And colder still when he remembered Teal, standing motionless on the airport tarmac, refusing to come with them. His head was aching and blurred with the drugs, but he felt no sign of her presence. If she was trying to send, he was no longer receiving. Maybe that would change, but he couldn"t know when, or how.
All he knew was that he"d failed, and if it was bitter for him, it had to be worse for Katie. Maybe that was why she"d left him. Too sharp a reminder of what she hadn"t managed to do.
Lena . Lena"s safe. That was something, a spot of warmth in a frozen landscape.
His father was watching him, frowning, but Stefan turned his head away, put the Valentine down on the table beside the bed, and said, "I think I need some time."
His parents exchanged looks. "Of course, peanut," his mother said, and kissed him again, then laid her warm hand on his cheek. "Don"t be sad."
He closed his eyes and tried to breathe against a knot in his chest that had nothing to do with st.i.tches, or bullet holes.
"Hey."
He opened his eyes with a start because he"d been sure-absolutely sure- that there had been n.o.body else in the room. But there was Katie Rush, sitting in the armchair across from him, with a gigantic cup with a spill-proof lid.
"Coffee," she said, and lifted it. "It"s still hot. Your mother gave me a heads-up prediction on when you"d be waking."
He felt the cold dissolve in the warmth of her smile. He eased cautiously up on the pillows and took the coffee from her, sipped, and his eyes almost crossed in ecstasy. His body had been five days without caffeine. It was like giving a starving man G.o.diva chocolate.
He reached over and picked up the Valentine. "You said see you soon."
"Well, this is soon," she said.
"You going to tell me how you did that?"
"Did what?"
"Hid in plain sight?"
Katie"s smile was pure brilliance. "I thought magicians never revealed their secrets."
"For you? I"ll make an exception."
He put the card down and captured her hand in his. Warm, strong fingers that trembled slightly; her pulse was racing, and he dreamily measured it with his fingertips on her wrist. "I love you," he said and closed his eyes. "I thought I"d better tell you now, because you"re going to be angry."
"About what?"
"I"m going to keep looking," he said. "And when Teal contacts me, I"m not going to shut her out. No discussion, Katie. I have to be there for her when she needs me."
Her fingers pressed tighter on his. "No argument, Stefan. And by the way, I love you, too."
"I know," he said. "I"m psychic."
Not psychic enough to antic.i.p.ate the emotion in the kiss that followed...but more than human enough to revel in it.
end.