Page 151 of Bones
“How did you do that?” Roe asked, tugging on my jacket to get my attention.
I hesitated, unsure how much I should tell a child who might accidentally give away my secret. “You were right,” I said finally. “Idomake magic, just not potions.”
His eyes widened. “You fixed me withmagic?”
“Yes, but you gotta keep it a secret, ok?”
He nodded, and I smiled.
“You feel better?”
“Yeah!” he said. “I feel great!”
Zeke sniffled from where he stuffed several apples into a bag. “Your secret is safe with us, right, buddy?”
“Right!” Roe agreed.
Zeke pressed the bag of food into Trey’s hands and then startled me by enveloping me in a giant hug. “He’s the last piece of Wren I have, and I’ll never be able to thank you enough for what you did,” he whispered.
"It's alright," I whispered back, my throat tight with emotion. "I'm glad I could help."
Zeke pulled away and shook Trey’s hand. We exited into the frigid air, heading toward where a white horse with black spots stood saddled and ready, our meager possessions already strapped on. I didn’t mind that we only had one horse. Trey and I had been riding together on one horse for so long that riding alone would feel, well, lonely.
As we began to ride away, I twisted back. I could just make out Zeke and Roe standing in the window watching. I raised my hand and waved, a soft happiness rising in my chest when they both waved back.
“You’re incredible,” Trey murmured into my hair.
My cheeks warmed. “Thank you for lettin’ me make the decision.”
“Bones, you can always make your own decisions about healing people.” Trey’s voice was firm. “It’s not my power, and I have no right to try and dictate what you do with it.”
A soft and strong emotion swept through me and brought tears to my eyes. I laced my gloved fingers through his resting on my thigh. “This is all I want to do. I just want to heal people like Roe.”
“We’ll find a way for you to do that then.”
“Do you think he’ll keep our secret?”
I expected him to answer right away, and when he didn’t, I twisted to glance up at him.
He sighed. "I think he will unless someone threatens Roe."
A chill walked down my spine. I knew he was right, but I couldn’t judge Zeke. I already knew I’d sell out the whole rebellion to save Trey. It made me feel unsettled that I hadn’t thought of that possibility because normally I would. Wolf’s voice rose from the depths of my mind, growling warnings.
“We can’t control what other people do,” Trey said, squeezing my hand, “just our own actions.”
I grimaced. I knew he meant it to be comforting, but it made me feel sick to my stomach.
“Whatcha thinkin’ about?” Trey asked after a few minutes of silence.
“Doesn’t that scare you?” I asked.
“That I can’t control what other people do?”
I nodded.
“I find it more liberating than anythin’. I don’t have to be responsible for other people’s actions, just mine.” He paused. “Does it scare you?”
“Yeah.”
