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expected me to insult him. You, um, can call me Kir, if you like. We ain t big on formal names
around here.
Okay. How does it work?
He sat rather nervously on the edge of the bed. I kinda...press on the thing that makes you
sleep. Don t know what it s called. I ain t real smart.
You seem pretty smart to me, but maybe you didn t get the chance for an education. When
did they imprison you? How old were you?
He traced a random pattern on his knee, not looking at me when he answered. Seven. Not
officially prison. Juvenile detention , he added, sneering. Don t know why, cos I was shot full
of naksen. Weren t no different from the other kids, cept they knew I was a para.
They made it hard on you?
Everyone made it hard on me. Got taken to the big prison when I was seventeen cos they
said I was too much to handle. I wasn t supposed to go until I was eighteen.
Slight and young looking even now, though he d said he was older than me. As fresh meat
he must have been piled on. You had it rough. Sorry about what I was thinking before, about
advantages. I didn t know.
I know, I just...thought it was kinda ironic. He looked at me from under his lashes. I was
there when you...uh...in the bar. I was talking to you when the fire started coming out of your
hands. I saw them take you away. Couldn t do nothing, couldn t risk it. I shoulda helped but...I
was afraid of them finding out about here.
You were there? I don t remember.
He tapped his head. I, uh...you know. I had to, Jodi. But I swore I was gonna get you out
and I did. Sorry it took so long.
I could only stare at him in amazement. How long were we talking?
A bit. You were upset about the thing at work.
It seemed a lifetime ago, like my research. Do you know anything about why my talent
suddenly appeared?
I don t know why you didn t know, if that s what you mean. I was as surprised as you were.
I felt real bad about it. Wouldn t give Jeyle no peace until she helped me find you, get you out.
I reached out and patted his leg. Then thank you. No, you couldn t risk everyone here. I
understand.
He nodded, but he still looked rather upset. Took it to heart, obviously.
When you re up on your feet again, we ll introduce you, show you around. Easier to do it
slow. We re not hiding shit from you, we just...don t want you to freak out. It s happened before.
Ain t pretty.
I understand. One thing was it chance, meeting you in the bar?
I was there on business.
He didn t look at me as he spoke. I wasn t entirely sure he d told me the truth, but then if he
could manipulate memories....
People find it hard to trust you, don t they? Because of the powers?
Yeah. Me and empaths. People hate us. Like you do. He got up, his expression now closed
in. You ready?
Kir, I don t hate you.
No? With all them thoughts in your head about me manipulating you and tricking you and
how you can t believe a word I say?
I gaped at him. I m trying to understand. And I do think you re lying to me, although I
don t know why.
He bit his lip. Okay. Here s what I m gonna tell you now. The rest, you have to wait for. I
met you in the bar. It wasn t by chance. Your talent really surprised me, and I ran to protect
everyone here. I did everything I could to get you out.
Not by chance?
No more, Jodi. I ain t having this conversation when you re about to be off your fucking
head for a week. You can trust me. I d never ever hurt you. As he spoke, his fierce eyes bored
into mine.
I believe you, I said.
Good. Now lie back. I can hang around for a bit if you want to drop off natural, or I can
knock you straight out, whichever.
I winced. Do you mind waiting?
Nope. Mind if I sit here? I can sit on the chair. Don t need to be near you.
No. Please. Sit here. It s a big bed.
His face split into a smile, which suited him much better than sullenness. They are, ain t
they? The beds are great here.
It all is. I really am grateful. I never expected to leave that prison alive.
He nodded. I know how it feels. I remember what it was like, thinking there was nothing
but prison in the world. People forget...what it was like before.
You mentioned your family
Don t. His face twisted. You re supposed to be going to sleep.
Then you get comfortable. You re perched there like you expect me to knock you off. Sit up
here, beside me. I patted the other pillow. I m so tired, don t think it ll take long.
Lucky you. I can t sleep in strange places real easy. He walked around the other side of the
bed and hopped up, stretching his long legs out alongside me. Sure this ain t bothering you?
That telepathy of yours good for anything other than being nosy?
You sure do have a mouth on you. But he grinned. He put his hand on my shoulder. Close
your eyes. I ll be here when you wake up. Not gonna be much fun.
Tell me something I don t know.
I closed my eyes and snuggled down. He kept his hand on me, which was sort of nice. I
didn t know why but his presence, his touch, reassured me in a way I d never experienced with
another man, except for Timo, whom I would have once trusted with my very life. The memory
of Timo caused me a sudden pang of loss and yearning. How could he have betrayed me like that,
to have written me off, when we had once shared all our secrets?
Maybe he was scared. He s got a family to protect same as me.
Kir, stay out of my head.
Sorry. He squeezed my shoulder and got a little closer so his warm bulk lay right against my
blanket-wrapped body. But this ll be easier on both of us if I....
Chapter Eight
I woke to pain in my back and head, and intense, exhausting shivering. For too many
seconds I was sure I was back in prison. Someone touched my face.
No, Ganwe, leave me
Not Ganwe. You re not in prison. It s me, Jodi. Kir.
I blinked against the soft light something blocked it. Someone s head. I f-feel l-like shit.
I moved my arm and something dragged against it before Kir caught my wrist. Careful.
That s the drip. You warm enough?
No. F-freezing.
Can fix that. He touched my face, stroking my forehead gently. I pushed up against the
touch, wanting more. It helped. I felt a little less crappy than I d expected, and I wasn t vomiting.
I couldn t stop shivering, but I was warmer than I would have been back in the cell, or in the
storeroom. It felt more like a not too severe dose of flu than anything else, though if I d had to get
up and do anything physical like walk, I d have been out of luck.
The door open and closed, then I heard the soft thud of footfalls across the rug.
And how s our boy doing? Kir, take these. Around his back will be the most comfortable.
Dede s head replaced Kir s. She bent low and touched my face as, behind me, Kir put
something wonderfully warm against my kidneys.
How are you doing, Jodi? Any symptoms I should be worried about?
N-no. Just c-cold. But not so much now. Heat f-feels good.
Thought it would. Kir will keep the pads coming while you re awake, so long as you re not
overheating. Headache? Worse than usual?
Yes, no. D-doing b-better. Time?
Two. In the afternoon. You ve been asleep for twenty-four hours, which you clearly
needed. She sounded amused by that fact. Kir, I can spell you for a bit. You need to sleep.
I tensed up in alarm at the thought of him leaving, though it was quite irrational of me to
want to keep him in constant attendance.
I m fine. Kir said, his tone stubborn. Slept in the chair some. I ain t going nowhere.
You don t need to be here all the time. Jodi s not dying or anything, are you?
No. K-Kir, you c-could sleep on b-bed. I grunted as cramps hit me. Kir shifted, then he
lifted the blankets and shoved another of the wonderful heating pads between my grabbing hands
and my aching gut. Th-thanks.
You want me to sleep in the same bed with you, Jodi?
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