bChapter /bb321 /b

A gentle knock at the door made Ethan rise. A small, dirt–smudged face peered through the crack–a boy no older than bthirteen/bb, /bholding a small cloth bag.

Ethan exchanged a few words in Amharic, handed the boy some crumpled bills, and took the bag. The door closed quietly.

“Who’s that?” Jade asked as Ethan returned to her side.

“Tolosa. Local kid. Orphan. This was his grandfather’s ce before he died. I bought it from him–temporary arrangement.” Ethan opened the bag, revealing a handful of corn. “He brings us food, keeps watch.”

Ethan moved to a small hotte in the corner and began preparing a simple porridge.

“You should rest more,” he said, stirring the pot. “Your body needs time.”

After eating the nd porridge and taking medication, Jade drifted back to sleep.

Days passed. Jade’s shoulder began to heal, the angry red infection gradually receding. Her strength returned in small increments, though she remained weak.

One evening, Ethan brought a basin of warm water to the bedside. “I thought you might want your hair washed.”

Jade nced at his bandaged hand. “With that?”

“I can manage with one hand,” he said with a small smile. “It’ll just take longer.”

He carefully lifted her, repositioning her so her head hung over the edge of the bed.

bAs /bhe worked the water through her hair, Jade looked up at his concentrated face.

“Have you contacted Chris?” she asked. “Did he blow up the castle?”

“Lost my phone. And yes, the castle’s gone.”

“Good.”

Ethan studied her face, clearly wanting to ask about what had happened at the desert fortressb, /bbut he held back. “What would you like for dinner?”

“Whatever we have. Try not to go out.”

“I know.”

That night, as Jadey awake listening to the bsounds /bof the bslum/bb, /bshe heard Tolosa’s voice at the door.

“How is your wife?” the boy asked in Amharic.

“Much better, Ethan replied in the samenguage.

220

Is she having a baby? We have a doctor here. I can find him if your wife needs help. The woman next door almost died giving birth because she had no money for a doctor.”

“No, that won’t be necessary.”

When Ethan closed the door, Jade asked, “What did he say?”

“He asked if we needed a doctor.”

“And?”

“That’s about it.”

Jade raised an eyebrow. “About it?”

“You understand Amharic, don’t you?b” /b

In perfect Amharic, Jade replied, “Difficult words like ‘wife‘ and ‘baby‘ are challenging for me.” fn7bd7 For original chapters go to find?novel/fn7bd7

Ethan looked sheepish for a moment before his expression settled into calm confidence. “I could teach you. I know it all.”

“Mr. Haxton is so talented,” Jade teased.

As night fell, the small room grew colder. After helping Jade with a simple sponge bath, Ethan carefully tucked the thin nket around

her.

“Come to bed,” Jade said, her voice stronger than it had been in days.

Ethan hesitated. He’d spent the past several nights sitting in a chair, dozing at her bedside, barely sleeping at all.

“The bed’s too small,” he said.

“I’m cold by myself.”

Ethan reached under the nket, feeling her hand. It was like ice, her fingers stiff and cold. Without a word, he pulled back the coversb, /bshrugged off his coat–still warm from his body–andid it over her before recing the nket.

He switched off the single bulb hanging from the ceiling and carefully lowered himself onto the narrow cot. The bed was indeed tiny, forcing him to lie on his side, facing her.,

“In that castle… there was only QC and Selene. I outranked them both. I had contingencies in ce. I should have been able to get out unharmed.”

10:34 Frib, /bbOct /bb3 /bM.

“What went wrong? Ethan asked softly.

:

Jade stared into the darkness above them. QC’s words echoed in her mind: “Dusk died for Shadow.” She wanted to tell Ethan everything, but didn’t know where to begin.

As her silence stretched on, Ethan felt the shift in her emotions. He rested his forehead against her head. “It’ste. Don’t think about it now. Tell me when you’re stronger.”