Sterling (40 page)

I groaned in misery as the vent was blowing cool air over my already frozen body.

“Will I see Adam again?”

“Yes. Novis is respectable chap. We do not imprison our Learners…do we Justus?”

“How did you know Novis would do it?”

Simon replied with a little cockiness, “It’s what I would do if I were him. Novis is intelligent, and I knew that while he hadn’t made a progeny in a very long time, this wouldn’t be an opportunity he would pass up. He’s one of the few who is very selective and it was strategically a good move on his part. Someone with his background can be an asset, the Breed tend to be very closed off in many ways. You know Justus,” he trailed off, “we also need to have a night out. Maybe a welcome to the Mage party and invite Adam and Novis—good opportunity to sharpen our connections.”

“Hey, I didn’t get a party.”

Simon purred, “Now love, what do you call that night on the dance floor?”

“Scandalous?”

I loved the sound of his laugh and I closed my eyes to let it warm me. When I heard a deep creak of leather I sat up and flinched. Justus was turned completely around in his seat staring at me.

“What?”

“I smell blood.”

“Well it’s a good thing I don’t have my monthly—”

His seatbelt clicked open and Justus crawled through the tight space between the seats looking ridiculous. He was way too tall to be moving around in such a confined space. Those athletic legs got tangled up in the front as he fell against the seat. One foot kicked Simon in the face and I hid my laugh.

“Bloody hell! A man is trying to drive here. Hard to keep the passengers alive when one of them is crawling around in the car like a moose. Could’ve run off the road and slammed into a tree and then what? Yeah, lying in a field for days trying to heal, while animals gnaw on us, that’s what…” he rambled on.

“Let me see,” Justus insisted.

He turned my hand palm up and blood pooled from the gash. I shrugged; I was immortal after all so I yanked it back and closed my fingers.

“You bleed.”

“I’ll bandage it when we get home. I promise I won’t bleed all over your studly car, Simon. I just need to get warm and I’ll be alright.” My limbs stiffened as I stretched them.

Simon glanced around. “Don’t worry love, won’t be the first drop of blood spilled in here. Justus, why don’t you tell her about the time you thought you could jump on a moving truck?” He snorted and turned the wheel as the car hit the main road.

“Why are you so stubborn?” Justus said, pulling out of the jacket he tossed in the front seat. He also was rain soaked; small droplets clung to him in various places around his neck and lashes.

“I take after my Ghuardian,” I grinned.

Justus reached over and brushed back my wet hair, coaxing me gently to lie across his lap.

My Ghuardian draped his arm over me and I felt his warmth move across my body as if he were the sun warming cold waters on a hot summer day. I thought of the tattoo on his back and it made perfect sense.

He was the sun…my sun. He was the center of my new life and I basked in his light and protection. My eyelids sank heavily and his hand rested over mine.

Despite what I had told him—my hand was healed by his magic.

Justus made me whole again.