Into the Fading Twilight (Starlight Grove, #2) (88)

“You don’t have to apologize.” I struggled to keep my voice even.

“I do.”

“I shouldn’t have tried to keep you from doing the things that are helping. I just want you to be safe.”

One corner of her mouth kicked up the barest amount. “Well, you were right. The only monster was me. And I still managed to do some serious damage.”

I scowled at her. “You’re the farthest thing from a monster.”

“I thought I was your little demon,” Nova challenged.

Relief spread through me at seeing some of her fire returning, but I still struggled with Nova thinking of herself as anything monstrous. My knuckles grazed her cheek. “You’re perfect.”

“No one’s perfect, Kol.”

“You’re perfectly imperfect. Because all those things you see as failures only make you more beautiful.”

Her gray eyes shone in the light streaming in from the window. “Boss …”

I brushed my lips against hers, featherlight. “I’m with you. Whatever you need.”

A knock sounded on the door. “It’s Ever,” I told her quietly.

Nova stiffened.

I brushed a hand over her hair. “It’s okay. It’s the childhood friend I told you about. She’s a doctor.”

The pieces started to slide into place. “Orion’s Ever?”

Any remaining fear was replaced by instant fascination.

“That one.” I studied her for a moment. “Okay to let her in?”

Nova nodded quickly.

I pushed to my feet, snapping off my gloves and opening the door. Ever stood there, wearing jeans, combat boots, and a worn T-shirt with a logo that looked to be in some foreign language. It might’ve been for a beer company.

Her hair hung down around her shoulders, and countless necklaces looped over her tee. There was nothing but concern in her features. “Hey, Kol.”

“Thanks for coming.” I pulled her into a quick hug, having to bend over to do so.

“Of course. Introduce me.”

I released her and turned back to Nova. There was zero jealousy on her face, only curiosity.

“Nova, this is my friend, Ever, a.k.a. doctor extraordinaire. Ever, this is Nova.” I didn’t know how to introduce her. As my friend? My girlfriend? Neither seemed appropriate. And introducing her as my everything felt more than a little over the top.

“It’s lovely to meet you, Nova,” Ever said with an easy smile. “Can I take a look at your injuries?”

She struck the perfect balance, I realized. Gentle but not placating. Down-to-business but not harsh in any way.

“Sure,” Nova said, that rasp still clinging to her voice. “Kol cleaned them. The scrapes.”

Ever arched a brow in my direction. “If I remember correctly, when I was eight and you were twelve, you told me to rub dirt on my skinned knee because it helped.”

I winced. “Sorry about that. But you’ll be happy to know my medical skills have improved since then.”

“Glad to hear it.” Ever crouched, pawing through my first-aid supplies. “Impressive kit, too.”

She grabbed a pair of gloves and then looked around the room. Snagging a stool from the corner that was mainly used as a clothes catcher, she carried it over and sat. As she pulled on the gloves, she started asking questions.

“Did you fall?”

Nova shook her head, her cheeks pinking slightly. “I don’t … I don’t think so. I just got turned around and confused and panicked.”

“Happens to the best of us,” Ever said easily. “Follow my finger with your eyes.” Ever moved her gloved pointer up and down, then from side to side in an H motion. “Does anything hurt more than the sting of these scratches?”

“No. I just feel a little tired,” Nova admitted.

“I bet,” Ever replied. “Mav never knows when to call it quits on his adventures.”

“I think I might’ve been a bit of a buzzkill for him today,” Nova mumbled.

I glared at the floor at that.

“Mav could use a little calming, buzzkill force in his life.” Ever glanced up at me. “Got a penlight? I just want to double-check something.”

I jerked my head in a nod, moving to a box atop my dresser that held all sorts of random things. A Swiss Army knife. Assorted change and pens. Chapstick. A couple of pretty rocks Skylar had found and given to me. A mini flashlight.

I handed the last item to Ever just as she instructed Nova to turn her head from side to side.

“Thanks.” She took the light and flashed it over each of Nova’s eyes. Nova instantly winced. “Does that hurt?”

“A little. I, um …”

“She’s got a sensitivity to light,” I explained.

Ever looked up at me, confused.

“You probably know already. I was kidnapped. He, um, kept me in the dark most of the time,” Nova said quietly. “For a year.”

Fury like I’d never seen on Ever’s face before erupted, but she quickly covered it—swallowed it down and snuffed it out. “That makes sense, then. I’m not seeing any signs of a concussion, but if you get dizzy or get a bad headache, can’t remember simple information, feel nauseous or throw up, I want you to go to the emergency room.”