Fall of Light by Nina Kiriki Hoffman Page B

deeply?”
    She hesitated, then said, “I made a suggestion to you while you were under.”
    He caught her hand before she could apply the shaving cream. “What was it?” he asked, his voice grating.
    â€œ ‘Rest well,’ ” she said. “Just ‘rest well.’ ”
    His face went more still than she had ever seen it. He stared at her, motionless, her hand caught in his. She felt the hot track of a tear streak down her cheek and blinked to stop any others from falling. He might hate her now, but that wouldn’t change how she felt about him, which meant she was in for misery.
    He opened his hand and released her, then lay back in his chair and closed his eyes. She shaved him and prepped his skin and laid the prosthetics on gently and silently. This time, she noticed when Blaise and Lauren came in, was remotely aware of their being prepped by Rodrigo and Magenta. She did nothing to Corvus but attach necessary things to his face, arms, hands, and upper body; she made sure she didn’t paralyze him this time, but he didn’t move; he barely breathed. She ornamented him the way she would have painted a statue.
    Lauren, ready for her scene, sat in the next chair and watched, silent.
    â€œTime for the contacts,” Opal said at last, her voice choked.
    â€œCan I put them in myself?” he asked.
    â€œNot with the hands you’ve got now.”
    â€œOh.” He stared down at his hands. This time she had done his whole chest and arms, and the hand prostheses. Today there would be close-ups. He blinked twice. “Go.”
    She couldn’t help saying a small spell to herself, that she would slip the contacts in perfectly, not harm him, that he would be comfortable with them as long as it took. She lifted his leaf brown eyelids and slid the contacts in, which gave him the stare of a stranger.
    â€œGood job,” he said. He pulled the lever that straightened his chair so he could stand up easily. He shook his shoulders, and said, as if to himself, “Good.”
    â€œI’ll call Kelsi.”
    Corvus studied himself in the mirror while Opal called Kelsi on her walkie to come over with the Dark God’s robe.
    â€œI need jewels,” said Corvus, his voice low and thrilling. “Why would I not adorn myself? It is too simple. Have you people no sense of pageantry? Handmaiden.” He turned to Opal.
    Opal glanced at Lauren, who had straightened, her eyes wide.
    â€œI want something that sparkles. A diamond star for my forehead.”
    â€œI can’t do that, sir. It would ruin the continuity.”
    â€œYou can do it,” he whispered. “You will do it.” He gripped her wrist again, bent forward, and brought her hand up to touch his forehead. “Give me a small fraction of your power. A tiny taste, a promise of what we will share later.”
    â€œI don’t want to share with you. I don’t even know you.”
    â€œYou know my vessel,” he whispered. “You love it.”
    â€œYou’re not that person.”
    â€œI can give you that person.”
    â€œI only want him if he gives himself.”
    â€œFoolish denier of dreams.”
    â€œYep, that’s me,” Opal said. “Give up this dream of jewels, will you? You’re here to play a part, that’s all.”
    He grinned, suddenly, just as Kelsi’s knock sounded on the door. Lauren jumped up and opened it.
    â€œHow little you know,” the Dark God said to Opal. “It’s delicious.”
    Lauren closed and locked the door after Kelsi came in, the Dark God’s robe over her arm.
    â€œI am surrounded by beauty,” said Corvus, smiling at all three of them. “It’s a fine time to be awake.”
    â€œMr. Weather, could you hold out your arms behind you so I can slide this on, please?” Kelsi asked.
    Corvus posed. She slid the robe onto him. After she had snapped it shut and fastened it with the silver