Page 41 of Private Exhibit
Devon laughed.
Andy chuckled along with him, then quickly sobered. “When Crawford and his wife finally escaped and got back here, it was like this huge slap in the face. Just as my life was ending—my son dead, my marriage officially over, my work gone because it no longer mattered—his life was blossoming. Beautiful, adoring wife. Reconciled with the kid he'd left behind. Another kid on theway. And he comes back with all these new abilities that have untold medical applications.”
“Oh!” Devon gasped. “You mean the regeneration.”
“Yeah,” Andy said with a scowl. “Regrowing body parts. I mean, it's something that's always been medically theorized, but nobody has ever been able to pull it off. All the studies, all the tests, all the technology at our disposal, and nobody can do it. But most Tanasians can.Hecan. Granted, only on certain people—their minds have to be unsecured for him to access them—but still.” Andy shook his head. “He can regrow or repair bones, skin, muscles. Nerves.” He paused. “He could potentially cure Ashworth-Grahams,” he murmured. “I spent my whole life looking for a cure, and he comes back with this ability unlocked in his mind. Something he had inside him all along. Something I could probably even learn to do, since I have Tanasian ancestry, so I can access that telepathic and telekinetic plane. I could have cured my son all along and never knew it. And I found out far too late.”
Devon looked down with a wince.
“It could cure you,” Andy said quietly, his tone rising at the end, making the statement sound more like a question.
Devon shook his head. “He and I talked about that. Last week, after I met him. He said the treatment process is so invasive that, even if hecouldget into my mind, there's a chance that it could overload my system and kill me.”
“Shit,” Andy breathed.
“But, yeah. It's a moot point, anyway. It won't work with my mind cut off like it is. Since I don't know the key to the barrier, he can't get in. And trying to force the lock open would almostdefinitelykill me.”
They lapsed into silence. Devon resisted the urge to squirm, feeling his body overheating with emotion. He glanced at Andy,seeing a pained look on his face. Somehow, he knew there was more.
Sure enough, after a moment, Andy took a deep breath. “But that's not why I hate him,” he quietly went on. “I mean, yes, I'm envious as all hells that his life took off right as mine fell apart, but that's not why I hate him.” He took another slow, deep breath, then let it out in a rush. “I hate him because he reminds me of my biggest guilt.”
Devon looked up.Biggest guilt?What could Andy possibly feel guilty for?
Andy swallowed hard, then sucked in another deep breath. “He went to Tanas and left his son behind, something I damned near did myself. Because he got trapped there after the others returned, he was gone for almost a year. A year of his son's life that he missed.” Andy looked away and shook his head. “And that was when I realized just what I'd done.”
Devon held his breath for a moment, then finally asked, “What's that?”
Andy sighed. “I spent all those years trying to cure my son. Endless, waking hours studying and researching, desperate for answers.” He looked down. “I was so busy trying to save my son's life, I wound up missing all of it. His first steps. His first words. His first day of school.” Andy paused. “I missedeverything,” he added in a whisper. “Sometimes, it felt like I barely recognized him, because he'd grown while I wasn't looking. I spend all my time with him now, but it'll never feel like enough. Nothing can make up for that. I failed him in every possible way.”
Devon gave a start when Andy suddenly turned to face him.
“And I can't go through all that again,” Andy blurted out, “but—gods help me—I can't seem to resist you. It's killing me, wanting you this badly, knowing there's nothing I can do to save you.”
Devon's eyes went wide.Oh gods. Had he really heard what he thought he'd heard? “Y-You want me?”
“More than anything I've ever wanted in my life.”
Devon swayed dizzily as everything went black.
Chapter 16
ANDY CAUGHT Devon before the boy could fall into the pond behind them, his heart racing in panic.
Oh gods. No. Not now!He shook the boy. “Devon? Devon?” Andy held him with one arm and used the other hand to check for a pulse. His eyes stung when he felt it. Andy let out a shuddering breath and shook Devon again. “Devon? Look at me. Come on, sweet boy. Wake up.”
Devon slowly blinked, looking like he was coming out of a daze. He stared up at Andy for a moment as though he didn't recognize him, then his eyes went wide as his entire face turned red. “Oh my gods. Did I faint? I totally fainted, didn't I? Holy hells.” He covered his face with both hands. “This is humiliating.”
Andy breathed a laugh through a sigh of relief, then he sucked in a heavy breath and held it, feeling his eyes stinging again. He forced himself to slowly let the breath back out. Once he was sure he could speak without any trouble, he asked, “That wasn't an attack?”
Devon shook his head behind his hands.
“You're sure?” Andy insisted.
Devon nodded. “I'm gonna go die of embarrassment now,” he mumbled into his palms.
“Gods, don't say that,” Andy gasped, holding him a little tighter.Fuck. He shouldn't be touching the boy. Not even as adoctor. But he couldn't resist. Now that he had Devon in his arms, he never wanted to let go.
Devon slowly lowered his hands, grimacing down at the ground. “Sorry,” he mumbled.
