Page 140 of Night's Reckoning
She stayed silent and waited for him to speak.
“See, I lost my human life.” His voice was rough. “And I also lost my best friend, because she betrayed me in a way she promised that she never would.” He cleared his throat. “But I’m not going to kill myself. I wouldn’t do that to my family. I’ll figure this out. I’ll make the best of it.”
“I am pleased to hear that.”
“But some things didn’t change.” He lifted his chin. “I’m still done. I’m not going back to New York. I mean, I’m flying to fucking Mongolia for a year.”
“After that—”
“After that, I’m still done.” His face was like stone. “I told you, Tenzin, even if I had an eternity, I wouldn’t spend it waiting around for you. So… goodbye.” He turned and started to walk down the hall.
“Benjamin.”
He stopped, but he didn’t turn. “What?”
“We have both been changed.” The realization was new and delicate, like skin revealed when a scab fell away. “More than you know.”
“Tenzin…”
She waited for him to speak, but he said nothing more than her name.
Tenzin watched his back, the strong line of his body standing poised in the hallway, halfway between one place and another.
“I will wait,” she murmured.
“What?” Ben turned, and his eyes were narrowed with suspicion.
“You said you wouldn’t waste your eternity waiting for me, but I will.”
“You’ll… wait?” He looked confused. “For what?”
“Yes.” She nodded and stepped toward the open door. “I’ll wait.”
“Tenzin!”
She turned toward him, and his expression was finally one she could read. He was exasperated.
“Yes doesn’t answer my question.”
She couldn’t stop the smile. “I know.”
Pushing back the temptation to linger, Tenzin walked out the door and flew away.
35
Giovanni sat in her rooms in Penglai, sipping tea and avoiding her gaze.
“It’s fine.” Tenzin poured tea. She’d changed out of her dress clothes and into more comfortable leggings and a tunic when she reached her rooms. “I knew he wouldn’t want to see me anymore.”
“He’s hurt and angry. You remember how all your emotions are heightened during that time.”
“Not really.” She lifted her cup. “I was regularly traumatized and abused for the first few hundred years of my life, so I don’t remember much. I choose not to.”
Giovanni paused lifting the tea to his mouth. “I didn’t know that.”
“You always suspected.”
“Yes, I suspected.” He set down his tea. “Tenzin—”
