Page 95 of Dark Awakening: New World

She sounded a little nervous, even to herself.

This was a shift to a new environment, and she didn't know how well they would adjust to it.

"I would love some, thank you."

The low couch did not lend itself to someone with weak leg muscles, and Ell-rom sat down with marked effort.

Heading toward the kitchen, Jasmine heard the front door open, and as she turned to see who it was, Margo entered with Frankie and Gabi right behind her, all three carrying shopping bags.

A smile spread across her face. "You're back early." She walked over to greet them.

"We got tired of the crowds." Margo dropped her bags by the entry door, embraced Jasmine, and then turned, her eyes lighting up as she spotted Ell-rom. "You must be the prince. Look at you."

Ell-rom rose to his feet, trying to hide how difficult it was for him, and gripped the handles of his walker.

As he headed toward them, Jasmine had a moment of panic, realizing that her friends didn't have the earpieces in.

It wasn't that she was afraid Ell-rom would suddenly discover his compulsion power, but it was a security breach, and Kian would be livid if he found out.

She had to make sure he never did.

"You need to put the earpieces in," she told Margo. "Ell-rom only speaks Kra-ell."

Margo's eyes widened. "Crap, I forgot." She reached into her purse, pulled out the devices, and put them in her ear.

Frankie and Gabi did the same, and by the time Ell-rom made it to where they were standing, they all had the earpieces in.

At least they had the presence of mind to keep the devices in their purses and not somewhere in their rooms. They hadn't known that she would bring Ell-rom to the penthouse so early. He had been supposed to be napping after his hydrotherapy session.

"Ell-rom, these are my friends, Margo, Frankie, and Gabi."

"Hello." He smiled. "I've heard a lot about you. Thank you for accompanying your mates and mine on the search for my pod." He dipped his head. "I owe each of you a life debt for saving me and my sister from an imminent death."

None of them had noticed that he had called Jasmine his mate, perhaps because they had all assumed it already, but Jasmine's heart did a little happy flutter.

Margo waved a dismissive hand. "Oh, don't be silly. We joined it only because it was an all-expenses-paid trip to Tibet." She offered him her hand. "You look amazing. I'm so glad that you are getting better."

"Yeah," Frankie said, giving Ell-rom an appraising look. "Hard to believe that you looked like a corpse only ten days ago."

"Frankie!' Gabi admonished. "That was rude." She turned to Ell-rom with a bright smile. "The doctors have done an amazing job. You look so healthy!"

Regrettably, Frankie had been the honest one.

While Ell-rom looked good in clothes, Jasmine knew the reality underneath. He was still painfully thin, with his ribs not only visible beneath his pale skin but actually sticking out. The memory of Julian and Bridget's concerned expressions each day when they weighed him flashed through her mind.

Being vegan and a finicky eater wasn't helping things, and she made a mental note to discuss protein shakes with the doctors. Perhaps that would help Ell-rom gain weight faster.

"Let's sit down," Margo said. "My feet are killing me after all the shopping. I can't wait to take my shoes off."

"Yeah, me too," Frankie joined in an equally exaggerated tone.

They must have noticed how difficult it was for Ell-rom to remain standing and were making it look like it was them who needed to take the weight off their feet.

When all of them were seated, there was a moment of awkward silence, and then Ell-rom asked, "Where are Aru and his friends? Are they still working on the salvaged parts of the pod?"

"I hope not," Gabi said. "They were supposed to pick up the food from the Golden Dragon."

As the conversation shifted to the descriptions of the dishes Margo had ordered and which of them Ell-rom could eat, Jasmine's thoughts drifted to the bedroom and the big bed in the middle that had made Ell-rom nervous.