Forget Me Not Read Free Page B

even if he had to choke it down. Gaining her trust was vital if he were going to return home and seek justice for his murdered sister.
    Again, rage churned in his gut, combined with a frantic sense of urgency. The longer he stayed here, the weaker he would become, and the longer his sister’s true killer would walk free. But if he pushed this human woman, he feared her mistrust of him would flare and he would have to seek out the aid of another. There was no guarantee he would have that kind of time before he became a shell of the man he was now.
    Because of that, he stilled his anger, shoving it down deep where it would not show.
    Adreeahbenwah began unpacking her sacks, setting out items he did not recognize. Metal cylinders with brightly colored wrappings, boxes covered in words he could not read, and a variety of things inside shiny, transparent film.
    “Are you sure you’re okay?” she asked. “I didn’t see any blood or feel any bumps, but there’s no way you could have fallen in that hole and not been hurt.”
    “I am whole.”
    Her gaze traveled up and down his form, skipping quickly over his groin. She licked her lips and then flattened them into a disapproving line. “What you are is naked. The man who owns this place still visits often. He may have some clothes left tucked away. Why don’t you go check the bedroom for something you can wear? There’s a shower in there, too. You should clean off so you don’t get soot all over the furniture. I doubt Mr. Corey would thank us for the mess.”
    She pointed to a doorway on the far side of the room.
    Toren went to investigate as he was told, using the wall twigs as she had to light his way. He had to conserve his magic. Once it was depleted, he would not only be powerless, he would also forget his entire life on Sorsca. He would forget all about his murdered sister and the sight of Grynar’s hand wrapped around the thalac blade dripping with her blood. He would forget his quest for justice and vengeance. He would forget he even had a sister to avenge.
    That was not something he would allow.
    Toren did not waste time investigating his surroundings or letting his curiosity consume his attention. He would not be here long enough to have the need to fit within their world. For now, all his focus had to be on gaining Adreeahbenwah’s help.
    He solved the puzzle of getting water out of the spigot to wash himself, and then found a pair of short pants that covered his groin. None of the shirts in the drawer would go over his shoulders.
    Perhaps all humans were as small as Adreeahbenwah.
    If she was upset by a man’s bare chest, he would wrap himself in that blanket again, no matter how awkward it felt. He would do nothing to slow his return home.
    When he came out, she looked up, going still as soon as she saw him. A look of shock slid over her features, and a warm flush crept up her neck.
    “Aren’t you cold in just a pair of shorts?” she asked. “It’s freezing in here.”
    He was not cold, but if she was, he would warm her. Without thinking, he sent a spark of power to the logs laid inside the hearth. Fire blazed up in a heated whoosh .
    Her eyes widened, and her full lips parted on a terrified squeak of sound. “What the hell did you just do?”
    Toren’s carelessness hit him hard. Not only had he wasted precious strands of power, he had also frightened the one woman who might be able to save his life.
    He started toward her, fumbling for human words of apology. Instead, his own language spilled from him, low and fervent. By the time he crossed the small space, she had pressed herself into a corner and was clutching a tiny knife in her fist.
    “It was nothing,” he said, finally finding the human words he needed. “Only magic.”
    “Magic?”
    “There is nothing to fear. I will not hurt you. I swear.”
    “Get back,” she ordered, her dark eyes wide with panic. “I will fucking stab you if you take one step closer.”

Chapter Three
    The man