\u201cJacqueline\u2019s ready to kill you,\u201d J.T. said to Phelan two days later as he peeled back the bandages protecting the wound in his side.\u00a0 \u201cI have no idea what you said to her, but she\u2019s pissed.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cOf course she is,\u201d Phelan grumbled.\u00a0 \u201cI was stupid.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 I\u2019ll make it up to her somehow when I feel like I\u2019m not going to fall over every time I get out of bed.\u00a0 Has the weather broken?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cStorm\u2019s been letting up since last night,\u201d J.T. said, pouring a little disinfectant across Phelan\u2019s stitches.\u00a0 Phelan hissed, tensing up.<\/p>\n
\u201cStop whining,\u201d<\/i> \u00c9riu\u2019s spirit chided.\u00a0 \u201cIt doesn\u2019t suit you.\u201d<\/i><\/p>\n
J.T. winced, but had to cover a smirk as Phelan glared in the ghost\u2019s direction.<\/p>\n
\u201cBe quiet,\u201d Phelan ordered.\u00a0 \u201cYou\u2019ve said more than enough the past couple of days.\u201d<\/p>\n
One of J.T.\u2019s brows arched.\u00a0 \u201cHas she?\u201d he asked curiously.<\/p>\n
Phelan winced, looking away.\u00a0 \u201cDon\u2019t ask.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m asking anyway.\u00a0 What\u2019s going on?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cHe wants to leave to protect you lot,\u201d<\/i> \u00c9riu said.\u00a0 \u201cShe thinks it\u2019s foolish.\u00a0 I do, too, but he doesn\u2019t want to listen to a ghost.\u201d<\/i><\/p>\n
\u201cI never said that,\u201d Phelan said, his voice a little more hoarse than it had been the moment before.<\/p>\n
\u201cOf course you did!\u00a0 I heard you, Phelan.\u00a0 Don\u2019t pretend you didn\u2019t say it and you certainly shouldn\u2019t pretend you didn\u2019t think it.\u201d<\/i><\/p>\n
J.T. arched a brow, gaze drifting between the ephemeral spirit and Phelan.\u00a0 \u201cWell,\u201d he said after a moment, \u201cI think it\u2019s stupid, too.\u00a0 You\u2019re not going anywhere anytime soon.\u00a0 Not with a hole the size of the one you\u2019ve got in your side.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI wasn\u2019t going anywhere until I was better,\u201d he muttered, turning his face to the wall, every muscle tensed as J.T. resumed tending to the aforementioned hole in his side.\u00a0 \u201cI know I wouldn\u2019t make it far and that wouldn\u2019t do anyone any good, would it?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cNeither would you leaving,\u201d J.T. said.\u00a0 \u201cWe care about you.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYou decked me the first time we met.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYou deserved it.\u00a0 You said as much.\u201d\u00a0 J.T. grinned as he saw the corner of Phelan\u2019s mouth twitch toward a smile.\u00a0 \u201cNow quit talking about crazy shit like leaving.\u00a0 It\u2019s a bad idea.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cEven if it keeps you all safe?\u201d Phelan asked softly.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt wouldn\u2019t,\u201d J.T. said.\u00a0 I can see ghosts.\u00a0 Marin and Thom see the future.\u00a0 Cameron and Neve are here, and you can\u2019t tell me they\u2019re not going to be drawing enemies here, too\u2014Thordin\u2019s the same.\u00a0 There\u2019s nowhere safe unless we\u2019re all together.<\/i>\u00a0 \u201cTrust me,\u201d he said, his voice softer.\u00a0 \u201cIt wouldn\u2019t.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
\u201cJacqueline\u2019s ready to kill you,\u201d J.T. said to Phelan two days later as he peeled back the bandages protecting the wound in his side.\u00a0 \u201cI have no idea what you said to her, but she\u2019s pissed.\u201d \u201cOf course she is,\u201d … Continue reading