Eban by Allison Merritt

stayed down.
    â€œI have no memory of it. Nothing.”
    There were other things crowding her mind—flashes of color and laughter, touching men. A lot of men. No one she recognized from Berner, no place she could name.
    â€œI don’t expect you do. You weren’t yourself last night.” He lowered his chin to chest. “You mentioned you don’t drink. Did you remember something else?”
    â€œI’m not a good person.” She drew her knees up, hugging them. “I’ve done bad things for money.”
    She closed her eyes, resting her chin on her knees.
    â€œDon’t think about it right now.”
    His calm voice only made her angry. When he pressed the cloth to her forehead, she snatched it away, wincing as pain jarred her skull.
    â€œI don’t want your sympathy.”
    Eban sat back. “Drink the rest of the water and I’ll make you some tea. It’s early. There’s still a couple of hours before we should expect Wys and Rhia.”
    Beryl rubbed her forehead. “That’s today?”
    â€œYeah.” He didn’t sound happy about it. “You should have a bath before they get here.”
    Heat burned her face. “Why did you let me drink?”
    â€œI didn’t. Some things happened and you left. You didn’t return until about four this morning.” He didn’t look at her.
    She squeezed her eyes shut, trying to remember anything. When she opened them again, she saw her dress crumpled on the floor. “Oh…”
    Without looking, she knew she was naked. Another moan left her mouth. This had to be a nightmare.
    Eban held his hands up. “It’s not as bad as it seems.”
    â€œWhat do you mean? I’m in your bed! Naked, and I don’t remember how I got here.” She had the feeling she’d made a fool of herself when she came back to the clinic. He must think the worst of her. “Eban, I don’t know what’s happening.”
    â€œI think I do.”
    He said it so quietly she thought she imagined his voice. His dark blue eyes were half closed, his hands knotted together in his lap.
    â€œWhat is it?” She forced the words out.
    â€œGoddammit, Eban, what did you do?”
    Tell’s bellow drowned out anything Eban was about to say. He cringed and despite the way she felt, she placed her hand over his folded ones. He looked like a kicked puppy.
    â€œWhat did you do?” she whispered.
    â€œCalled an angel.”
    Confused, she wrinkled her nose. “That doesn’t sound so bad.”
    â€œEither Tell’s met Eliakim or the power it took to call him broke another seal on the Pit. I’d better go downstairs.” He stood. “Try to get some rest.”
    â€œBut—”
    He’d been about to explain what was wrong with her, and now he was leaving? He didn’t make it to the door before Tell burst through, crossbow in his hands. The shining silver tip of a bolt pointed at Eban’s face.
    Fear caused the fine hairs on Beryl’s arms rise. “Put that away!”
    Tell didn’t even glance at her. “There’s an angel on your doorstep. An angel! He says you brought him here. You swore you wouldn’t mess with things you don’t understand.”
    Eban didn’t back down from the threat of being penetrated by the weapon. “I invoked Eliakim.”
    â€œWell, un-voke him.”
    â€œThat’s not a word,” Eban said in a flat tone. “I can’t. I tried.”
    The crossbow dropped a fraction. “He won’t leave? He can’t stay here. Can you imagine what kind of trouble we’d be in if a parasite imp got into his head?”
    His gaze slipped away from Eban and fell on Beryl.
    She blushed, clutching the sheet around her.
    â€œWhat the hell is Rosemar doing in your bed?” He lifted the crossbow again. “You’d better have a damn good reason for all of this.”
    Beryl looked between