Page 264 of Fangs
I remembered. She had been lying on the ground near the watchtower with a giant hole in her abdomen. Jet babbled at me and waved his chubby fingers.
“Vale has been working with Nemo, and they’ve come to an understanding,” Leda said firmly. “Let the past stay in the past.”
They both watched me as though waiting for me to speak, as though my opinion mattered, and I fumbled for what to say. “It’s behind us.”
Leda beamed, and Vale seemed to grow misty-eyed.
“I’m one of the heads of agriculture,” Vale continued after clearing her throat. “So I was just discussing with Leda what things you could plant here. Herbs would be useful for the clinic. It’s a little late in the season, but we can plant a few things, and we have an abundance of wildflower seeds if you would like some of these to be flower gardens for summer. And before winter, we can try planting some cold-hardy greens in the greenhouse.”
I nodded, pretending all her words hadn’t blurred together.
“You should step in the greenhouse,” Leda said, grinning as she took Jet back from me.
Obediently, I stepped into the greenhouse. The door shut behind me, muffling the outside noise a little, and I took a deep, shaky breath of the warm air, which smelled like fresh dirt and cut lumber, earthy and sweet. Behind me, the door opened.
“Warm, isn’t it?” Mac said.
I turned to face him. He was leaning on the doorframe, watching me.
“This is…a lot.” My voice wobbled.
“You deserve it,” he said without hesitation.
“I don’t…no one’s ever…” I bit my trembling lip.
He pushed off the doorframe and approached to wrap an arm around my shoulders. “You deserve it,” he repeated firmly.
A lump rose in my throat as I realized picturing the future was no longer impossible.
It just looked different.
The grief rose up, and I fought the urge to stuff it back down, remembering what Mac said—that locking away the pain would also lock away all the good, the beauty of what Trey and I had. I’d desperately wanted a future with Trey, but I would never get it. I’d loved him—I would always love him—but he was taken from me, along with all of those hopes and dreams. I let that truth settle in me, heavy as a mountain. Mac’s arm tightened around me, anchoring me, and I leaned into him and wrapped my arm around his waist. My heart ached, but I didn’t break.
“Em!” Apple burst into the greenhouse, her little face scrunched indignantly, “Roe said you healed him with a magic potion!”
“No, I didn’t!” Roe followed on her heels, equally indignant. “I said you made a magic potion and then healed me!”
“What if you each get a little bottle and make your own magic potion?” Mac suggested.
“Out of what?” Apple breathed, her eyes widening.
“Anything—dirt, plants, little pebbles, water. Everything has magic in it.”
They both stared at him with huge eyes for a second before taking off and shrieking ideas at each other. Mac grinned after them.
“That should keep ’em busy for at least five minutes.”
“Maybe three,” I said hoarsely, and he grinned so wide both dimples appeared.
The afternoon was a blur of re-organizing things, people coming in and out, and sunshine pouring into the clinic. Before I knew it, the dinner bell was ringing.
“Em, you ready to go to dinner?” Wolf yelled from outside.
“Give me a minute,” I yelled back, still trying to finish grinding up some dried bark.
It took me another five minutes to finish my task, and I quickly put everything away. I took a second to stop and look around the clinic—so bright and cheerful andhome.I washappy.
As I washed my hands, looking out one of the brand-new windows, nausea suddenly flooded me. I braced myself on the edge of the sink and breathed deeply through my nose. I thought it was passing and began to turn, but it surged so violently I had to spin and vomit into the sink.
