Page 39 of Fangs
Anxiety twisted in my stomach again. Well, it had broth. I could drink the broth, at least.
I picked up the bowl and pretended not to notice everyone watching me. I carefully sipped a spoonful of the broth. It tasted bland, but I preferred that. The Reapers almost always had stew for meals. It was an easy way to make food stores stretch, and I was grateful because I could always get broth when needed. Tuck got himself a bowl of stew and took Lee’s vacant seat. They talked a little bit, but not about anything important. Eventually, I tuned them out, slowly sipping my broth and trying to keep my thoughts from spiraling into terrifying what-ifs. I finished the broth in my bowl, and my stomach felt uneasy but not nauseous. I set the bowl of meat, vegetables, and potato on the floor, deciding not to push it.
Scar picked it up and took it to the kitchen without commenting. I wrapped my arms around my legs and listened to the sound of dishes being washed. Wolf and Tuck went outside a few minutes later, and Scar disappeared into the bedroom, leaving me with Sable and Kai. I avoided looking at them, but I was so tense listening for them to make any sound that when the couch creaked, I jumped.
Sable stood still beside the couch, studying me with a serious expression. Kai was still sitting, one arm stretched out on the back of the couch and eyebrows raised at my reaction.
“I’m sorry. I was just about to ask if I could talk to you,” Sable said.
Fuck. Now, I regretted eating. I didn’t answer, watching him warily. He waited a moment before slowly approaching and sinking to the floor in front of me.
“I know this might be hard for you to believe, but none of us are going to hurt you,” he said in his calming, healer voice. “Wolf’s only intentions are to bring you back to Carth to have a trial.”
Did Wolf’s crew know what would happen at the trial? Or had my brother conveniently left that part out? He paused, studying me, and I tried to school my expression.
“I was wondering if you have any specific dietary needs,” he added.
Oh great.“No.”
“Can you tell me why you haven’t been eating, then?” he pushed, and when I didn’t answer, he frowned. “If this is a protest, I should warn you we won’t let it go on forever.”
My temper flared, and I struggled to shove it back down.
“As you know, I’m a healer, so I want to ensure you’re alright.”
“I’mfine,” I said through my teeth.
Behind Sable, Kai snorted, and Sable twisted to glare at him. “Sorry, babe,” Kai said, but he smirked at me.
Sable turned back around, and his expression grew more severe. “Like I said, we are not going to hurt you, but wearecommitted to keeping you alive.”
Why did it feel so much worse when someone threatened me as if theycared?I preferred Vulture’s method. At least he didn’t dance around it and try to make me feel guilty.
“If you mean you’ll put a fucking tube down my throat and force-feed me, then just say that,” I repeated Vulture’s threat after Trey’s death, my voice sharp.
“Good gods,” Kai muttered, his eyebrows raising even higher, but Sable’s expression didn’t even twitch.
“I hope it doesn’t come to that, but yes, if you are trying to starve yourself to death and nothing else is working, we will put a tube down your throat.”
“I would not advise pushin’ us that far,Bones,” Kai added.
Why was it that I’d spent the last twelve years desperately trying to survive, and now that I’d given up, the universe seemed determined to keep me alive?
“It is remarkable you survived being in that river for so long,” Sable said.
I blinked, taken aback by the change in subject.
“Most people would have frozen to death in just an hour, yet you were in the water for almost five hours.”
I shifted slightly away from him, dropping my eyes.
“Do you have any theories?” he asked.
“No,” I muttered without looking up.
“I suppose it’s pointless to ask if you’ll let me look at that scar?”
I shifted even farther away, the nausea building.
