Phelan took a deep breath, staring at Jacqueline for a long moment before he sighed and sat down next to Seamus, leaving enough room at the very end of the log for Jac to join him if she wanted. “She’s right,” he said after a long moment. “What matters to Jac is important to me.”
And yet he doesn’t mention anything about being sundered—more importantly, he doesn’t mention anything about not being quite right after being sundered. I stared at him for a moment before I shook my head. “I’d better go see what the boys are up to at the forge. Thom’s up there with Matt and I saw Cam headed in that direction, too, and they are absolutely supposed to be taking it easy.”
“How’s Thom’s back?” Jacqueline asked as she sank down onto the log next to Phelan. He settled an arm around her shoulders and she leaned in, resting against his side.
“Healing,” I said, shoving my hands into my pockets. “Slower than I think either one of us would like, but it’s getting better. He was going to have J.T. take another look at it to make sure it’s doing as well as we both hope it is.”
She nodded slightly. “I’m sorry I haven’t been able to dedicate much time to dealing with him.”
“You’ve had your hands full.” I smiled crookedly. “J.T.’s had it covered. Besides, I think he likes being able to keep an eye on Thom. It keeps his mind off other stuff.”
Phelan’s brows knit. “Has he been having dreams again?”
“If he has, he hasn’t told me.” I took a deep breath and exhaled it slowly. “But I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t worried about him.”
“Has Care said anything?” Jacqueline asked quietly.
I shook my head. “No, but I’m also not sure she would at this point. In some ways, I’m not sure where that relationship is really at. Sometimes I’m sure that they’re perfect for each other and they’re great and then sometimes I’m just…just not sure.”
“They balance each other,” Seamus said, rising to pour himself a mug of something hot. “Sometimes, that’s something you need.”
“More commonly than not, actually,” Phelan said, resting his cheek against Jacqueline’s hair. His gaze drifted to his sister. “I’m sorry for being an ass, Aoife.”
She snorted. “It’s your defense mechanism. Gods know I should be used to it by now.”
I shook my head, smiling wryly as I turned to walk away. One would hope, anyway. One would hope.
