Tempted (House of Night #6)(4)

His eyes glimmered with humor. Everyone says you're a wise woman. Which is less interesting than what everyone says about you, tsi-ta-ga-a-s-ha-ya," Grandma said. Stark barked a quick laugh and then sucked air painfully. Be still! Darius commanded. Sister, I thought you said you guys had a doctor here. I tried not to sound as panicky as I felt. A human doctor cannot help him, Darius said before Sister Mary Angela could respond. He needs rest and quiet and-- Rest and quiet are fine, Stark interrupted him.

Like I said before: I'm not dead yet. He met Darius's eyes and I saw the Son of Erebus shrug and nod his head briefly, as if he'd conceded some point to the younger vampyre. I should have just ignored the little interplay between them, but my patience had evaporated hours before. Okay, what aren't you telling me? The nun who'd been assisting Darius shot me a long, cold look and said, Perhaps the injured boy needs to know his sacrifice was not made in vain.

The nun's harsh words gave me a jolt of guilty shock that closed my throat and didn't let me respond to the hard-eyed woman. The sacrifice Stark had been willing to make was his life for mine. I swallowed past the dryness in my throat. What was my life worth? I was just a kid-- barely seventeen. I'd messed up over and over again. I was the reincarnation of a girl created to trap a fallen angel, and that meant deep inside my soul I couldn't help loving him, even when I knew I shouldn't . . . couldn't . . . No. I wasn't worth the sacrifice of Stark's life. I already know it. Stark's voice didn't waver; suddenly he sounded strong and sure. I blinked my vision free of tears and met his eyes. What I did was just part of my job, he said.

I'm a Warrior. I've sworn my life into the service of Zoey Redbird, High Priestess and Beloved of Nyx. That means I'm working for our Goddess and being knocked to the ground and burned a little really doesn't mean shit if I helped Zoey beat the bad guys. Well said, tsi-ta-ga-a-s-ha-ya," Grandma told him. Sister Emily, I relieve you of your infirmary duties for the rest of the night. Please send Sister Bianca here in your stead. I believe you should, perhaps, spend some time in quiet contemplation of Luke 6:37, said Sister Mary Angela. As you wish, Sister, the nun said and hurried from the room. Luke 6:37? What's that? I asked.

Judge not, and ye shall not be judged: condemn not, and ye shall not be condemned: forgive, and ye shall be forgiven,' my grandma said.

She was sharing a smile with Sister Mary Angela when Damien knocked softly on the half-open door. Can we come in? There's someone who really needs to see Stark. Damien glanced over his shoulder and made a stay-there motion behind him. The soft woof! that came in response told me the someone was really a somedog. Don't let her come in. Stark grimaced in pain as he abruptly turned his head away so that he couldn't see Damien or the doorway.

Tell that Jack kid she's his now. No. I stopped Damien as he began to back away. Have Jack bring Duchess in. Zoey, no, I-- Stark began, but my raised hand stilled him. Just bring her in, I said. Then I met Stark's eyes. Do you trust me? He looked at me for what seemed like a really long time. I saw his vulnerability and pain clearly, but finally he nodded once and said, I trust you. Go ahead, Damien, I said. Damien turned and murmured something over his shoulder and then he moved aside.

Jack, Damien's boyfriend, came into the room first. His cheeks were pink and his eyes were suspiciously bright. He stopped after a couple of feet and turned back to the door. Come on. It's okay. He's in here, Jack coaxed. The blond Lab padded into the room and I was surprised by how quietly she moved for such a big dog. She stopped briefly by Jack's side and looked up at him, wagging her tail. It's okay, Jack repeated. He smiled at Duchess and then wiped away the tears that had escaped his eyes and were slipping down his cheeks. He's better now. Jack made a motion to the bed. Duchess's head turned in the direction he'd pointed, and she looked directly at Stark.

The injured boy and the dog just stared at each other while I swear we all held our breath. Hi, pretty girl. Stark spoke hesitantly, his voice choked with tears. Duchess's ears perked up and her head cocked. Stark held a hand out and made a beckoning motion. Come here, Duch. Like his command had broken a dam inside the dog, Duchess surged forward, whining and wriggling and woofing--basically sounding and acting way more like a puppy than her one hundred plus pounds said she could no way be. No! Darius commanded. Not up on the bed! Duchess obeyed the warrior and contented herself with stuffing her head against Stark's side and sliding her big nose under his armpit while she wagged her entire body, and Stark, face glowing with happiness, petted her and told her over and over again how much he'd missed her and what a good girl she was.

I hadn't realized I'd been bawling, too, until Damien handed me a tissue. Thanks, I muttered, and wiped my face. He smiled briefly at me, and then he moved to Jack's side, putting his arm around his boyfriend and patting his shoulder (and handing him a tissue, too). I heard Damien tell him, Come on, let's go find the room the sisters have ready for us. You need to rest. Jack made a sniffling, hiccupping sob sound, nodded, and let Damien begin to lead him from the room. Wait, Jack, Stark called after them. Jack looked at the bed where Duchess still had her head pressed against Stark, who had his arm wrapped around the Lab's neck.

You did good taking care of Duch when I couldn't. It wasn't any trouble. I've never had a dog before, so I didn't know how really great they are. Jack's voice broke only a little. He cleared his throat and went on. I'm--I'm glad you're not, uh, evil and awful and stuff like that anymore so she can be with you again. Yeah, about that. Stark paused, grimacing as the pain of his movements caught up with him. I'm not exactly one hundred percent yet, and even when I am, I'm not sure what my schedule's going to be. So I'm thinking that it would be a big favor to me if you and I could maybe share Duchess. Really? Jack's face lit up.