Strange Attractors - Kim Falconer [117]
‘Drayco, easy. Please. Deep breaths, the both of you.’ He nudged the temple cat down and sent soothing energy to them both, righting his ink bottles, straightening papers.
Slowly Rosette’s hands opened, and she let out a sob. ‘He’s gone, Grayson. He’s gone.’ Tears ran down her cheeks. ‘Jarrod is gone.’
He took her into his arms and this time she didn’t pull back. He brushed his lips over her ear, whispering, ‘You can’t be certain.’
‘The CPU is gone, Grayson. It’s not there.’
‘You looked at the notes?’
‘I did and Drayco and I did a calling too.’
‘You what?’ He held her at arm’s length.
‘Just a weapons calling. I had to be sure he wasn’t wandering around with amnesia, or dispirited. But nothing came. Nothing but a broken arrow that had never been in his tulpa anyway. He’s not there, in Corsanon. I’m sure of that now.’
Grayson held her close again and she sobbed.
‘I found the notes and did the ritual, only nothing happened. I couldn’t visualise Passillo.’
He exhaled, releasing her, though she lingered, her body leaning against his. ‘Rosette, that can only mean one thing.’ He searched her face, hoping he was somehow wrong, knowing he was not.
‘What?’
‘It means you never actually had it.’
‘But I did.’
He nodded, sitting down and offering her the seat beside him. She took it. He rubbed his temples. ‘You had it when you were in Cryo. I saw the slides myself.’
‘Could Everett have done something? Could he have taken it?’
‘I don’t see how, but I couldn’t get him to come with me to Los Loma. He was paranoid.’
‘You said.’ Rosette looked out the window into the dark.
‘It’s nearly midnight. Nell will be here soon and she might have some answers.’ He cleared his throat. ‘Rosette, we haven’t had time to talk.’
‘About?’
‘About us.’
She lifted her head. The look in her eyes made him wince. ‘We did, Grayson. You said you couldn’t handle the uncertainty of relating to me. Perfectly understandable. I’m fine with it.’ She stiffened. ‘Why bring it up now? There are much more important things to consider.’
‘Not more important to me.’ Immediately he wished he hadn’t said that, but it was too late. He hurried on. ‘I didn’t know you were pregnant, Rosette.’
‘That only makes things more uncertain, Gray, not less. Anyway, our relationship isn’t about the obligation you felt when you heard I was pregnant. We are friends. I’m glad of it. But right now it’s your knowledge I need.’
‘Sweetheart, please listen to me. When I realised you were pregnant I felt…’
He was cut short by the sound of boots clipping down the hall. Rosette pushed out of her chair.
‘Nell!’ she said, opening her arms.
Drayco bounded out of the room only to return immediately with Nellion Paree. Rosette raced to the door, embracing her mentor, her mother, tears flowing down her face. ‘I’m so glad you’re here.’
‘Me too, my darling, though it’s not like I was ever gone. You’ve had Kreshkali. You know we are one and the same.’
‘You are one, but not the same, Nell.’
Grayson stood, waiting to be introduced. ‘I’ve heard so much about you, Nellion Paree.’ He reached out his hand and she drew him into a warm embrace.
‘Are you coming to the Dumarkian Woods with us then?’ she asked, looking first at Grayson and then Rosette.
‘Nell. We have to talk. Something’s happened.’ Rosette waved the query aside.
Grayson sank back to the bench.
Nell felt Rosette’s swollen belly and checked her pulse. ‘Indeed, though you’re not ready yet. This baby girl wants to be born in Dumarka and no doubt under the Water-bearer’s moon, like her mother.’
Rosette smiled. ‘I think so too. But it’s not that, Nell. It’s not the baby. She’s fine.’
‘What then?’
‘It’s the spell.’
Nell’s eyebrows went up.
‘It seems it’s gone, Nellion,’ Grayson said. ‘As if it never was.’
Nell stepped closer to Rosette. ‘How do you know?’ she asked, her voice low and potent.
Rosette closed her eyes, swallowing. ‘I looked in your…rather