Magician's Touch (Deadly Touch book 3) Chapter 28: 28: She Looked Happy

Read chapter 28 of Magician's Touch (Deadly Touch book 3) by Deb E Howell on NovelPedia.

Rain. Of course it had to rain. Why wouldn’t it? And so, Llew laughed. There was little she could do but allow her blood to keep flowing Karlani’s way. So she did. She sighed. She laughed under her breath. Everyone else switched into action. Rowan led Edwyn and Ianto to the shed for some sort of cover. Jonas stepped beneath the Ajnai tree that offered Llew some shelter from the rain drops, but as they grew in frequency, more drops slid through the leaves, growing in size and hitting the ground or Llew with some force. Jonas’s shirt was already soaked through. “You can’t afford to waste energy being cold and wet,” she said. “You should get inside. Sleep in a proper bed.” Jonas grimaced at the suggestion, but Llew was right and he had no come back. Llew scrambled up and puckered her lips for a chaste kiss. “Alright.” Jonas met her kiss, patting her shoulder. “Goodnight. Get some sleep if you can.” “Hmm.” That would depend how long it took to get Karlani up to strength. Llew was wary of thinking on it too closely. Even contemplating the cost of healing Karlani at the most shallow level of thought set her stomach clenching with anger. A stupid, stupid joke. Jonas reluctantly headed indoors and Rowan returned with the two Turhmos soldiers – ex-soldiers, Llew supposed – carrying a tarpaulin and some poles, thin rope, and pegs like large, hooked nails. They set about hooking the tarpaulin over Llew. She had to sit again to get under its cover. Karlani shifted to sit beneath the cover as well. Practically, it was a sensible move, as Garnoc and Delwynn could just sit between Llew and Karlani, handing syringes between them. Didn’t mean Llew had to like the arrangement, and she let the Syakaran woman know with dark glares when she dared look her way at all. By the time the tarpaulin was firmly tied to the tree’s trunk, the poles, and the ground, the rain had really set in, soaking everyone except Llew and Karlani, and drowning out any attempt at conversation. Rowan crouched by Llew in an effort to hear and be heard. They agreed it unlikely Turhmos soldiers would strike under these conditions, still they would keep two on watch. Alvaro agreed to be one, and Ianto also volunteered, as well as agreeing to swap out with Garnoc or Delwynn as needed, which allowed Rowan and Edwyn to head into the dry indoors. Llew insisted they keep one person awake at all times – allow Jonas to sleep, but monitor him. With those arrangements in place, Llew’s world became the needle repeatedly breaking her skin and the tree continuously healing her. All else was the drumming rain and the trickle of converged drops pouring from the canopy. She tuned out from the people around her and turned her focus to the tree. What more could it convey regarding Braph’s intentions and progress? The initial shock of his already being in Taither had subsided, so she could now approach the situation with more sensible inquiry. Had he hurt the Taither Ajnai? Through her palm pressed to the bark, she felt an intense ache, then she heard a baby’s cry, filled with anguish. And once more, Braph’s face floated before her. She snapped her hand from the tree, causing the needle in her other arm to twist and tear beneath her skin. Delwynn’s hand brushed her and he hissed at the burn. Llew covered her face with her hands and breathed, blocking out all else. Even if Braph wasn’t hurting her tree – her baby – their history left an indelible mark on her very being. Just seeing a vague image of him made her feel ill, angry, and tormented. But he was hurting her tree and, by extension, her baby’s soul. And he had her mother with him. She looked happy. Could she afford to appear otherwise? Was her mother even in control of her own feelings? With the power now afforded him by his own son’s blood, Braph could exert control over anyone. Surely, if her mother felt anything for the man, it was false. How could it be aught else? So much for sensible. Braph rattled her. Just thinking of him made her