“She wants you with us, so you may come with us, but I will be watching you,” Cole said coldly.
Armaan’s face lit up in one of his dazzling smiles. “Are you sure that you can watch me with her around? She seems to be the only thing you can keep your eyes on,” he said gesturing to Amanda with a wink.
Heat crept into her cheek, and she wanted to laugh but instead told him to shut up.
“Do you want him around twenty-four/seven? It could be a long journey,” Cole said through his teeth.
Armaan’s smile stretched wider.
“Stop being proud of yourself for being annoying!” she shot at Armaan. “And yes, I still want him to come.” She squeezed Cole’s large hand and made to let go but he kept it in place.
“Don’t worry; we’re pretty close to New Hovel. We should be there by tomorrow, and if you tell me that one day of my company is too much to bear, it would be a terrible shot to my self-esteem,” Armaan said dramatically.
She wanted to tell him that a shot to his self-esteem would be a good thing, but her mind was preoccupied with thoughts of how nice Cole’s warm hand felt holding hers.
“As much as I enjoy standing in the dark watching you look at each other and hold hands bashfully, I’d like to get some rest, so that I can watch you do something cute tomorrow with the sharpest of senses,” Armaan announced and bowed formally before walking off toward the cave.
She was getting used to Armaan’s embarrassing remarks and barely felt the warmth in her cheeks. “Has he always been so strange?” she asked Cole in a whisper.
“He has always been different; I thought it was because of how bad his childhood must have been, what with Frey as an older brother always making everything a joke. But then he turned into Frey.”
“Armaan isn’t like his brother, you’ll see. He’s been through so much, and he still cares about what you think of him. You should try to be there for him,” she said, glancing sideways, trying to gauge his reaction.
“Don’t worry. I do trust you, and if you trust him, I will try to.”
She was glad that he was trying to have faith in her judgment, but she wished he could forget the Armaan he thought he knew.
“Thanks for letting him stay. You’ll be glad you did when we walk into New Hovel tomorrow and all of your worries are put to rest. Come on, let’s go,” she said, dragging him after Armaan.
When they reached the cave, she wasn’t surprised that Armaan had already gone inside. Of course, it would open for him. Shiphra had made this safe haven, and she sent him to help them, so naturally he didn’t need her to get in. That was another reason to believe in Armaan. As they made their way into the light of the cave, she saw that Madgie was still deathly pale.
“Oh, Cole! Isn’t there anything we can do for her?”
“You have already done everything you can,” Armaan said from one of the stone couches. “Assuming you’re the one who healed her. Just let her rest and try to pour some fluids in her. You’ll have to guide the water down or she’ll choke on it.”
“Well, get your butt off of that couch and warm the water in that canteen, I’ll make her some tea.” She took the bamboo leaves and crushed up the rose buds ,placing both into a bit of fabric. She tied it off with more fabric and hoped it would work as a tea bag. “Have you warmed up the water yet?” she asked Armaan, looking over at him.
He had the canteen firmly between his hands, which were bright red and glowing slightly.
“Yeah, it’s steaming. Should be good to make tea. So did you tell him you lost this canteen and were trying to weave one out of leaves?” Armaan asked as he handed her the water.
She would have been embarrassed in any other situation, but seeing the slight smile that Armaan had put on Cole’s face was worth the humiliation. “I would have made a beautiful water basket if you had let me finish,” she said, though she knew it was a lie. “Anyway, I’m not sure I’m skilled enough to get Madgie to drink this without choking her. Will you try to get some in her once the tea is done, Cole?”
“Sure, where are you headed?” he asked as she made her way across the room.
“I’m going to sleep. I’m exhausted,” she said, making his face fall a little. Amanda turned around, making her way back over to him, and whispered in his ear, “I know you won’t sleep tonight. You don’t trust Armaan enough to, but after you get some fluids in Madgie…” She paused as her stomach did a back flip. “You can come and lay next to me if you like.”
Amanda turned around quickly before she could see his reaction. What if he didn’t want to? Why did she have to ask him that? Things used to be so easy with Cole, but now she second- guessed everything she should or shouldn’t say. She was tired all over, and her body begged for rest, but she couldn’t stop tossing and turning with worries about Madgie, Kaedin, and her newfound love life. One of these worries was calmed as Cole snuggled up next to her.
“Madgie drank almost the entire canteen, so stop worrying and get to sleep,” he whispered into her hair.
She didn’t need any more coercing. The steady rising and falling of his thick chest had her sent off to sleep in seconds.
18
It was a beautiful day in Shanghai, but Nell couldn’t bring herself to enjoy it. She had strategically perched herself on a large grey rock that overlooked the border of New Hovel. The Healer’s city was nestled in the middle of Century Park. She smiled at the people walking by the border, wondering how they didn’t notice the twenty acres Shiphra had hidden from them. Everyone here thought it was funny to go unseen in one of the most populated cities in the world. However, Nell just thought it was sad that they didn’t get to enjoy New Hovel.
Century Park was long ago modeled after it. Both had beautiful streams and ponds, spectacular topiary hedges clipped into all different shapes, but as beautiful as Century Park was, it had nothing on New Hovel. She had never seen anything like its green hills or cobblestone pathways. Even the sunlight seemed more concentrated, reflecting on the water in golden pools so rich she couldn’t stop herself from jumping into them the first time she’d passed one by.
It felt right; it felt like home, unlike the place she was brought to as a child that was cold and dark. She had grown to love it but not like New Hovel. This place made her forget the only home she’d ever had. Unfortunately, even the beauty of this place couldn’t make her forget how much she missed Armaan.
He’d kept her company the first day she arrived but had gone off on some important mission. She tried to make other friends, and there were plenty to be had. The children were especially friendly. Nell was shocked and amazed the first time she saw a small child run by, but New Hovel had them running everywhere. At her old home, there were no children younger than ten. The kids followed her like a shadow through most of the day, but Armaan was just such a fun person to have around. She had never felt someone’s absence like she felt his, which confused her. She loved Amanda’s company and Madgie’s too, but she never wallowed in their absence. So many things were changing for her and not just location.
Nell hadn’t ever had a thought about her appearance but suddenly couldn’t stop fretting about how she looked. The morning after getting to New Hovel, she had sat in front of the mirror in her small bright bedroom for at least an hour scrutinizing her hair, which, for the first time, Nell noticed was quite unmanageable. Then when she was finally happy with the way a side swept braid looked, Armaan wasn’t even around to see the trouble she had gone through.
He had been gone for two days now, and she was frustrated at herself for keeping an eye on the clock and frustrated at it for not ticking by the minutes faster. She was going crazy wondering where he was, when he’d get back, and if he was okay.
Nell stood up suddenly and scanned the horizon. A cool breeze sent her long hair into a dance. She didn’t find what she was looking for, so she jumped off the rock, stealing just one more backward glance. Nell ran down the grassy slope until she came to one of the cobblestone pathways that led to the city. One foot after the other, she tried to out run her thoughts. She didn’t even feel like herself; she had never obsessed over some guy. Nell wished Amanda was there to talk to her; she was just so confused. She picked up her pace and jumped the low rock wall that surrounded a deep cool pond. Running hadn’t helped her escape her thoughts, so she leaped into
