bed?”
“Yeah. And before you go any farther, you don’t want to know.”
“I don’t want to know what?”
“How much I’m not wearing.”
“Er…” As she hesitated, he knew she was smiling again. And probably blushing. “I so won’t ask.”
“Wise of you. It’s just me and the sheets—oops, did I just spill that?”
“Yes. Yes, you did.” Her voice got a little lower, as if she were imagining him naked. And not minding the mental pinup in the slightest.
“Ehlena…” He stopped himself, his symphath urges giving him the self-control to slow down. Yes, Rehv wanted her as naked as he was. But even more than that, he wanted her on the phone.
“What?” she said.
“Your father…has he been ill for long?”
“I, ah…yes, yes, he has. He’s schizophrenic. We’ve got him on meds now, though, and he’s better.”
“God…damn. That’s got to be really difficult. Because he’s there but he’s not there, right.”
“Yes…that’s exactly what it feels like.”
It was kind of the way he went through life, his symphath side a constant, other reality that dogged him as he tried to get through the nights as a normal.
“So do you mind if I ask,” she said with care, “what you need the dopamine for? There’s no immediate diagnosis in your medical record.”
“Probably because Havers has been treating me forever.”
Ehlena laughed awkwardly. “Guess that must be why.”
Shit, what the hell did he tell her.
The symphath in him said, Whatever, just lie to her. Trouble was, from out of nowhere there was another competing voice in his brain, one that was unfamiliar and faint, but utterly compelling. Because he had no idea what it was, however, he led with his routine.
“I have Parkinson’s. Or the vampire equivalent of it, as it were.”
“Oh…I’m sorry. That’s the cane you use, then.”
“My balance is bad.”
“The dopamine’s doing you well, though. You have almost no tremors.”
That quiet voice in his head morphed into an odd ache in the center of his chest, and for a moment he dropped pretense and actually spoke the truth. “I have no idea what I would do without that drug.”
“My father’s medications have been a miracle.”
“Are you his sole caretaker?” When she mm-hmed, he asked, “Where is the rest of your family?”
“It’s just him and me.”
“So you’re carrying a hell of a burden.”
“Well, I love him. And if the roles were reversed, he would do the same. It’s what parents and children do for each other.”
“Not always. Clearly you come from good people.” Before he could stop himself, he continued, “But that’s why you’re lonely, isn’t it. You get guilty if you leave him even for an hour, except if you stay home you can’t ignore the fact that your life is passing you by. You’re trapped and screaming, but you wouldn’t change a thing.”
“I have to go.”
Rehv squeezed his eyes shut, that ache in his chest spreading through his whole body like wildfire across dry grass. He willed a light on as the darkness became too symbolic of his own existence.
“It’s just…I know what it’s like, Ehlena. Not for the same reasons…but I get that whole separated thing. You know, the idea that you’re watching everybody else go through life…. Oh, fuck, whatever. I hope you sleep well—”
“That is how I feel a lot of the time.” Her voice was gentle now, and he was glad she got what he’d been trying to say, even though he’d been as eloquent as an alley cat.
Now he was the one who grew awkward. He wasn’t used to talking like this…or feeling as he did. “Listen, I’m going to let you get some rest. I’m glad you called.”
“You know…so am I.”
“And, Ehlena?”
“Yes?”
“I think you’re right. It’s not a good idea for you to get involved with anyone right now.”
“Really?”
“Yup. Good day.”
There was a pause. “Good…day. Wait—”
“What?”
“Your arm. What are you going to do about your arm?”
“Don’t worry, it’ll be fine. But thank you for the concern. It means a lot.”
Rehv hung up first and put the phone down on the mink duvet. Closing his eyes, he left the light on. And didn’t sleep at all.
FOURTEEN
Back at the Brotherhood compound, Wrath gave up the idea that he was going to feel better about the situation with Beth anytime soon. Hell, he could spend the next month stewing on his spindly chair, but that would only get him a numb ass.
And meanwhile, the rolling stones out in the hall were getting mossy and cranky.
He willed the double doors wide and as a unit his brothers came to attention. As he looked across