people consider ghosts are actually familiar spirits and familiar spirits are dem—” Sighing, he scrubbed a hand down his face. “Never mind. I have more to teach you than I realized.”
A bead of worry she’d told herself she wouldn’t feel joined the guilt. “You won’t change your mind, will you?”
Annnd he flashed his teeth in yet another fearsome scowl. “How could I? A bargain was struck.”
And he was always a man of his word. She’d already known that about him, and had to stop inadvertently insulting his sense of honor. He might stick around no matter what, but she wanted him as happy as she was supposed to be while he was doing it. “Why do you want to teach someone like me, anyway?” Nicola had nothing to offer in return. “And what do you want to teach me? I thought you only wanted me to do the calm, peace, joy thing.”
He looked away, saying, “Perhaps I know what it’s like to suffer one travesty after another, desperate for hope but discovering none.” He studied her sister for a long while. “I just pray Laila proves to be as accepting as you.”
“Would that help her? Save her for more than a few weeks?” A whisper. A desperate rasp.
“Honestly? Only she knows the answer to that. I can teach her what I teach you—and no, I won’t share the details yet. You’re drugged, and will forget the most important parts. I’ll do everything I possibly can to make her feel calm, at peace and joyful.” A flicker of doubt in his eyes, followed by...anger? He shook his head and added, “But will she listen?”
Would she? Laila, who was so stubborn, so hardheaded, she would argue until she ran out of breath. Laila, who possessed the unique ability to tune out anyone at any time. Nicola loved her, but she was highly aware of her faults.
“What you teach us, what we feel, will help us heal?” she asked.
“Yes. I have seen lepers cleansed. I have seen the lame walk and the blind regain their sight.”
“I’ll make her listen, then.” Determination mixed with a heady dose of excitement. Over the years, she had been checked out by hundreds of doctors. A thousand tests had been run. A million procedures and surgeries had been endured. The prognosis had always been the same.
We’re sorry, Miss Lane, but there’s nothing we can do.
Now there was hope for Laila, too.
Koldo’s expression softened as he gazed at her. He actually appeared proud of her. “The only sure way to fail is to give up, Nicola Lane. You aren’t a quitter, I can tell.”
A compliment from so blunt a man was sweeter than words of adoration from any charmer.
“Nicola?”
Nicola jolted at the sound of her sister’s voice. A voice that was rough, the edges broken, but still unbelievably beautiful. “Laila! You’re awake!”
Koldo stepped back, out of the way, and Nicola’s gaze zipped in her sister’s direction. First thing she noticed, the monkey hadn’t returned. The second thing, Laila was glowing.
Though their features were identical, Laila had somehow always been the pretty one. The charismatic one. People had always gravitated to her, hanging upon her every word.
Even Nicola, the serious one, never willing to take a risk, had been enchanted by her.
“I’m thirsty,” Laila mumbled. She was still on her side, with her head propped on her pillow, but now her eyelids were opening and closing slowly and repeatedly, as though she were fighting to stay awake. “I’d really like some water.”
Nicola looked to Koldo. “Will you get—”
But he was no longer there.
Laila frowned, her gaze finally remaining open, and said, “Where’d the doctor go?”
Doctor? Yeah, the title fit Koldo very well, she thought. “I wish I knew.”
CHAPTER EIGHT
L AILA WOULD BE COMING home today, far earlier than anyone had expected!
Nicola could barely contain her excitement as she puttered around her office, gathering the files and receipts she needed. Even the fact that Jamila and Sirena were the worst
A bead of worry she’d told herself she wouldn’t feel joined the guilt. “You won’t change your mind, will you?”
Annnd he flashed his teeth in yet another fearsome scowl. “How could I? A bargain was struck.”
And he was always a man of his word. She’d already known that about him, and had to stop inadvertently insulting his sense of honor. He might stick around no matter what, but she wanted him as happy as she was supposed to be while he was doing it. “Why do you want to teach someone like me, anyway?” Nicola had nothing to offer in return. “And what do you want to teach me? I thought you only wanted me to do the calm, peace, joy thing.”
He looked away, saying, “Perhaps I know what it’s like to suffer one travesty after another, desperate for hope but discovering none.” He studied her sister for a long while. “I just pray Laila proves to be as accepting as you.”
“Would that help her? Save her for more than a few weeks?” A whisper. A desperate rasp.
“Honestly? Only she knows the answer to that. I can teach her what I teach you—and no, I won’t share the details yet. You’re drugged, and will forget the most important parts. I’ll do everything I possibly can to make her feel calm, at peace and joyful.” A flicker of doubt in his eyes, followed by...anger? He shook his head and added, “But will she listen?”
Would she? Laila, who was so stubborn, so hardheaded, she would argue until she ran out of breath. Laila, who possessed the unique ability to tune out anyone at any time. Nicola loved her, but she was highly aware of her faults.
“What you teach us, what we feel, will help us heal?” she asked.
“Yes. I have seen lepers cleansed. I have seen the lame walk and the blind regain their sight.”
“I’ll make her listen, then.” Determination mixed with a heady dose of excitement. Over the years, she had been checked out by hundreds of doctors. A thousand tests had been run. A million procedures and surgeries had been endured. The prognosis had always been the same.
We’re sorry, Miss Lane, but there’s nothing we can do.
Now there was hope for Laila, too.
Koldo’s expression softened as he gazed at her. He actually appeared proud of her. “The only sure way to fail is to give up, Nicola Lane. You aren’t a quitter, I can tell.”
A compliment from so blunt a man was sweeter than words of adoration from any charmer.
“Nicola?”
Nicola jolted at the sound of her sister’s voice. A voice that was rough, the edges broken, but still unbelievably beautiful. “Laila! You’re awake!”
Koldo stepped back, out of the way, and Nicola’s gaze zipped in her sister’s direction. First thing she noticed, the monkey hadn’t returned. The second thing, Laila was glowing.
Though their features were identical, Laila had somehow always been the pretty one. The charismatic one. People had always gravitated to her, hanging upon her every word.
Even Nicola, the serious one, never willing to take a risk, had been enchanted by her.
“I’m thirsty,” Laila mumbled. She was still on her side, with her head propped on her pillow, but now her eyelids were opening and closing slowly and repeatedly, as though she were fighting to stay awake. “I’d really like some water.”
Nicola looked to Koldo. “Will you get—”
But he was no longer there.
Laila frowned, her gaze finally remaining open, and said, “Where’d the doctor go?”
Doctor? Yeah, the title fit Koldo very well, she thought. “I wish I knew.”
CHAPTER EIGHT
L AILA WOULD BE COMING home today, far earlier than anyone had expected!
Nicola could barely contain her excitement as she puttered around her office, gathering the files and receipts she needed. Even the fact that Jamila and Sirena were the worst
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