falling into an easy conversation with all three of the intelligent, savvy women. She told them all she knew, relating the details of Tegan's and her visits to the containment facility.
She had just begun to tell them about the writings Irina had given her when Tess put down her wineglass, her brows knit in a frown.
What happened to your face? You're bruised.
Elise nodded, idly touching the tenderness that still lingered in her cheek and jaw. Oh. A Minion did that.
My God, Savannah gasped, her concern echoed by Gabrielle and Tess as well.
Does it hurt? Tess asked, moving around the table and kneeling next to Elise.
It did at first. It's not so bad now.
Let me see. She carefully tilted Elise's head. When her hand came to rest on the bruise, Elise felt a warm tingle spreading from the female's palm to the tips of her fingers. Dante's mate had worked her healing touch on Elise before, but that didn't make her marvel at Tess's talent any less. The trauma of the injury faded away, muting until not even the slightest twinge of discomfort remained.
Elise let herself sink into the peaceful sensation that swept over her as Tess drew her hand away. Your skill is amazing.
The pretty female shrugged her shoulder as if uncomfortable with the praise. There are some things that are beyond my ability. I can't take away scars or correct wounds that have already healed on their own. Some damage is irreversible. I'm learning that with Rio.
Savannah reached over to squeeze Tess's hand. He's doing a lot better since you've been working with him. The fact that he's even out of bed at all is due mostly to you. No, it's pure rage that drives him, Tess said. My being able to heal some of his physical wounds is only incidental.
Rio was injured in a Rogue ambush last summer, Gabrielle explained to Elise. He got pretty messed up from exploding shrapnel, but the worst of it was when he found out that his Breedmate had set the Order up for the attack.
Elise's heart twisted at the very idea. How awful.
Yeah, it was. Eva betrayed Rio and the others to Marek. In exchange, Lucan was to be the primary target of the explosion. Lucan was supposed to die that night, but the bomb only injured him. He and Rio were hit, but Rio took the worst of the impact. Gabrielle took a sip of her wine, her gaze sober, reflective. I was there when Eva confessed what she'd done...and when she proceeded to take her own life.
Those were some dark days, Savannah said. It was really hard losing Eva like that. I thought she was a friend. What she did to Rio and to the others is unforgivable.
Rio certainly won't let it go, Tess added. Dante and I are really concerned about him. I wonder sometimes if he's too far gone--you know, on the inside. When I work with him, there are times I feel like I'm looking at an armed grenade that's just waiting for an excuse to go off.
Savannah exhaled a wry laugh. Pretty bad when Rio makes Tegan look like a poster boy for normal and well-adjusted.
Elise glanced down, feeling her cheeks heat up at the mention of Tegan. When she looked up again, it was to find Gabrielle watching her. He wasn't too terrifying in Berlin, was he? Tegan doesn't make it easy for anyone to be around him. No. No, he was fine, actually, Elise said, rising to his defense. He was kind and protective...well, and frustratingly complicated. He's the most intense man I've ever known. And he is...so much more than people might think.
She felt the room go quiet. Three pairs of female eyes were rooted on her now, each of the warriors' mates staring at her as fire shot into her face.
Elise, Gabrielle said slowly, her eyes brightening with understanding. You and Tegan...really?
Before she could stammer out an admission, she was pulled into the female's happy embrace. The two other Breedmates took turns congratulating her as well, making her tear up at the instant circle of sisterhood that they were so willing to accept her into.
It was through a moist, bleary gaze that Elise got her first glimpse of the tapestry that hung on the far corner wall of the library. The colors of the medieval setting were dazzling, depicting a knight on horseback as richly as if it were paint on canvas.
The intricacy of the needlework was extraordinary...familiar.