Part 19 (1/2)

I slapped my hands over my face. ”Oh my G.o.d.”

”I was particularly fond of Move. Now and Go.”

I glared over at him even though I couldn't stop grinning. ”You know, I'm not even going to try to improve my s.e.x talk,” I said, ”because you've got the market cornered in that department.” I lifted my nose in the air and said airily, ”I'll just work my magic . . . elsewhere.”

”Explain,” he said, deadpan, and then smiled widely.

G.o.d, if he didn't stop looking like that I was going to jump him. Again.

I was . . . happy. And it was more than simply getting my universe rocked multiple times. Hank and I, we got each other. We had the same offbeat sense of humor, the same love of the good fight. I trusted him. I knew he had my back. He always had.

I tried, I really tried to lie there and not let the worries creep in, but I couldn't help wondering how things would be once we got back home. If we could be partners, friends, and lovers. If it would alter our perception and our actions at work, under fire, under pressure.

If Emma would accept this new direction in our relations.h.i.+p.

”We'll figure it out,” Hank said, sensing my s.h.i.+ft in mood. ”Whatever comes, we'll deal with it. As fast or slow as you want to take it, Charlie. I'm not going anywhere.”

I sat up. ”I'm sorry I left you at the station.” I'd hated that moment, and I had to say that, to get it off my chest. When I'd had to choose between running after Bryn and fighting against the sirens who had come to take Hank back to Fiallan. I wanted him to know it hadn't been an easy decision.

He sat up, swung his legs over the lounge until our knees were touching. ”I seem to recall telling you to go.”

I frowned. ”Yeah, but . . . still. It wasn't easy and you're my partner, leaving you was . . .”

”The right call.” He leaned forward and kissed my forehead. ”But I'm glad it matters. And I'm sorry for hurting you.”

”I know what they did to you, Hank. I saw it. I knew about the NecroNaMoria before Ephyra mentioned it.” I regarded him for a long time, studying his face, his expression, trying to see for myself that he was truly healed. ”Is it gone, the spell? Did it end when she died?”

He toyed with my hand. ”It's over.” He smiled and shrugged, then plowed his fingers through his hair, releasing a deep sigh. ”The Circe are gone, that's all that matters. They made me crazy for a while, f.u.c.ked with my head, but I know what they did and I'll get over it.” Which was putting it mildly, but I decided to leave it alone.

And what else could he do? I'd been through horrors I'd never forget, ones that still lingered in my psyche. Putting one foot in front of the other, as cliche as it sounded, was what had gotten me through. People who were there for me, who never pushed me to heal, but gave me time and let me know they were there, they cared.

I'd be that person for Hank and I wouldn't push.

He stood up and held out his hand. ”Come on.”

I slid my hand into his and together we walked toward the pool, where Hank retrieved his clothes and dressed. Just dropped towel and bared a.s.s. Nothing to be shy about, I thought, smiling.

He sat to pull on his boots, regarding my gown. ”You're keeping the gown.” He glanced up, eyes sweeping the room, raising his voice. ”And the jewels.”

”Are you telling me this or Panope?”

”Both.” Done with his shoes, he stood, then reached behind the bench and lifted a sack.

I went still. ”Please don't tell me that's Sandra.”

”Okay. It's not Sandra.”

”Hank!”

”Well, what did you expect me to do with her? Set her on the table? She's a head, Charlie. A talking head.” A wave of weariness. .h.i.t me and I sat down in a slump as Hank regarded me for a long moment. ”What the h.e.l.l was she doing in Fiallan?”

”She showed up at the terminal. She . . . helped me. Said that this was her path, that her fate was tied to ours.” I thought of our time in Fiallan, before things went wrong, and felt the rise of grief again. My fingers twisted the gown. ”I actually liked her. Can you believe that? She was a good person, Hank. Really good and . . .” I couldn't finish, couldn't go down that road, so I drew in a deep breath and went another way, one less painful. ”She made me promise to bring her home, said Tuni would know what to do. Thank you,” I said, ”for going back for her.”

After twisting the fabric some more, I continued. ”The worst part about it is that she knew. She knew what would happen to her and still she went.” I wasn't sure I'd ever totally understand why or get over the look on her face the last time I saw her alive.

Hank held out his hand, his voice gentle and understanding. ”Come on, kiddo. Let's go home.”

I let him pull me up. And just like that, I was gone, weightless. One second physical, the next, nothing but energy particles. Then I was whole again, my weight settling hard down into me.

17.

We stood on the cliffs of Fiallan, facing the sea.

Far across the bay, the tower was gone, large blocks of it scattered or submerged into the sea below along with a good portion of the cliff itself.

Behind us was the left cliff tower, which still stood, its top blazing with the setting sun's light. If I had to guess by the amount of activity going on across the bay, only an hour or two had pa.s.sed since the collapse.

The waves rolled in and out. The wind whipped at our clothes and hair, bringing with it the salty, wet air.

”Did you bring us here or did Panope?”

”The G.o.ddess,” he answered, staring at the destruction. ”I have yet to master that power.”

I squeezed his hand. ”You okay?” This was his home, his people, his history . . .

He gave a faint shrug, his profile unreadable as he continued to gaze at the city.

”How could the Circe have trapped a deity?” I asked at length.

”Panope gave them her power to help create the grid. It was supposed to be temporary, drawing on her powers and the Malakim to make the walls impenetrable. The Circe must've devised a way to keep Panope there. They saw an opportunity and took it. Panope waited, all this time, for someone to come along.”

”Someone like you.” I smiled and wiggled my eyebrows at him.

He snorted. ”Yeah, who knew . . .? Come on, we need to find a mage to get us out of here.”

We left the cliffs behind and walked a winding path through the inner city, to the main gate. A few curious looks were thrown our way, my gown and jewels drawing the eye, but attention was focused on the chaos of the three towers falling, the recovery effort, the wounded . . .

”Why do you think she waited so long, though?” I said as we went. ”I mean, every year during the rites, sirens walk through her waters. Why didn't she say anything?”

”Maybe she did. I don't know. Maybe she knew that if she did communicate, the Circe would immediately silence the person and the G.o.ddess from speaking again. Maybe she was waiting for the right moment, an enemy of the Circe. Who knows?”

Once we were in the outer city, Hank arranged for a mage to take us back to Ithonia. He bent down and unclasped one of the ankle bracelets and handed it to the mage, whose eyes turned to saucers. ”Will this do?”

The mage stammered and managed a nod.