“Been any change?”
Jacqueline looked up from the book in her lap toward Phelan, then at Thordin, who lay sleeping in the bed in front of her. She shook her head slowly. “No,” she said. “No change. Just sleeps.”
“At least he’s still breathing,” Phelan said, resting his hands on her shoulders, following her gaze toward his sleeping friend. “That’s something.”
Jacqueline sighed, leaning her head back and resting it against his chest. “Yeah. Sif’s been in and out. I told her to get some rest. Being ragged isn’t going to help.”
Phelan nodded. “Good.” He squeezed his lover’s shoulders and leaned down to kiss her. She captured his lips and wouldn’t let him go for a moment, despite the awkward positioning.
He blinked at her when she broke off the kiss. “What was that for?”
“Just glad it wasn’t you this time,” she said softly. “I wanted you to know that.”
He smiled weakly at her, feeling a pang of guilt. He still hadn’t quite recovered from the magic he’d called while they were out there on the frozen lake, still hadn’t realized what the consequences of his actions might be.
She’s right, though. It could have been me. For once, it wasn’t, but it just as easily could have been, and it might be next time.
“What did you guys talk about up at the forge?”
“How did you know I was there?”
“Because you smell like smoke.” Jacqueline shot him a playful grin. “And you’ve got that look. What’s going on now?”
“We were just talking about Thom and Cameron’s impending trip, that’s all.” Phelan leaned against her chair. “J.T. is going with them.”
“I know.”
“I know you know,” he said. “They don’t like it—Cameron, mostly. He doesn’t like that Seamus is going, either.”
“Seamus is going?”
Phelan nodded. Jacqueline watched him for a few long moments.
“Marin saw something, didn’t she?”
“Yes,” Phelan whispered. “Yes, she did.”
