Bones of Faerie by Janni Lee Simner Read Free Book Online Page A

gave no sign of that, either. Allie touched his elbow. “Enough,” she said.
    Caleb drew back with a tired sigh. “Thank you, Allison.”
    Samuel said to me, “Allie's been Caleb's watcher for almost a year. Ever since Caleb started teaching her.”
    Matthew's breathing was quieter now, more even. Hesat up slowly and opened his eyes. “All right.” His voice sounded weary beyond all words. “I'll stay hidden. I'll stay safe. To protect the others. But only because Tara asks it.”
    He turned away and buried his head against the pillow. I heard him sobbing softly.
    Caleb turned to me, his question clear enough. But I couldn't answer this one, either. I didn't know whom Matthew wanted to tear apart. Didn't know if he really would have had Tara—had my mother—not asked him to hold back.
    A cold feeling settled into my stomach. Mom couldn't possibly have told Matthew to hold back, not unless she'd already known he was a wolf.
    As I listened to Matthew's quiet sobs, I wondered what else my mother knew—and what else she hadn't told me.

Chapter 7
    I slept fitfully for the rest of the night, waking whenever Matthew wheezed or coughed or turned in his sleep.
    Sometime after daybreak he must have fallen silent, though, because I slept for a long time then, and woke when it was evening once more. I jerked awake with a start and saw Matthew sitting against his pillows, staring at me. Tallow slept at my feet. She'd drifted in and out of my lap all night.
    “Liza.” Matthew's voice was raspy, but he no longer struggled for breath. “You're all right?”
    “I'm
all right?” I didn't know whether to yell or cry. “You nearly died, and you want to know if I'm all right?”
    Matthew laughed, a painful sound. “I'll take that as a yes. Where are we?”
    “A town. Washville.” I fought to lower my voice. Was he really going to be all right? The thought of those mulberry roots strangling the breath from him still sent cold shivers down my spine. “What do you remember?” I asked.
    “Dogs,” Matthew said, and his brow creased. “Trees.” He hunkered deeper into the pillows. He looked so weak, so pale. His hair hung lank and tangled about his face. “Do you trust them?” he asked at last. “The people here, I mean.”
    They were strangers. We weren't supposed to trust strangers. Yet I did trust them—because of those strangers Matthew sat beside me, breathing without pain, far from the trees that had nearly killed us both.
    Caleb knocked and entered the room. Allie trailed behind him with a pile of clothes in her arms. Caleb leaned down and ran hands over Matthew's skin, tilting his head to one side as if listening for something. “Better,” he declared. “Much better.”
    Matthew grasped Caleb's hands. “Thank you,” he said, “for all you've done for us.”
    For the first time, Caleb smiled. The expression drewmy gaze from his magic-touched hair and eyes, making him seem more ordinary. “You are welcome, Matthew from Franklin Falls.”
    Matthew sighed and released his grip. Within moments he slept once more.
    Allie looked up at her teacher. “He's going to be all right, isn't he Caleb?” Her voice so clearly sought reassurance. I waited for Caleb's answer, not admitting that I sought it, too.
    “One can never be certain. But yes, I believe with time he will heal fully now.”
    “Oh, thank goodness,” Allie said. “I could hardly sleep last night. I was that worried.” She handed me the pile of clothes and gestured to where my boots, belt, and knife lay beside the dresser. “You're healed enough to eat dinner with us in the Commons tonight.”
    I shook my head and glanced at Matthew. “I'll stay here.”
    “I'll stay with him,” Caleb said. “The air will do you good. I promise to send for you should his condition change.”
    “You've already done so much for us.” Surely this town's patience, its kindness, couldn't hold forever.
    The smile left Caleb's face. Suspicion returned to hiseyes. “We