Page 71 of Wild Blood
“I love you,” he whispered between them.
“I love to hate you, unfortunately, I just love you too.”
“Good enough for me.” Dommik pulled her tight against his and relished the moment. That one moment when bliss is within your grasp and life, for all its rough edges, was good.
He spun his chair back toward the screen and let the moment slip away. The file was open for her viewing.
“This is what I want to show you. I received it today from Dr. Cagley. Apparently, she looked into your case files and found something about your grandmother that I don’t think you knew.” Kat tensed and turned her face toward the console. “You don’t have to read it if you don’t want too,” he hedged, hoping.
She was absorbed before he even stopped speaking. He held onto her as she read about her grandmother’s medical history, all of it out there for her to take in and whether she found it good or bad, he was going to be there.
Minutes passed by and Kat remained quiet on his lap, staring at the screen, and he smelled the trickle of her tears before they shed from her eyes.
“So. I’m crazy. Plain psychotic,” she wilted and looked away, then laughed high and loud. “I don’t care. I just. Don’t. Care.”
“I didn’t want to keep this from you…”
“She was immune. Immune! I didn’t know that and I thought...when she died. She couldn’t have had what my parents had.”
“They gave it to her to save you, Kat, they tested and treated her while you were locked up. They had you both locked up. Her immunity saved your life.” Dommik pulled her back into his embrace. Kat didn’t fight him. “You’re not crazy.”
She shook her head. “Why did she keep it from me?”
I wish I knew. I wish I knew everything for you.“Because she loved you.”
They sat there in the dim light of the bridge as the stars twinkled and the seconds turned into minutes. He held her as her tears dried on her eyelashes and her body softened against his. Dommik gave her his warmth as she drifted in and out of sleep. Even as messages pinged through the system and new missives went ignored. There was nothing but the two of them.
Kat awoke sometime later, turning her glassy green eyes up to his. “Thank you,” she said.
“For what?”
“For...well, for everything. For taking me up into the stars with you.” Her hands went around his neck. “For showing me what’s beyond my walls.” Her smile returned. “I really do love you too.”
“Oh, good. I was worried.” Dommik smiled. “To the future?”
She nodded. “To the future.” Her wildness bloomed. Her wings restored.
“Well, then, let’s catch us some monsters!”
