Page 17 of A Bloodline Redeemed

“Andy?”Zhong said softly, his deep voice like a soothing balm to my slowly bubbling anger.“Maybe you should take a break.”

I huffed and clipped my insulin pump back onto my waistband.I wanted to protest.But glancing around the library, I had to admit he was probably right.Dyre had abandoned me a couple hours ago to go take a nap, because evenhislove of discovering new spells had been exhausted.Ancient books were strewn all over the place with pages open.There were half a dozen loose sheets of notebook paper lying around from where I had been taking notes from several books all at once.And my main notebook was currently lying open face down near the fireplace, where I had thrown it in a fit of rage just a few minutes earlier.

If I was going to stay here and hide in my safe little bubble with the surviving members of our odd little family, then I really needed to find a permanent way to keep the place from imploding.Or being attacked by angels or interdimensional beings.Or being located and infiltrated by the cult.I also needed to find a way for us to grow more food and harness more magic from the atmosphere here, since the conditions weren’t like back home and our resources were limited.

Damn it, I needed to secure our sanctuary.It was either that, or get pulled back into my psychotic sister’s bullshit and go die defending people who pissed me off.

“Andy,” Zhong said again, in his patient, “I love my master, but she is an idiot” tone of voice.

I sighed.“Fine.Fine.”Walking to the fireplace, I kicked my useless notebook into the embers.Then I turned to Zhong and gave him my best, most cheerful smile.“What did you have in mind?”

He shook his head at me, then ran a hand through his tight gray curls and over one horn.“I don’t know, master.But you are going to make yourself sick like this.”

I spread my hands and kept my smile in place.“Like what?I was just doing a little light research in my spare time.”

He narrowed his yellow eyes at me and crossed his massive arms over his chest, his tail lashing behind him.“You’ve been in here for twelve hours straight.And you only came out before that because Aahil threatened to set one of us on fire to get your attention long enough for me to shove some food into you.”

I waved away his concern.“I was just focused.You know, trying to redirect all my emotions and anger into something productive.Like permanently stabilizing the pocket world.”

He just scowled harder.But I was saved from whatever lecture he had planned by the arrival of a certain information-obsessed shapeshifter.“Hey, River,” I said cheerily.

He looked up from the book he was holding and stopped mid-step on his way to reshelve it.“Um.Hello.Are you quite alright, Oleander?”He frowned.“Don’t pull a muscle.Your face won’t actually get stuck that way, but despite the inaccuracy of old wives’ tales and childhood sayings in general, there issomegood in the saying.You really will cause yourself pain by contorting your face that way for long periods of time.And it can cause premature wrinkles.”

I groaned and let my face relax.“Thanks,” I said dryly.

He shrugged and put his book back on the shelf.Then he turned back to face me, his glittering citrine eyes taking in my mutinous expression and Zhong’s exasperated stance.“May I share a story with you?”he asked, slinking closer.It seemed impossible for himnotto slink.The man always moved with the same grace and power of his leopard form.

“Sure,” I said, resigned but skeptical about where this was going.

River smiled a little and came to stand with me and Zhong, crossing his arms over his chest just like the Gargoyle.I felt like I was being glared at by a couple of disapproving parents.Zhong was mad and River was “just disappointed,” probably.Like every TV show family ever.Geesh.I crossed my arms too, just to be part of the crew.

“When I was younger,” River said easily, ignoring my mocking stance.“I didn’t fit in very well among the other younglings.”He raised an eyebrow, but I didn’t comment.I knew how kids could be.And an odd duck like River was probably a prime target for childish taunting.“But,” he said with a wry little smile.“I quickly learned that when I couldn’t be outside, running in my wild form, I could hide away in the library.”

I shrugged.“Only natural for someone with your interests.”

He shook his head with a wry laugh, and I got a little distracted by how shiny his tangled, shoulder-length waves were.“It was.But it very quickly transformed from natural interest to cowardice and obsession.”

I snorted, but he continued on.“Andy, I admire your drive to learn and to push your magical knowledge and proficiency in the name of protecting yourself and those you hold dear.But take it from me, one cannot live one’s life in hiding and intellectual distractions.”

“Seems like it worked out fine for you,” I snarked back.

He took a step closer and reached out to grip my chin with the tips of his fingers, his eyes flashing.“You are maddeningly obstinate, did you know that?”

I grinned, ignoring Zhong’s snort of laughter.“I’ve been told that a time or two,” I informed River.

He shook his head.“You jest, but I’m serious, Andy.By hiding in my books, I just shut out the joy of living in the real world, of living my life.And of course, it gave the other kids one more thing to pick on me about.”

“I’m not worried about childhood bullies,” I said flatly.

Zhong moved closer to us, putting a hand on my shoulder again.“But youaremissing out on living your life,” he cajoled.

My shoulders sagged.“I know, okay?It’s just… everything fucking sucks right now!”

My eyes watered with irritating tears, and I clenched my fists in frustration.Damnit!I wastiredof crying.Tired of being sad.Of feeling guilty.Tired of fucking hiding, too.But I sure as shit wasn’t going to go do what the whole world seemed to want me to do and join Bella’s stupid rebellion.

My racing train of jumbled thoughts screeched to a sudden halt when River’s lips met mine.I froze for a second in surprise, but I wasn’t about to pass up the invitation.I returned the kiss with enthusiasm.When we came up for air, he was still holding my chin, that small touch the only other point of contact as he looked into my eyes, amused but still.Assessing, maybe?

“I thought you said it wasn’t a good idea to make out with emotionally vulnerable witches,” I reminded him, thinking of that time by the fire, when he’d kissed me, but then ultimately rejected me.

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