Page 76 of Shadow Master
“Sounds like a plan. I didn’t see Abram, did he come with you guys?”
Harmon scanned the camp. “He’s around. Somewhere.” He rolled his neck on his shoulders and then rubbed his nape.
“Go get some rest, babe. There’s a spare sleeping bag in my tent.” I stroked his cheek. “I have some errands to run.”
“There’s no way I can fit in your tent.” Harmon chuckled.
“Fine, then drag it out and sleep outside.”
He pressed his lips to my temple. “Feel free to join me when you’re done.”
There was that shiver again. The one I’d neglected when Harmon had been …well, Harmon.
I licked my lips and nodded.
His smile was knowing as he backed up, and then he was being hailed by Aidan, and he was gone.
He looked good from behind, too, but this wasn’t his form. This wasn’t who he wanted to be, and it was way past due that I got some answers about his predicament.
* * *
The weavers had madetheir own little camp. Latrou was stirring a huge pot of what smelled like stew, Helseth was knitting, and the cadets sat in clusters talking. Kash stood to greet me.
“Is everything okay?” he asked.
“Yeah, I was wondering if we could have a chat. You, me, Latrou, and Helseth.”
Madam looked up from her stirring. “Felicity, take over the stew, please.”
A young cadet accepted the huge ladle and took up the stirring.
Helseth put away her knitting and joined us in our cluster.
“Can you cure Harmon?” I blurted out the question.
Latrou blinked in surprise. “Oh.” She looked to Helseth.
Helseth’s face clouded with sorrow. “I know of this case. The Head Weaver was working on it personally before … well, before the mortal world was threatened.”
“And?”
“The genetic modification is complete. Altering it again would risk killing him. The methods used are beyond our skills. Whoever applied the changes was skilled in a type of alchemic science that is unheard of in our world. We were attempting to unravel it, but our efforts so far have been in vain.”
“You don’t think she’ll be able to do it …”
Helseth dropped her gaze. “I’m sorry, dear.”
I let out a sharp breath and clenched my jaw.
“Justice?” Kash touched me lightly on the shoulder.
I shook my head slightly. “I’m fine.”
“Would you like me to speak to Harmon?” Kash said.
“No.” I shot him a stern look. “I’ll tell him. Afterward.”
“I’m sorry I couldn’t be more positive,” Helseth said.
