United Eden by Nicole Williams Page B

Max. Wel be at Cora and Josephs for the remainder of the night.
    Means of transportation, Max listed off, keeping stride beside Wil iam, somehow managing to make a six foot three man that was muscled to perfection look like a shrimp. I had to give the Council credit for attaching the biggest, scariest, stone-faced guards to Wil iam they could . . . and I guess I had to give them credit now for our Betrothal.
    Wil iam shrugged. Foot? He looked back at me, seeking approval.
    Moonlit walk with my Betrothed . . . and five guards in tow? Thats the stuff romance is made of right there, I teased, snickering when he tried to give me his sternest look.
    Youve turned into quite the comedian, Wil iam said as we left the tent, five figures ghosting into position around us, far enough away to grant us a semblance of privacy, but close enough to be effective if need be.
    It was reassuring having them there and even more reassuring knowing they were there when I wasnt, but I was the deadliest thing in our party of seven, not to mention my protection of him stemmed from love rather than duty. If anyone was foolish enough to attack Wil iam when I was around, they were certifiably insane, because doing so in my presence was like signing your own death certificate. I didnt value life so little I was eager to deal out death, it was just that I valued his life so much death was overshadowed by it.
    So turning into a regular wisenheimer means youve been spending too much time with Patrick again. I knew Wil iams tones wel enough to know he was only teasing, but he also knew my tones.
    So when I replied, Hardly, in my high-pitched voice, accompanied with staring straight ahead, he knew hed struck a chord.
    Busted, he said, not pretending to ignore my tel as I hoped he would. What are you not tel ing me? Something having to do with Patrick?
    My eyes stayed forward when I answered. Hes the buzzing mosquito in the ear of Immortality. Not to mention a serious pain in my butt, I mumbled.
    Nice try, Wil iam said, wrapping his arm around me as we meandered into the night. And high marks for trying to distract me from my topic of seriousness.
    I learned from the best”this time I looked over at him with accusing eyes”and I took real y good notes.
    I can see that, he said but you cant distract a distracter. So time to fess up. What do you know about Patrick that I dont?
    I wrapped my arms around myself, sliding into the crux of his arm like I was cold. I shouldnt have been cold, but I felt cold. Um, I dont real y know what to say . . . I began, knowing I couldnt keep this from him, but not knowing when or how to phrase it, or where to begin.
    How about with the truth? he offered simply, like the truth was the simplest solution to anything, and for him, I knew it was, but for me, things had always been more complicated.
    The truth, I repeated to myself, the last thing I wanted to be divulging to him tonight, but I knew the last thing was usual y the way every situation I was involved in resulted in. Like I was the final stroke of black marring an exquisite painting.
    Wil iam waited, his patience unwavering. After a few more internal grumbles, I resigned myself to the truth. Im worried about him, I began, trying to ease our way into it. Hes been acting strange lately”Wil iam shot me a look”wel , stranger than usual.
    Wil iam nodded. Ive noticed the same thing, too. Any idea why? he asked, straight to the point, just his style.
    Months of Patrick-quipping experience answered, He realized he just went through the entire planets population of women and hes going to have to start at the beginning again.
    Good observation, Wil iam answered, trying to look serious. But I think my womanizing brothers ways are ending because hes found . . .”he looked at me, his eyes happy”the one .
    I stumbled over a non-existent impediment in my path. Wil iam caught me like he was always ready for my grace to make its appearance. Why do you think that? I asked, clearing my