"So we take a chance together?"
"I am willing, if you are." He kissed her. "Would you come back to New Orleans with me? Jamys wishes to become acquainted with you, and so do my brother and my aunt. I can teach you how to hunt, and to live as Kyn. I will not allow Alexandra to poke you with too many needles."
Jema wanted to go at once, wherever Thierry wanted to take her, but there was one person holding her back. Valentin Jaus. She had so many questions about his involvement in her life. The way he had spoken to her and held her while they were dancing at the masque… he had acted like a man in love.
Was he?
"Before I say yes," Jema said, "and it's going to be yes, Thierry, I need to do something."
Thierry walked her over to Jaus's house, but stayed outside. "I will wait here. It is best."
Alex and Michael were staying with Jaus until he recovered from the surgery Alex had performed to reattach his arm. Jema saw that Alex had some reservations about letting her see him, but assured her she wouldn't be long.
"He's taken some hard knocks in the last couple of days," Alex said. "Thierry cut off his sword arm, and while I've got it back together, it's never going work the way it did."
"Is he in love with me, Alex?" Jema asked.
She shrugged. "You need to ask him that question."
Valentin was in his bed reading a report when Jema went in. "Miss Shaw. How kind of you to visit me."
"I don't think we can be Mr. Jaus and Miss Shaw anymore, Valentin." She went over and sat on the side of his bed. Could this man really have secretly loved her all these years? Why hadn't he said anything to her? "I'm so sorry about what happened at your party."
"I thought it was one of my better ones," he joked.
How could she put it without embarrassing him? "I meant, I'm sorry I didn't realize how you felt about me. I should have guessed."
"How I feel about you as my neighbor?" When she shook her head, he frowned. "Then I am confused."
"I'm in love with Thierry Durand," she said, not to hurt him, but to make the point. "Suddenly I'm noticing a lot of things I never have in the past."
She glanced over at the wall, where it appeared he had taken down a great many paintings recently. The only photo left in the room was that of Jaus holding a dark-haired baby. The baby's face was turned away from the camera, but Jaus was looking down on the child in a way that made Jema shiver.
"My godchild," Jaus said when he followed the direction of her gaze. "You know that we cannot have children. Alex has told you?"
She nodded. "I never expected to, so it wasn't a big disappointment. I just…" She made a frustrated gesture.
"Alex believes I infected you with my blood," he continued. "If I did so, I assure you it was not deliberate. I hope you will forgive me someday for my part in this."
"Forgive you? What about me? I feel as if I've done something terrible to you by falling in love with Thierry." She gave him an uncertain look. "Does that sound completely conceited?"
"My dear Jema." He took her hand in his. "You are a beautiful young woman. Were you not attached, I would gladly take you out dancing whenever you wished. But that is all it would have been."
She bit her lower lip. "Really?"
"It has been a pleasure to know you as my neighbor." He bent over to kiss the back of her hand. Even lying in bed, Jaus made the gesture seem completely natural. "Go back to the man you love, and be happy."
She searched his face for some indication that he was lying to her. All she saw was a distant affection and sincerity.
"I guess I was reading into things too much." On impulse, she bent over and kissed his cheek. "I hope you feel better soon. Thierry and I are going to New Orleans. I'll write and let you know how it goes, if that's okay?"
"I would like nothing better," he assured her.
Alexandra watched Jema Shaw walk out of Jaus's house.
She stood at the window long enough to see Thierry pick up his sygkenis and whirl her around in the snowy air before carrying her off. It was a terribly romantic moment, one that panged even Alex's decidedly unromantic soul.
"I'm going to check on Val," she told Cyprien, who was working on his laptop.
"Do not be long." He gave her a direct look. "I have found a bedroom we have not slept in yet, and there is the matter of the shrieking orgasm you owe me."
Alex went to Jaus's room. He was sitting up in bed now, and she felt sure he would be back on his feet in another day. When she looked in, Jaus wasn't in bed, but standing by his window, watching the snowfall.
He'd taken off the sling and the dressings, leaving his arm bare. The moonlight poured silver over him, created a thin line of shadow on the surgical site. Despite Kyn healing, Valentin would always carry a scar from having his arm severed. The limb had been separated too long from his body, Alex thought, to regenerate completely. He might never use a sword again.
She didn't want to guess what sort of scar losing Jema had left on his heart.
He wasn't looking at the snowfall, Alex realized. He was looking down at the seawall, where Jema and Thierry had been walking.
Alex started to say something, and then she saw the moonlight silver a tear slowly winding down Valentin's face.
She turned away and quietly left him there, as Jema had, alone in the moonlight.
THE END