words. This will not end well. The Shadow Warrior would do well to choose another, one with ties to theHee'woo'nee. One more suited to theTaounaharole.”
Wolf grimaced. He could not disagree with her.
Chapter twenty-nine
Day 33
Shadow Mountain Base, Alaska
Muriel gave O’Neill a full day after she’d heard Wolf and his warriors had returned to base, before she set off in search of him. Twenty-four hours would give him time to sleep, eat, and attend whatever mission debriefs Wolf required.
She’d planned to give him two days, but the questions were choking her. She needed to know if he’d talked to Wolf about Gracie. She needed to know if a solution concerning her daughter’s spirit gifting had been discovered or decided. And then there were all the other worries...like what were his plansfor Gracie? Did he still intend to train her? Was he going to teach her the warrior ways?
Gracie hadn’t seen him since that day on the obstacle course, and her daughter was not happy about it. She might not express her disappointment verbally, but her short temper and snippy attitude were nonverbal screams of frustration.
As soon as she’d heard the Chinook had returned from its mission, Gracie had flown back up to base. Muriel knew Gracie was waiting for her father, waiting for his promised lessons. With each hour that passed without O’Neill’s appearance, Gracie’s attitude soured further.
Muriel had cautioned patience, explaining that something must have happened during the base’s last mission. Nobody was talking about it, and the helicopter had returned without losing a single warrior, but there was a heaviness to the warriors she passed on base—furrowed brows and tight faces. Tension in their eyes and strides.
The mission had obviously not gone well, or at least as planned.
Gracie would not seek out her father, Muriel knew this. But she also knew that each hour that O’Neill didn’t show dampened their daughter’s mood.
Surely, he was free by now. Wolf was free. She’d heard from Rachel that he’d visited her and Jilly this morning. If Wolf, as the base’sBetanee,had found time to visit his family, why couldn’t O’Neill make time for their daughter?
She texted Wolf asking where O’Neill was and waited impatiently for his reply. The reply only took five minutes but felt like hours.
Third floor, Apartment 18.
So, he was in his quarters, which were only a dozen doors down from hers. She’d been to his place before, not eventhree days ago, so dropping by unexpectedly shouldn’t feel so...awkward. Yet...it did.
She thought about swinging by the clinic first to check on Samuel’s condition and see how Olivia was doing but decided to wait until after she spoke to O’Neill. O’Neill could leave his quarters at any moment, while her brother wasn’t going anywhere. And Olivia always remained close to the clinic, in the hopes Samuel would relent and allow her to visit. Which hadn’t happened since he awoke. Muriel wasn’t even sure the two were engaged anymore.
Without giving herself time to chicken out, she stepped into the hall. The bang of the door closing behind her sounded defiant. Although what did it...or she…have to feel rebellious about? She was an adult. There was no reason she couldn’t visit an old…friend…in his living quarters.
It wasn’t like she was hitting him up for sex.
Goddess knew her poor, withered libido wouldn’t know what to do with a man these days.
Far too soon, she stood in front of his door. She smoothed her hair, tucking the loose strands behind her ears. She should have braided it before heading out, but it wasn’t quite dry after showering. If she braided it now, it would turn into a frizzy mess for bedtime.
