Page 82 of Dark Princess Emerging
Jasmine winced. "That's easy for you to say. I have a lot of luggage."
"That's not a problem," Brandon said. "Once everything is packed, Ell-rom and I will take care of it. I can get us a cart, or we can just make a few trips."
Annani did not understand the rush, but she understood and appreciated her sister's decisiveness.
She was the same way. Once she made a decision, she did not wait before acting upon it.
49
GERTRUDE
The supply cabinet was organized, and Gertrude made notes on her tablet about items to reorder, even though there hadn't been enough activity in the clinic lately to deplete their stock.
Besides Morelle and Jasmine's Pilates sessions, which Gertrude conducted now in the gym, her days were quieter than she would have liked, and she was bored.
She should post an ad on the clan's virtual bulletin board about taking on more students. The Reformer was an excellent piece of equipment that shouldn't sit idle, and she was getting pretty good at teaching the Pilates technique.
Gertrude glanced at her watch for the third time since she'd started on the cabinet, but there were still fifteen minutes until lunch with Rob—the highlight of her day.
She smiled. The nights were awesome, too, now that she was spending them with Rob, and not just because he was such a giver in bed. They were hanging out with his sister and her mate and sometimes with the other gods and their ladies as well.
Poor Hildegard felt a little neglected, but she'd had no problem finding solace in the arms of one of the hybrid Kra-ell. Gertrude was crossing her fingers for that to turn into something more meaningful because she had someone great while her best friend was still alone.
She sighed as she realized that she'd lost count of the bandages and had to start over.
After what felt like an eternity, her watch finally cooperated, and she closed the supply cabinet, collected her purse, and put an Out to Lunch sign on the clinic's door. If anyone needed her urgently, they would call her number, which was posted as well.
They could also just walk over to the café or wave, and she would see them.
Her heart warmed at the sight of Rob already seated at one of the tables, their usual order arranged on a tray before him. He was looking straight at her, smiling and waving his hand, and she smiled and waved back, but even from this distance, she could read the tension in his posture.
Something was wrong.
When he stood to greet her with a kiss on the cheek, she didn't waste time on pleasantries. "What's the matter?"
He chuckled as he pulled out a chair for her. "Why do you think there is something the matter?"
"Your shoulders are tense." She sat down.
He rotated his shoulder. "I overdid it this morning with the punching bag."
She lifted a brow. "Talk to me, Rob."
He let out a breath. "I have news, but it's nothing to be concerned about. Arwel and I scheduled my induction ceremony for this Saturday evening."
Gertrude's heart skipped several beats, and she pressed a hand to her chest. "This Saturday?" When he nodded, she asked, "Why so soon?"
Rob shrugged. "Arwel says that there is no point in me continuing my training in preparation for the ceremony. No matter how well I train or how good I get, he'll still have me face down on the mat in under a minute anyway, so there's no reason to delay."
She swallowed hard, her throat suddenly dry. "That's probably true, but I just wish we had more time."
"Time for what?"
"To be together." Her voice came out thicker than intended. "I don't want to lose you."
His expression softened, and he cupped her cheek with gentle fingers. "You're not going to lose me. You're going to gain forever with me, if you want that, of course." He leaned closer, his breath warm against her ear. "Don't you want to feel the venom bite? I hear that the experience is incomparable."
Heat flooded through her at his words and the promise they held. Of course, she wanted that, and she wanted forever with him, but Rob was in his early thirties, which put him in a higher risk category for transition complications.