“Jacqueline’s ready to kill you,” J.T. said to Phelan two days later as he peeled back the bandages protecting the wound in his side. “I have no idea what you said to her, but she’s pissed.”
“Of course she is,” Phelan grumbled. “I was stupid. I’ll make it up to her somehow when I feel like I’m not going to fall over every time I get out of bed. Has the weather broken?”
“Storm’s been letting up since last night,” J.T. said, pouring a little disinfectant across Phelan’s stitches. Phelan hissed, tensing up.
“Stop whining,” Ériu’s spirit chided. “It doesn’t suit you.”
J.T. winced, but had to cover a smirk as Phelan glared in the ghost’s direction.
“Be quiet,” Phelan ordered. “You’ve said more than enough the past couple of days.”
One of J.T.’s brows arched. “Has she?” he asked curiously.
Phelan winced, looking away. “Don’t ask.”
“I’m asking anyway. What’s going on?”
“He wants to leave to protect you lot,” Ériu said. “She thinks it’s foolish. I do, too, but he doesn’t want to listen to a ghost.”
“I never said that,” Phelan said, his voice a little more hoarse than it had been the moment before.
“Of course you did! I heard you, Phelan. Don’t pretend you didn’t say it and you certainly shouldn’t pretend you didn’t think it.”
J.T. arched a brow, gaze drifting between the ephemeral spirit and Phelan. “Well,” he said after a moment, “I think it’s stupid, too. You’re not going anywhere anytime soon. Not with a hole the size of the one you’ve got in your side.”
“I wasn’t going anywhere until I was better,” he muttered, turning his face to the wall, every muscle tensed as J.T. resumed tending to the aforementioned hole in his side. “I know I wouldn’t make it far and that wouldn’t do anyone any good, would it?”
“Neither would you leaving,” J.T. said. “We care about you.”
“You decked me the first time we met.”
“You deserved it. You said as much.” J.T. grinned as he saw the corner of Phelan’s mouth twitch toward a smile. “Now quit talking about crazy shit like leaving. It’s a bad idea.”
“Even if it keeps you all safe?” Phelan asked softly.
“It wouldn’t,” J.T. said. I can see ghosts. Marin and Thom see the future. Cameron and Neve are here, and you can’t tell me they’re not going to be drawing enemies here, too—Thordin’s the same. There’s nowhere safe unless we’re all together. “Trust me,” he said, his voice softer. “It wouldn’t.”
Thanks for the update.These characters are addictive.