she was in shock from sensory overload. The air was
odd on this side, full of foreign smells, and it was dry in her nose. It also moved constantly. Here
there were currents that brushed against her face and her hair and the curtain she had wrapped
around herself.
She glanced toward the door. There were strange sounds here, too. The mansion around her
creaked, and she could hear voices on occasion.
Huddling closer into herself, she tucked her feet under her and looked to the fancy table to the
right of the bed. She wasn't hungry, but wouldn't know what to ask to eat if she were. And she
had no idea how to use that object he'd called a phone, either.
Outside of the window, she heard a roar and whipped her head to the sound. Were there dragons
on this side? She'd read about them, and although she trusted Phury that she was safe herein, she
worried at the perils of what she could not see.
Mayhap that was merely the wind? She'd read about it before, but she could not be sure.
Reaching out, she picked up a satin pillow that had tassels at each of its four corners. Holding it
to her chest, she stroked one of the silky tails, trying to calm herself with the feel of the strands
sliding through her hand over and over again.
This was her punishment, she thought as she felt the room press in upon her and overwhelm her
eyes. This was the result of her wanting to leave the Other Side and find her way independently.
She was now where she had prayed to be.
And all she wanted was to go home.
Chapter Forty-five
Jane sat in her kitchen nook with a cold mug in front of her. Across the street the sun was
coming up, its rays twinkling through the branches of the trees. Vishous had left about twenty
minutes ago, and before he took off he'd made her the cocoa she'd just finished.
She missed him with an ache that made no sense, considering how much time they'd spent
together during the night. After V had spoken with Manny, he'd come back and reassured her
that her boss was still alive with all his limbs attached. Then he'd wrapped his arms around her
and held her… and made love to her. Twice.
It was just now he was gone, and the sun had to drop like a stone before she saw him again.
Sure, there were phones and e-mail and texting, and they would meet up tonight. It didn't feel
like enough, though. She wanted to sleep beside him, and not only for a few hours before he had
to go fight or headed back to his house.
And speaking of logistics… what did she do about the opportunity at Columbia? It was farther
away from him, but did that matter? He could travel anywhere at a moment's notice. Still, it
seemed like a bad idea to be too far away. After all, he'd already been shot once. What if he
needed her? She couldn't very well poof to his side.
Except then what was she going to do about running her own shop? The need to lead was part of
her chemical makeup, and going down to Columbia remained her best bet, even though it could
be five years or so before she was up for a chairmanship.
Assuming they still wanted to interview her. Assuming she got the job.
Jane looked at the cold mug with its chocolate-streaked insides.
The idea that came to her was nuts. Absolutely nuts. And she pushed it away as evidence that her
head wasn't quite back on track.
Getting up from the table, she put the mug in the dishwasher, and went to shower and change. A
half hour later she pulled out of her garage, and as she headed off, a minivan was turning into the
short driveway next door.
A family. Great.
Luckily, the trip downtown was smooth sailing. There was little traffic as she shot down Trade
Street, and she hit every light on green until she got to the one opposite the Caldwell Courier
Journal's offices.
As she came to a stop her cell phone went off. No doubt her on-call service.
«Whitcomb.»
«Hello, Doctor. It's your man.»
She smiled. A big, shit-eating grin. «Hi.»
«Hi.» There was a muffled shifting of sheets, like V was turning over in bed. «Where are you?»
«On the way to work. Where are you?»
«On my back.»
Oh, Jesus, she could just imagine how good he looked in his black sheets.
«So… Jane?»
«Yes?»
His voice dropped low. «What are you wearing?»
«Scrubs.»
«Mmmmm. That's sexy.»
She laughed. «They're one step up from wearing a sack.»
«Not on you they're not.»
«What are you wearing?»
«Nothing… and guess where my hand
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