of warmth Cormia could swear she felt from over where she was standing.
Bella had never shown this kind of connection with the Primale. Ever.
Nor, for that matter, had he toward her. Although perhaps that was just out of discretion.
Zsadist said a few quiet words, then left as if he were on the prowl, brows down, heavy shoulders set like beams for a house.
Cormia cleared her throat. "Would you like me to get Fritz for you? Or put your order in for a repast?"
"I think I'd better wait, if Doc Jane's going to examine me." The female's hand crept up onto her belly and moved in slow circles. "Would you like to come back and watch the rest of the shows with me later?"
"If you'd like - "
"Absolutely. You're very good company."
"I am?"
Bella's eyes were impossibly kind. "Very. You make me feel calm."
"Then I shall be your birth companion. Where I'm from, a pregnant sister always has a birth companion."
"Thank you...thank you very much." Bella turned away as fear speared into her eyes. "I'll take any help I can get."
"If I may," Cormia murmured, "what worries you most?"
"Him. I worry about Z." Bella's eyes swung back. "Then I worry about my young. It's so strange. I don't worry about me all that much."
"You are very brave."
"Oh, you don't see me in the middle of the day in the dark. I fall apart plenty, trust me."
"I still think you are brave." Cormia put her hand on her flat stomach. "I doubt I could be so courageous."
Bella smiled. "I think you're wrong about that. I've watched you these past months, and there's an incredible strength in you."
Cormia wasn't so sure about that. "I do hope the examination goes well, and I'll come back later - "
"You don't honestly think it's easy to be what you are, do you? To live under the kind of pressures the Chosen have to? I can't imagine how you deal with it, and I have tremendous respect for you."
All Cormia could do was blink. "You... do?"
Bella nodded. "Yeah, I do. And you want to know something else? Phury's lucky to have you. I'm just praying he figures that out sooner rather than later."
Dearest Virgin Scribe, that was not something Cormia had ever expected to hear from anyone, much less Bella, and her shock must have shown because the female laughed.
"Okay, I've made you feel weird, and I'm sorry. But I've wanted to say that to the both of you for the longest time." Bella's eyes shifted over to the bathroom, and she took a deep breath. "Now I guess you'd better go so I can get ready for Doc Jane and her poking. Love that female, I really do, but man, I hate when she snaps on those gloves of hers."
Cormia said a good-bye of sorts and left for her own bedroom, deep in thought.
When she turned the corner next to Wrath's study, she stopped. As if she'd summoned him, the Primale was at the head of the great stairwell, looming large and looking exhausted.
His eyes clung to her.
He must hunger for news of Bella, she thought. "She's feeling better, but I think she's hiding something. The Brother Zsadist has just gone for Doc Jane."
"Good. I'm glad. Thank you for watching over her."
"It was my pleasure. She's lovely."
The Primale nodded; then his eyes traced over her from her hair, which was up high on her head, to her bare feet. It was as if he were reacquainting himself with her, as if he hadn't been around her for ages.
"What ugliness have you witnessed since you left?" she whispered.
"Why do you ask?"
"You stare at me as if it has been weeks since you saw me. What have you seen?"
"You read me well."
"About as well as you avoid my question."
He smiled. "Which would be very well, huh."
"You don't have to speak of - "
"I saw more death. Avoidable death. Such a damn waste. This war is evil."
"Yes. Yes, it is." She wanted to take his hand. Instead, she said, "Would you... join me in the garden? I was going to walk among the roses for a bit before the sun comes."
He hesitated, then shook his head. "I can't. I'm sorry."
"Of course." She bowed to avoid his eyes. "Your grace."
"Be careful."
"I will." She gathered her robing and walked quickly to the stairs he had just mounted.
"Cormia."
"Yes?"
As she looked over her shoulder, his eyes bored into hers. They burned in a way that took her back to the two of them on