“She does seem…” Nova contemplated, unable to find the right word, before settling on, “Critical.”
“Critical, terrifying, same thing.” Danna screwed up her face, looking momentarily embarrassed. “Though, full disclosure, it could have something to do with my inherent fear of birds.”
Nova’s eyebrows lifted. “Birds.”
Danna faked a shudder. “Ever since I was a kid. I mean, you know what one of the primary predators of butterflies is, right?”
Nova chuckled. “Okay, that makes sense.” She pondered for a moment. “Did you know there are over forty species of waterfowl in this region?”
Danna gave her an incredulous look. “Seriously? Why would you tell me that? Are you trying to give me nightmares about being gobbled up by a flock of seagulls?”
“Great skies, no,” said Nova emphatically. “If anything, you should be having nightmares about the royal albatross. Their wingspans can reach up to eleven feet across.”
Danna fixed her with a cold glare. “I’m beginning to regret coming here.”
“Too much information?” said Nova, feigning a sheepish look.
“Fine,” Danna said, still glowering. “Your turn, Miss I’ll-Fight-the-Gargoyle. Do you have any phobias, or are you always as calm in the face of fear as you were at the trials?”
Any phobias?
Nova couldn’t keep her lips from stretching tight. “Just one. I have one phobia.”
And he carries a scythe and is about a thousand times scarier than Tamaya Rae.
“Go on,” said Danna. “I shared mine.”
Nova shook her head. “I didn’t ask for a full disclosure, and this is one I’m keeping secret.”
Danna huffed, but Nova’s attention caught on another figure moving past the curtains, a healer checking a clipboard as he walked past. She sighed. It had been hours since anyone had been to check on her. Clearly, they weren’t as concerned as they were pretending to be.
“So, Adrian was bringing you sandwiches, huh?”
She startled. “What?”
Danna shot her a sly look. “At three o’clock in the morning. That’s … nice.” She drew out the word, hinting not so subtly that it was an act that went beyond nice.
“Oh. Yeah.” Nova shrugged. “We didn’t actually get to eat them, though.”
“It’s the thought that counts. And it doesn’t hurt that he charged into a highly volatile situation in order to rescue you…”
Nova frowned. “Yep. He’s a nice guy. I think that’s been well established.”
Danna folded her fingers over her stomach. “He really is. No one could argue that. But you know, in all the time we’ve spent on the same team together, he never brought me sandwiches.”
Clearing her throat, Nova picked up the top book from the stack on the nightstand and started pawing through the pages. “He was just being friendly. He’s really worked hard to make me feel like I fit in here.”
This was true, she thought, though she also knew it didn’t explain the warmth rushing into her face. Or why Danna’s insinuations made her stomach flutter at the same time her jaw clenched.
The things was, when Adrian was around, she was finding it more and more difficult to keep her eyes scanning for exits and resources, or her senses attuned to potential threats, when all she really wanted to do was study him. She wanted to know how he managed to strike that balance between self-assured and humble. Relaxed, yet focused.
When he was drawing, she wanted only to watch the quick, agile movements of his hands. When he was smiling, she found herself holding her breath to see if the smile would brighten enough to show off those elusive dimples. When he was looking at her, she felt compelled to look back. And also, illogically, to look away.
All of it combined made her far too annoyed with his presence.
It was attraction, pure and simple. It was hormones. It was … biology.
And it was not a part of her plan.
“You know,” said Danna, “I don’t think Adrian’s ever had a girlfriend before. At least, no one serious. Not since I’ve known him.”
Only when this comment brought a new surge of irritation did Nova realize how much, in the brief span of Danna’s visit, she had almost started to like her.
So much for that.
But she did suddenly have an idea.
Narrowing her eyes, Nova leaned forward, inspecting Danna’s face. “Are you feeling all right?”
Danna stiffened. “Fine. Why?”
Nova crooked her finger, urging her closer. “It might just be the temperature in here, but you look a little feverish.” She reached out, setting her palm against Danna’s brow. “Maybe you should get some more rest.”
Her power flowed through her as easily and naturally as it ever had.
Danna’s eyes closed. She slumped forward, her face planting onto the blankets.
Nova sat back with a sigh, casting her gaze toward the ceiling.
Proof, at last.
Her power was fine.
And every moment spent here was a waste of time.
Nova climbed out of the bed. “Nurse!”
A moment later, the nurse who had brought her lunch pulled back the curtain, surprised when she saw Nova lifting Danna out of the chair and settling her onto the mattress.
“I don’t know what happened. She seemed fine one minute, then she just got really pale and passed out. You might want to get a healer in here. I think maybe she overexerted herself too soon?”
The nurse, bewildered, ran out to alert one of the healers.
By the time she came back, Nova was dressed again and nearly done pulling on her boots.
“And where do you think you’re going?” the nurse asked as she felt for Danna’s pulse.
“Home,” said Nova.
The nurse barked a laugh. “Absolutely not, young lady. We’ll have a new room made up for you in just a minute, but we do need you to stay put.”
Nova glared at her. “Why?”
“Because!” the nurse said, as if this were a viable explanation. “We need to keep a close watch on you after—”
“After, what? Nearly having my superpower drained out of me by a ten-year-old?”