{"id":1555,"date":"2012-12-26T00:00:05","date_gmt":"2012-12-26T05:00:05","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/awakenings.embklitzke.com\/?p=1555"},"modified":"2012-12-26T00:01:54","modified_gmt":"2012-12-26T05:01:54","slug":"winter-chapter-28-03","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/awakenings.embklitzke.com\/?p=1555","title":{"rendered":"Winter – Chapter 28 – 03"},"content":{"rendered":"

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cPhelan, what the hell was all of that?\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>He winced slightly, not turning as he kept on scrubbing the blood from his hands near the fire.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>The sky was slowly growing light in the east and his eyelids were heavy.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>It\u2019d been a long, agonizing night.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>He\u2019d count them all lucky if Rory, J.T., and Thom didn\u2019t end up with raging infections like the one that was currently ravaging Cameron.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cNow really isn\u2019t a good time, Marin,\u201d he murmured, still scrubbing\u2014scrubbing so hard that his hands were turning red from the force of it.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>Head in the game.\u00a0 <\/span>Focus.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>Bigger problems.<\/span><\/i><\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>What the hell was that with Cariocecus?<\/span><\/span><\/i><\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>And what the hell was the Hecate on about\u2014Seamus\u2019s bloodline?<\/span><\/i>\u00a0 <\/span>A muscle in his jaw twitched. If he ever got his hands on his purportedly late cousin\u2026<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>Get off the crazy train.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>Now\u2019s not the time for that<\/span><\/i>.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cIf we always waited for a \u2018good time\u2019 around here, Phelan, we\u2019d never get anything accomplished and no one would know anything.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>Now talk to me.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>What the hell happened tonight?\u201d<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>She came around the edge of the bucket he was using to scrub his hands and stared at him in the half-light of breaking dawn and the nearby fire.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>The flames flickered and danced, catching on red and blonde strands amidst her dark mane.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>For a moment, she looked so much like his long-dead friend, Brigid, it made his throat swell with emotion.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 I\u2019ve lived too damned long.<\/i>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201c<\/span>D\u00e9ithe agus arrachtaigh<\/span><\/i>, Marin,\u201d he murmured.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cYou know you\u2019re one of the few women who\u2019s ever dared to speak to me like that?\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cWhat are you talking about?\u201d<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>Her brows knit and she tilted her head to one side.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cAre you feeling all right?\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>He wasn\u2019t, in fact, but he wasn\u2019t about to share that fact at the moment.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>There wasn\u2019t anything wrong with him that a few hours\u2019 sleep wouldn\u2019t fix\u2014or so he was hoping.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>Phelan just shook his head and looked down into the dark basin of water, slowly turning red as he washed blood from his hands.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cThe same as always, just tired.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>What do you want to know?\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cJust what I asked.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>What the hell happened out there?<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>I can understand why you asked for the antibiotics short courses on everyone, since that\u2019s pretty much what we did the <\/span>last<\/span><\/i> time someone got shredded by something supernatural with claws, but that doesn\u2019t explain what I <\/span>witnessed<\/span><\/i> out there, now does it?\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cHow much did you hear?\u201d he asked, frowning as he scrubbed his hands.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>Why didn\u2019t they seem to want to come clean?<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>Too many years.\u00a0 <\/span>Too much blood.<\/span><\/i><\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>Marin frowned.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cEnough that I know that there\u2019s a lot of backstory going on that I haven\u2019t been privy to.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>Are you sure you\u2019re okay?\u201d<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>She held the lantern in her hand a little closer and winced.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cPhelan, you\u2019re scrubbing them <\/span>raw<\/span><\/i>.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>Stop.\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cThere\u2019s still blood on them,\u201d he muttered.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>She took hold of one of his wrists and squeezed.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cThey\u2019re clean, Phelan,\u201d she whispered. \u201cCome on.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>Let\u2019s get something hot into you, okay?\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>He\u2019d admired how quickly she could go from hard and demanding to tender and caring in a second flat.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>That was another thing that reminded him of her long-ago predecessor.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>He shook his head slightly as he let her draw him away from the basin.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cYou remind me so much of her tonight.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>Brighid.\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>She slid her arm around his shoulders and gently steered him toward the cookfire.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cYeah.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>You\u2019ve said that before.\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cI know,\u201d Phelan said softly, \u201cbut tonight especially.\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cDon\u2019t try to distract me, Phelan,\u201d she said, her tone firm even if her voice was tired.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cI still want to know what the hell happened and you\u2019re the only one who can tell me right now.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>I tried to get it out of Thordin and he just looked at me like I was crazy for asking.\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>He probably thinks you\u2019re crazy for wanting to know, but I think he\u2019s a little scared of you, too.\u00a0 <\/span>He saw you with that bow.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>He sees in you what I\u2019ve seen.<\/span><\/i>\u00a0 <\/span>Phelan closed his eyes and shook his head slightly, his wet fingers knitting together.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cIs there a towel around here?\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cHere.\u201d<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>She dropped one over his clasped hands then started worrying about putting some water on.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>He opened his eyes and began to scrub the water from his hands, wincing as he realized she was right.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>He\u2019d scrubbed them almost raw in his zeal\u2014or the post-traumatic stress, whichever might be the case.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cNow will you just <\/span>talk<\/span><\/i> to me?\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cYeah,\u201d he said with a quiet sigh.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cSo\u2026about what happened out there\u2026\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cWho was she and why did Cariocecus show up to get her out of our hair, Phelan?<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>He doesn\u2019t like us.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>He promised on my wedding day to come back and deal with us because he wants this patch and we\u2019re on it.\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>Phelan set his jaw, looking Marin dead in the eye.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cAre you going to ask questions, or are you going to let me talk, <\/span>leann\u00e1n<\/span><\/i>?\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>She went quiet, lips thinning.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cI\u2019ll let you talk,\u201d she murmured, turning away again to get him a mug for his coffee or tea\u2014whatever she decided to pour him.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>He decided he didn\u2019t care which he got, so long as it was hot.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>The cold seemed to be settling into his bones in ways it never had before.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>Maybe it was his time in the river that did it.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>Maybe it was something else.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>He couldn\u2019t be sure.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cThat was the Hecate,\u201d Phelan said softly, spreading the towel over the edge of a nearby carton to dry.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cShe\u2019s had a beef with Teague and his family for near as long as I can remember\u2014back before I had an issue with Vammatar, his family was having issues with that bitch.\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cThe Hecate,\u201d Marin echoed quietly.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cThe crossroads and magic goddess from Greek mythology?<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>That one?\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cFor better or worse,\u201d Phelan said, shoulders slumping.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cI don\u2019t know what one of his ancestors did to her or failed to do, but she\u2019s had a hard-on for taking them out ever since whatever happened\u2026happened.\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cYou don\u2019t even know what happened?\u201d<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>She pressed a mug of something steaming into his hands.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>He sniffed it.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>Mint tea.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Good, because I\u2019m feeling pretty damned ragged.<\/i>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cNo.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>His father didn\u2019t like to speak of it, so I imagine it was something that he might have done that sparked this little feud that\u2019s lasted a hundred generations and more.\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cAnd because he\u2019s dead\u2014\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cBecause he\u2019s dead and she hates Teague, she\u2019s taken it out on him ever since,\u201d Phelan snapped, biting down hard on his tongue.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cI\u2019m sorry.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>I didn\u2019t mean to\u2014\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cIt upsets you,\u201d Marin said softly as she sat down with him, wrapping her arms around her knees.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cWhatever badgering of him she\u2019s doing.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>It bothers you a lot.\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>Phelan nodded, staring into the fire.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cI didn\u2019t have brothers, Marin,\u201d he murmured, \u201cbut I had Teague and Seamus.\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cSo their fights became your fights?\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>He closed his eyes, nodding again.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cAye.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>And this one\u2026this was one of the worst.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>That bitch can bear a grudge weighing twice as much as any load Atlas ever shrugged off his shoulders.\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cStrange to hear someone call a freaking goddess a bitch.\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>He had to laugh.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cIf the shoe fits, <\/span>leann\u00e1n<\/span><\/i>, they get to wear it.\u201d<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>He sobered after a moment and stared into his mug.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cI never told you why I was late getting here, did I?<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>Hell, why Teague and Kira sent me in the first place instead of coming themselves.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>I never told you, did I?\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cNo,\u201d she said softly.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cYou never did, but I don\u2019t think any of us asked, either.\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cNot in so many words,\u201d he agreed.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>He took a long swallow of his tea, gathering his thoughts before he began to explain.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cI had to find a way to make sure she wouldn\u2019t find him or find you,\u201d he said at last, settling on the full truth and full disclosure. \u201cI stuck closer to the city, planting false trails and false leads until it was almost too late.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>Then it was all I could do to start making my way here.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>As it was, I was too late to help the first time you went toe-to-toe with Cariocecus and his band of merry were-bat things.\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>\u201c<\/span>Camazotzi<\/span><\/i>,\u201d she said with a faint, wry smile.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cYeah, those ugly bastards.\u201d<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>Phelan knuckled his eyes and sighed.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cThe Hecate is the last\u2014and I do mean the last\u2014thing I\u2019d want to pit any of you against.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>On a good day, she could take any one of us out.\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cWe\u2019ve got three of you,\u201d Marin said softly.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cAnd then you\u2019ve got all of us plus Excalibur.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>Does that even the odds a little?\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cOnly if Cameron\u2019s recovered and Neve\u2019s able to fight when she comes back,\u201d Phelan murmured.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cAnd it\u2019s not an if\u2014it\u2019s a when. She\u2019ll be back.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>I don\u2019t know what Cariocecus did with her, but it probably wasn\u2019t pleasant and she\u2019ll be even more pissed when she finally comes back here.\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>Marin shook her head slightly.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cIs it possible that she\u2019s weakened him enough to give us an edge in a couple weeks?\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cI don\u2019t know,\u201d Phelan said honestly.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cBut she did cut down our strength if the wounded here don\u2019t recover quickly.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>I wouldn\u2019t count on Cameron\u2019s help and I sure as hell wouldn\u2019t count on Neve\u2019s.\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cWere they badly hurt?\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>Phelan\u2019s nose wrinkled. \u201cIt\u2019s not so much that Cameron\u2019s wound was <\/span>bad<\/span><\/i>, it\u2019s what the <\/span>Dirae<\/span><\/i> claws apparently do to him.\u201d<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>He sighed.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cIt\u2019s like he\u2019s one of us, but he\u2019s not.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>There\u2019s a lot of Otherworld blood in him.\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cThat sounds like the rest of us,\u201d Marin said, resting her chin on her knee.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cSeems almost like he\u2019s got more,\u201d Phelan said.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cLike he\u2019s half-blood or very nearly full-blooded.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>It\u2019s a bit of a concern for me, but\u2026\u201d<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>His voice trailed off and he sighed. \u201cWe\u2019ve got a lot of other problems to sort out before I can waste my time with that mystery.\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>One corner of her mouth twitched.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cWe must be rubbing off on you.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>That sounds like something that\u2019d have come out of Thom\u2019s mouth, or Matt\u2019s, or mine.\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>Phelan had to smile.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cYeah, well, I guess it\u2019s only payback for rubbing off on <\/span>you<\/span><\/i>.\u201d<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>He reached over and tousled her hair lightly, smile softening.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cThank you, <\/span>leann\u00e1n<\/span><\/i>,\u201d he said softly.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cFor what?\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cEverything.\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cPhelan, what the hell was all of that?\u201d \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 He winced slightly, not turning as he kept on scrubbing the blood from his hands near the fire.\u00a0 The sky was slowly growing light in the east and his eyelids … Continue reading →<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[35,67,14,52,39],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1555","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-book-2","category-chapter-28","category-story","category-winter","category-year-one"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p1EBlN-p5","jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/awakenings.embklitzke.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1555","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/awakenings.embklitzke.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/awakenings.embklitzke.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/awakenings.embklitzke.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/awakenings.embklitzke.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=1555"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"http:\/\/awakenings.embklitzke.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1555\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1557,"href":"http:\/\/awakenings.embklitzke.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1555\/revisions\/1557"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/awakenings.embklitzke.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=1555"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/awakenings.embklitzke.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=1555"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/awakenings.embklitzke.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=1555"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}