Chapter Thirty-Six
Vanessa
On the second day of my watch, a gentle shake to the shoulder roused me from my sleep.
I was on the bed, having slept next to Vil, who was doing much better.
I was no longer worried about hurting him if I rolled over and brushed against him, which was a relief.
Sleeping on the floor next to the bed that first night had played hell with my back.
“Wake up, sleepyhead,” a warm, comforting voice urged.
I forced my eyes to open. Vil was looking down at me, fully dressed, a gentle smile on his face.
“Hi,” he said.
I mumbled something that I hoped sounded like a greeting.
He smiled broader.
My eyes flew open. “Vil!” I exclaimed as realization hit. “You’re awake. And up. And dressed.”
“I am,” he said. “I feel much better now. Much better.”
“Good,” I said, the adrenaline at knowing he was healed giving me a boost of energy. “That’s good. I’m glad to hear it. And see it.”
“Yes. And you’re up, too.”
“You woke me up,” I pointed out.
“Minor details,” he said with a wave of his hand, bending down to kiss my forehead. “Come on, let’s get some food.”
I watched him leave the room. He still wasn’t quite as vibrant and energetic as I’d recalled, but he didn’t limp or move with any hesitation. The dragon healing must have finally kicked into overdrive after he ate the night before.
Speaking of food, I thought, my stomach rumbling with its desire for sustenance.
I got up and dressed. It was really nice to be able to wear my own clean clothing again.
Vil was already raiding my kitchen for food and had started whipping up some of my instant pancake mix. I was many things, but a “from-scratch” cook was not one of them.
He sat me down at the table and told me to just relax and wait, that he would take care of breakfast. Judging by the amount of mix he used, he was planning to feed a small herd.
I tried to find the words I wanted to use. We needed to talk, he and I. A deep one. There was a lot that had to be said. Discussed. Figured out. Things had changed between us.
“I want to go out to the estate after breakfast,” Vil said, breaking the silence as he worked three pans at once.
“Why?” I asked, noting how he managed not to burn any of the pancakes. I also wondered just how much he thought I ate …
“To see if we should just knock it all down and rebuild from scratch,” he said. “Or if part of it can be saved. The bomb is likely to have done all kinds of structural damage.”
“Are you sure it’s wise to go back there? What if the Nine arranged a trap?”
Vil was quiet for a bit as he stacked up a trio of large, fluffy pancakes—as if I could ever eat that much—and passed them to me. I stared at the pile for a moment, then shrugged and began to add butter and syrup to them.
“Cruce and I cannot just sit around and wait here,” he said softly. “We have to do something.”
I stared at him accusatorily. “You intend to go back.”
“Damn straight I do!” he growled, adding fresh batter to each pan.
“But, Vil, you were hurt so badly,” I protested.
“And I’ve healed. But while I healed, Adamantine and the others who still live have been busy trying to write me out of existence so that they can rule the Iron Clan. I cannot let them do this.”
“They have mercenaries with them,” I pointed out. “The numbers … they aren’t in your favor.”
“I’ll figure something out,” he said. “But first, we need to go back to the house. See what we’re dealing with.”
“Well, then, I’m going with you.”
I’m unsure which one of us was more surprised by my outburst.
Vil gave me a long look. Not once did his eyes stray from mine. He didn’t look at my body or away from me as most men did. Instead, he peered right into my soul. That was what I’d liked about him. What I did like about him. He saw me for me. Who I really was on the inside. Every time.
“It will be dangerous for you,” he said uncertainly. “I’ll do my best to protect you, but I can’t promise anything.”
“I know,” I said. “But, Vil, I’m going with you.”
He grimaced. “I don’t like it. I’d prefer you to stay out of danger.”
“Look what happened last time you left Cruce and me behind,” I pointed out. “You got your ass handed to you and nearly died. It can’t get that much worse, you know.”
He seemed ready to argue, but his pancakes were ready, and he took them off and stacked his plate high. More batter went into the pans.
I really hope those are for him …
“I still don’t like it,” he said around a mouthful.
“But I like fighting with you even less. Promise me, however, that you will let Cruce or I take the lead, and that if anything does happen, you will run for cover and hide. You won’t try anything brave.
You’re feisty, Vanessa, but, and I mean this simply as a fact, you’re only human. ”
“Trust me. I’m already doubting if this is a smart idea,” I told him. “But I can’t help the feeling that I have to go with you, Vil.”
It’s where I belong.
“Very well,” he said. “Let’s eat, and then we’ll go.”
I nodded, digging in.
If it was going to be my last meal, at least the pancakes were perfect and fluffy.