Page 8 of Son of a Witch

His head twisted sideways to kiss the side of my hand. “You should have left when you had the chance.”

Fuck. That. It stung to hear him say that. Coldly and backed with regret.

“I don’t abandon anyone in need. Ever.” I clasped his hand and warmed his cool skin in my palm.

Stupid me got locked up in here for stealing a magical parchment the Guild stole from my friend, Luna. Stupid me stayed for Tor when I could have left with Raze. Stupid me never gave up, and that was my problem.

Topic change. “How are the tests going?”

Interpreting what the doctor said, the news was not good, but I didn’t want Tor sinking into a depression. The smart thing would have been to avoid the topic, but when was I ever a smart woman?

“Fine.” The curt tone told me to drop the subject, that he didn’t want to discuss it.

He’d broken his back as a kid and the doctor telling him he’d never walk again had broken him. I didn’t want this to break him either. I loved this man and would fight for him whether he walked or not.

The determined geek in me would not stop searching for a magical cure to repair his damaged spine and get him back on his feet again. Surely, the library possessed some sort of spell. The Internet research on stem cells or miracle procedures. I didn’t discount the possibility of buying fae blood or something with powerful magical properties. I wouldn’t give up until I found the answer.

“When did the doctor say you’d be back out on missions?” I tried to keep things upbeat and positive. Inspire him not to give up like I wouldn’t.

“Never.” Tor hung his head, and I knew I’d said the wrong thing.

Fuck. This was like walking on eggshells. I couldn’t say or do a damn thing right with him lately. He was moody and had every right to be. Couldn’t he see that I tried to be optimistic for him? That I fought for him?

I lightly shoved him in the chest. “Don’t say that. You’ll be back with us soon.”

He stiffened and let go of my hand.

God, everything I said pissed him off even more. I didn’t know what to say. Maybe I should just shut up and hold him.

“The warden’s called a meeting for tomorrow.” I ran my hands through the hair on the side of his skull.

“Yeah?” Tor seemed disinterested.

I fiddled with his food, unwrapping the lid on the box, finding his food cold and stale. “An update on what happened and protocol moving forward, I think.”

Tor’s nose wrinkled at the fruit I picked at with his fork. “I didn’t get the memo. Guess I’m stuck here.”

“I got this for you.” I switched focus again and collected the four editions of his favorite comic series.

“Thanks.” The glum expression on his face and tone broke me apart.

I leaned on the arms of his gurney as he flicked through the comics.

“Cool.” He flicked through the second and gave me a sullen smile. That was all he could manage. I missed the way he’d light up and shout “fuck’n A”every time he got his new delivery of comics for the month.

My jaw wobbled with sadness. I wanted to cry for the shell of the man that sat before me. The man who’d lost all hope. Nothing I did or said cheered him up. I was really trying here. Giving it my all. He was giving me nothing. I didn’t know what to do for him,ifthere was anything I could do. I couldn’t save him from himself. Only he could do that.

All I could do was try to be there for him when he needed me, not that he seemed like he did. He was giving strong fuck off vibes, and it made me feel uncomfortable and helpless.

Nervous about what to discuss, I blabbered, “Did you see the third one is a special edition?” I slid it from the pile to show him.

“Yeah.” God, getting him to talk was like pulling teeth.

I flicked a strand of hair from his eyes. “Want me to read it for you?”

He snatched it from my hands and thumped it in his lap. “I haven’t lost all my faculties, Astra.”

Hearing my name and not my nickname was like a slap to the face, and I sucked in air sharply. The spark in him had faded, and I tried to hold onto its light even though all I did darkened it more.

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