Eir couldn’t help glancing up at Mason every few seconds. She still couldn’t believe how their relationship had blossomed. He knew everything about her, about her world, and she was … relieved. She didn’t have to worry about trying to explain things to him.
She smiled as she looked down at Sophie. She could have sworn the dog had a huge grin on her face.
“She looks like she loves this,” Eir said, breaking the silence. Mason’s thoughts were obviously elsewhere. He had been distant ever since Korvain had barked something to him on the phone.
His eyes darted around them before settling on her face. The sun had just begun to rise, the first rays hitting Mason’s face, highlighting the flecks of green in his eyes. “She certainly loves being taken out,” he replied absently, his eyes still troubled.
“Did Korvain say something to you?” she asked when his eyes made another sweep of the immediate area.
That got his attention. “When?”
“Just before, on the phone.”
There was a beat of silence. Mason pressed his lips together, his jaw tightening up too. “What can you …” he started, looking away a moment later. “Forget it,” he said dismissively.
She placed her hand on his forearm, slowing his steps. His concern for her bombarded Eir’s senses. “Finish what you were going to say,” she encouraged.
He met her eyes briefly then said, “What can you tell me about Darrion?”
Eir’s heart stopped for a moment before resuming its usual rhythm, although it was pounding a little more quickly than normal. She honestly didn’t know very much about the Mare Korvain had called master, but she feared him because Korvain feared him.
“I honestly don’t know anything about him. Why do you ask?”
“No reason,” he muttered in reply, still looking around, his eyes never settling on one spot for more than a few seconds.
“Is that what Korvain spoke to you about? Is that why you’re being so vigilant?”
He grunted, and Eir thought it was in agreement. She smiled at his protective streak, amused by the idea that he would be able to protect her should Darrion come looking for her. She was a Valkyrie. She could summon a blade that could kill with a single stroke, yet the idea of Mason going into battle for her made those butterflies flutter in her stomach once more.
They were only a block away from the hospital now, the sun touching Eir’s face, warming her skin. She sighed deeply.
“A penny for your thoughts?” Mason said.
She saw that he was staring down at her. “For the first time, I don’t wish to go to work,” she admitted.
“And why is that?”
She reached up and hooked a tentative hand into his elbow. “I don’t want this day to end.”
They arrived at the hospital entrance, where Sophie sat patiently at Mason’s feet while they said their goodbyes. Boldly, he took Eir’s hand in his, bringing it to his mouth and brushing his lips against her knuckles. “I don’t want this day to end either.”
His words were a steady rumble that sent a shiver of pleasure down her spine. Eir looked into his eyes, a blush creeping up her cheeks.
“I should get inside,” she replied softly. “Will I see you later on, at the club?”
A slight smile hitched up one side of his mouth. Eir felt as if there were a million other things that needed to be said, but she found that all the air had left her lungs. Bobbing her head one final time, she turned towards the double glass doors.
“Eir?” Mason called.
She turned back.
“Thank you for being so understanding about … what I told you earlier.”
She could see it pained him to say the words, but she also knew there was much more buried within him. She had felt his pain when he’d comforted her only an hour earlier.
“We all have secrets,” she said. Mason’s eyes shot to her face.
“That we do,” he agreed. Once again he brushed her knuckles with his mouth. “I’ll see you later.”
Eir entered the hospital in a kind of daze. Never before had a man captivated her in this way, and she hadn’t the slightest idea why.
“Damn, girl, where do you find these men?” Stacy called out as Eir approached reception. “Please tell me that kiss was more than just a friendly goodbye.”
Eir couldn’t ignore the flutter of excitement in her chest. She shrugged. “I’m just lucky, I guess.” She moved past the reception desk and into the staffroom before Stacy could launch into another one of her interrogations.
No sooner had she stepped into her scrubs and put her clothes into her locker than Mark tapped on her opened locker door. “Hey.”
“Hey, Mark. How’s it going?”
He looked down at his feet—a sure sign he wasn’t just there for a friendly chat. “I saw you talking to a guy out the front.”
“Yes?”
There was a long, drawn-out pause. Eir could practically see him trying to find the words to say to her. “Are you seeing him?” he blurted out clumsily.
Eir gazed up at him, unsurprised to see a flame of color bruising his cheeks. “I’m not sure what you mean.”
The muscle in Mark’s jaw bounced. “Is he your boyfriend? Are you seeing him?” Eir couldn’t tell if he was embarrassed or angry.
She laid a hand on his shoulder, clearly startling him. “Mark, he’s not my boyfriend,” she said. “He’s just a friend who walked me to work.”
The light elf looked truly relieved at the news and visibly relaxed. “Right, well, the reason I came in here was to ask you for another favor.”
“Oh?”
“Yes. I want to know if you’d come and see Mr. Adamsen again. His treatment starts today, and he’s nervous. I was wondering whether you could …” He wiggled his fingers.
She smiled easily at him. “Of course I can.”
Eir followed the light elf out of the staffroom and to the elevators that would take them up to the oncology ward.
“So, how have you been?” Mark asked when the doors slid closed.
“I’ve been busy. You?”
He shrugged. “Same old, same old, I guess.”
“What time do you finish?”
Mark looked down, staring at his shoes. “I finished an hour ago. I was waiting for you to come in so you could see Mr. Adamsen.”
His answer shouldn’t have surprised her, but it did. She really had to nip this infatuation in the bud.
“Mark, you know that—”
He waved her words away. “I know, Eir. I just wanted Mr. Adamsen to have the best around him before he went through with this treatment.” He looked away. “I’m really worried about him. I don’t think he’ll be able to pull through this.”
Eir placed her hand on his forearm, instantly feeling the fear and concern he had for his patient. This was what made him a great nurse. “I’ll see what I can do for him,” she said.
She knew from the last time she’d seen Mr. Adamsen that Mark was right—he probably wouldn’t survive this treatment. The elevator doors slid open, and Mark placed his hand on the small of Eir’s back to lead her out and towards the private room where she’d first seen Mr. Adamsen.
The frail old man lying on the bed hardly moved when she and Mark entered the room. The muted whir and subtle beep of machines filled the space.
Eir approached the bed her eyes focused on the shallow rise and fall of Mr. Adamsen’s fragile chest. She looked over her shoulder at Mark, who was standing at the door to the room. He gave her a small, encouraging smile, and she turned back around.
Carefully, she drew the blanket down Mr. Adamsen’s chest, exposing the thin gown all patients wore. Placing both hands on his chest, she closed her eyes and let the power that had always flowed through her veins surge into the human’s cancer-riddled body. The man gasped almost inaudibly, his paper-thin eyelids fluttering, but not opening.
Eir let out a steady breath and let her power work the way it needed to. With each inhalation, she could feel the cancer in her body like it was in his, spreading through her blood, infiltrating her organs. She pressed her lips together and held on for just a little longer.
Mr. Adamsen groaned in relief, letting Eir know that her work was done. He would sleep peacefully for a while now, but Eir would need a few hours to recover.
“Thank you,” Mark whispered into her ear. She tensed at his closeness, but forced herself to relax. Casually stepping away, she turned to face him. “It was my pleasure. I’d better get to work.”
She moved towards the door, letting herself out and sagging against the wall. Eir flexed her burning hands a few times, trying to work the tingle from her palms.
Well, one hour down. Only eleven more to go.