had to believe you were still alive.
“Then I got closer to the clearing, and I could hear Nell talking, and I heard your voice—I can’t tell you how relieved I was. I watched her, but when I saw the knife, I knew I had to be careful. She had her back to me, though, and I couldn’t see if she had put it down. I moved to a different angle, and that’s when I saw her cut you.” He dropped his head into his hands and was silent.
Reaching up, I ran my hand over his hair. “It’s okay. It turned out all right, remember?”
“But it was too close. I couldn’t see her… then when I did, I didn’t stop to think. I just reacted.”
“You reacted just right. If you hadn’t, she would’ve cut my arms, too. You saved me.”
Michael lifted his eyes to mine. The pain and guilt I saw there, combined with the anguish in his mind, broke my heart. He leaned in to lay his cheek next to mine.
“I could’ve been too late,” he whispered, his voice muffled next to my ear. “If I hadn’t gotten there in time…”
“But you did. Of course you did. You’re my guardian archangel. Michael the Avenger.”
I felt a reluctant smile touch his mouth then, and then he raised his head so that his face was very close to mine. “I’m never letting you get messed up in something like this again. The idea of losing you—I can’t deal with it.” His lips met mine in a soft whisper of a kiss.
“How about we both stay away from life-threatening danger? I can’t handle losing you, either.”
“Sounds like a plan.” He straightened and took my hand again, holding it in both of his. “Speaking of danger, you want to tell me exactly how you ended up out there with Nell? I know you heard something from her, but what made you think I was in danger? That’s still the murky part of the story.”
It didn’t take long to sketch out how I came to be at Lake Rosu. A myriad of expressions crossed Michael’s face as he listened to story, and I heard his thoughts clearly enough to know I was in trouble.
“Why did you even think about going out there by yourself? Do you know what a chance you took?” The anguish was still stronger than the anger. I squirmed uncomfortably.
“I heard what she was thinking, and—I just reacted. I thought you were in danger. I never for a moment thought that Nell was setting me up to be the sacrifice.”
There was a rustling at the door, and Marly leaned into the room. “Tasmyn! Oh, it’s good to see your eyes open!” She moved to my bedside and hugged me carefully. I could see the weariness etched on her normally unlined face. “We’ve been so worried.”
“I’m sorry,” I murmured, chagrined to be apologizing yet again.
“Don’t be silly. There’s no reason for you to be sorry. You’re a hero, don’t you know?”
I rolled my eyes. “Some hero. I put other innocent people-including your son—in danger, and I needed rescuing. That’s just stupidity.”
Marly looked at her son. “Clearly that’s the head trauma speaking. The Tasmyn I know and love is much smarter than that. She would know that we’re only happy and relieved that she’s all right, that we’re proud of her for being very brave.” Her eyes flashed at me, daring me to contradict her. I blushed and lowered my eyes.
“Your parents are heading back down here,” she announced. “They’ve been so sweet to give you two time together, but your mom is going to self-destruct if she has to be away from you any longer. They’re lovely people, by the way. Such a pleasure to meet them.”
Michael chuckled. “Yeah, most couples introduce their parents to each other over a nice dinner. We do it in the hospital after a crazy witch almost kills us both. We’re definitely unique.”
“We bonded,” Marly said smugly. “I’ve already spoken to your mother about coming out to the nursery for coffee one day soon, Tas, and your dad is chomping to come and look over our bushes. But now,” she said, turning to Michael and fastening on him a gaze that brooked no nonsense, “I am taking my son home to get some sleep, and to let you visit with your parents and rest.”
Michael protested, but to no avail. I could see exhaustion lying just below the worry in his eyes, and I joined his mom in insisting