"I find myself wishing you could go out with him again on his assignments," Karzac said. "I never felt as safe in my life as I did when you were guarding the nights on Refizan."
"She used to do that for me," Winkler agreed amiably. "I slept better, knowing she was out there, patrolling the grounds."
"And yet I was stupid enough to let Larry the dickhead shoot me," I muttered.
"Lissa, that could have happened to anyone," Winkler reached out to touch my cheek. "I was about to jump him myself and he would have shot me, too. I focused on the stake just like you did."
"I still feel like an idiot and Wlodek already has it in for me when I get back. I'm sure he'll yell about this, too." I blew out a breath. Gavin, René, Tony and Roff chose that moment to walk in—the sun must have gone down.
"Cara, are you well?" Gavin waved a hand imperiously at Winkler, who got up from his chair and allowed Gavin to sit down.
"I'm all right. Karzac let me have a shower so I feel pretty good."
"She may rise tomorrow, but she may only walk about the house," Karzac was preparing to leave. "Nothing strenuous for the next four days." He was gathering a few things he'd brought with him, including the IV pole. "Lissa, be well and happy," Karzac said, giving me a smile.
I love you I sent. Yeah, I don't know why I said it either, but it was true. I loved him, just as I loved Roff, Winkler, and Tony, even. Karzac raised a hand in farewell and he was gone.
"Raona, do you want something to eat?" Roff asked.
"Karzac said I couldn't have solid food until tomorrow, so I guess I'll have some blood," I told him. He came back with a bag in a few minutes and I drank what I could, giving the unused portion back to him.
"Does anybody have anything to read?" I asked. I'd never made it to the gift shop two days before—I'd sat down in the coffee shop to talk with Winkler instead.
"My child and I have purchased an e-reader for you," René smiled. Tony left to get it while I stared at René. "It is much easier to carry than many books, and Anthony and I have already selected several titles for you." René's smile widened.
"I think I love you," I smiled back at René. Gavin never turned a hair at my statement.
"How are they explaining Larry Frazier's death?" I asked while Tony was gone. Bill was noticeably absent, as was Michael.
"Bill decided to connect Frazier to the convenience store murders and robberies," Gavin sighed. "They've manufactured evidence of unstable behavior, culminating in a mental episode of some sort."
"They still have Hafer," I pointed out. "So he must be useful to them in some way. Does everybody know to call Bill if the esteemed Admiral just shows up somewhere?"
"I do not know that, cara," Gavin shook his head. "When Director Jennings contacts us again, we will ask him about it. Wlodek dislikes the idea of any humans knowing where this safe house is located. Bill agreed to have compulsion laid not to reveal it before he was permitted to come. Wlodek stretched the rules to allow our werewolf, here, to stay." That made me smile again—Gavin was calling Winkler our werewolf. I thought of him as that too. Not that Gavin didn't feel the bite of jealousy now and then—he did. Winkler had joined the family, I think, as had Tony. Gavin at one time might have been willing to remove Tony's head. Now, as René's vampire child, Gavin accepted him completely.
Gavin pulled out his cell and dialed as we talked. Charles was on the line quickly. "Charles, hold for a moment," Gavin passed the phone to me.
"Charles?" I said.
"Thank goodness," Charles heaved a huge sigh. "How are you feeling?"
"Much better. The healer that came said I can't do much for the next four days but we're moving in the right direction, I think."
"Gavin said your blood was everywhere, Lissa," Charles scolded. "You need to take it easy. It'll take a while to come back after that."
"You need to stop fretting, honey," I said.
"Does that include me?" Wlodek was now on the line. I drew a shaky breath. "Lissa, will you ever stop being frightened when I speak with you?" Wlodek asked.
"I don't know," I answered truthfully.
"Moro mou, I am not going to chastise you over the phone. You merely need to let me know when there is information that should be shared with me. Gavin had difficulty with this at first, as did many others. I did not punish them or lock them up for it."
"They're not female, either," I muttered.
"Is that upsetting you? I am worried over you because you are female, it is true," Wlodek sighed. "You are so precious to us; something that we cannot replace if you are lost. I know that any sort of confinement is a cage to you, child. When we gave you to Gavin in your absence, we were looking for ways to make your cage a comfortable one. You must forgive us our mistakes. I beg you to not give us a scare such as this again, daughter."
"I'm right there with you on that one, honey," I muttered. Wlodek chuckled, more than likely over the fact that I'd called him honey. That always seemed to amuse him. "How's Flavio doing?" I asked to change the subject.
"Much better," Wlodek replied. "He wishes to entertain you and Gavin when you return."
"I'll probably drive him crazy," I said. "I make Gavin crazy on a daily basis."
"Lissa, I think you may have that effect on any vampire more than five hundred years of age," Wlodek had a smile in his voice.
"Maybe you need to include mental health leave in the vampire package of benefits," I teased. "I'm sure that vampire doctor you have can name a mental illness after me. Then Gavin can call in sick with Lissa syndrome." Gavin was now frowning—I'm sure I'd stepped over some sort of line. Nobody treated the Honored One in this manner.
"Lissa, I think we are all afflicted with that," Wlodek replied and I laughed. Gavin attempted to pull the phone away from my hand. After a brief tussle, I ended up in Gavin's lap; my arms were wrapped tightly around his neck as he stroked my back gently with one hand and held the phone to his ear with the other.
"She is still recovering, Honored One," Gavin said and I muffled more laughter against Gavin's neck.
"Gavin, this is good for her," Wlodek informed him. "It gives me pleasure to make her laugh."
Gavin got off the phone shortly afterward and our audience disappeared as Gavin pulled my arms away and held my face in his hands. "Cara, I was so frightened," he said and kissed me as carefully as he could. "Your father tells me you have a muted heartbeat since he gave you blood. You could have died, my love." I was placed in my bed and Gavin crawled in beside me, holding me until I fell asleep.