Page 48 of Unclaimed Bonds
“A triple threat?” Elias asks incredulously.
I smile. “Imagine having someone like him as a guard.”
Chris whistles, and Anders nods. “Okay. If you trust him and he is on board, I’ll get everything ready. I will send you the details for you to pass onto your recruit. I really wanted to send Liam with Sodie, but this is the second time he declined.”
“Why?” I ask Anders, who simply shakes his head.
Elias answers instead. “He won’t say. I really wish I could break down some of that barrier he constructed so tightly around himself.”
Chapter 25
Welcome Home
JESSICA
EIGHT YEARS AGO:
July 25, 2016: 1:30 p.m.
Emerald Pack Clinic
Dr. York sits in front of me, legs crossed, with my medical chart on his lap. His posture is relaxed, face devoid of creases, especially between his brows. When he finally meets my eye, a soft smile touches his lips.
“Everything looks good. Your hair has grown at least three inches. Even your eyelashes are coming back in. All of your wounds have closed. Labs have almost returned to normal levels. I am pleased with how well you’re healing these past few weeks. I admit you gave us all quite a scare. I’m happy everything turned in your favor.”
“Me, too,” I rasp.
His smile widens. “Your voice is slowly coming back, too, which reminds me. I submitted a request for speech therapy. As soon as I hear back from them, we can start that.” Nodding, Iwatch Dr. York jot a note in his scrawling, messy handwriting. “Do you know what all of this means?”
A sense of dread creeps along the back of my neck. Do I know what all this means? Is he referring to my labs? No. He looks too happy to be thinking of my bloodwork.
“You no longer need constant medical supervision. The rest of the treatments can be done outside of the clinic.”
Yep. I was afraid he would say it. My hope to remain here long enough to enroll into the guard recruit program crashes and burns. Shakti hasn’t mentioned anything about taking me in. I guess that means orphanage here I come.
My lips tremble so I press them together and put on a brave face. I can’t cry. This is supposed to be good—no, great—news. But it makes me so sad, knowing I must leave. I refuse to cry in front of Dr. York. I’m not his problem anymore, and I won’t make him feel guilty or sorry for me. I offer a small smile and nod.
He pats my knee before standing. “I’ll tell Anders.” As soon as he leaves, I reach for the journal under my pillow and pour my disappointed feelings onto the blank pages.
I haven’t seen Anders in a few hours, and other than Ean, the rest of the guards were absent all day. Maybe Anders told them not to come, now that I am awaiting discharge.
Sighing, I look out the window. Dark clouds roll overhead, and large raindrops slide down the glass pane. I stopped crying about an hour ago. It looks like the weather decided to cry for me now.
“Everything okay, Jessica?” Facing Anders, I nod and smile half-heartedly.
Anders crosses the threshold to my room and sits at the foot of my bed. Over his shoulder, I see that strange man I met earlier, Shadow, lurking in the doorway.
Wait. Is this the same guy? He looks different somehow. He removed his suit jacket and tie. Some of the buttons are undone, exposing his throat. Slowly, my eyes return to his face. His jet-black hair almost seems blue. He styles it shorter on the sides and a little long on the top. He has a widow’s peak, and it curls into a slight wave that rests on his forehead just above his dark brows. Thick lashes surround dark blue eyes—well, they were dark. Maybe the lighting is different here because they appear lighter now. The corner of his lip twitches with amusement.
That’s what it is. He’s amused. His expression has softened. When I first walked into Anders’s office, he acted like a life-sized cardboard cutout of himself. He was stiff and void almost. Now, he is animated. His face reflects—I don’t know—life.
“I’m sorry I took so long. My meeting went a bit longer than originally planned.”
I understand.
“Thank you,” he replies, reaching for the book in front of me. I planned on reading it after my journal writing. I guess I won’t finish it now. “Weapons of martial arts. Hmmm, this wouldn’t by any chance have to do with you wanting to be in the guard?”
I glance down at my hands and answer him with my thoughts.It was in your office. I thought I would familiarize myself with some of the weapons. I wrinkle my nose.
