Page 12 of Jetmir

“Yes, it is,” I rasped.

He patted a spot next to him. “Sit and we can debate about that.”

I sat beside his bed. His fingers gripped mine, and for a moment, neither of us said anything. I stared at his face, trying not to stare at his bandaged eyes, but it was impossible not to feel this guilt that swelled in my chest.

“Does it hurt?” I finally asked.

He shook his head.

“Can you see anything?”

His jaw tightened.

“No.” I squeezed his hand and he squeezed mine back. “It will be okay. I’m hopeful.”

“I’m sorry,” I whispered.

“Don’t be. It’s not your fault.”

“It is. I just⁠—”

“Don’t apologize for something you didn’t do.”

I looked down at our hands.

There were so many things I wanted to say. But somehow, words were stuck in my throat and nothing I could possibly say felt important enough in the face of his blindness.

“Jetmir came to see me.”

My entire body went still.

“When?”

“Yesterday.”

I looked at him. “Why?”

“I guess he was hoping for some pointers when it came to you.” He gave a humorless laugh. “But I didn’t give him any. I wouldn’t negotiate with him the first time, never mind now.”

“First time?”

“Yeah, he approached me a while back in the Revelation club.”

“In Connecticut?”

“Yes.”

That made no sense. “But why?”

“To make a deal with me. It was the first time he mentioned you. It should have been my warning.”

My stomach dropped. “What kind of deal?”

He was quiet for a moment and I had a feeling I wouldn't like what I learned next.

“He offered me Amara in exchange for you.”

The room seemed to shrink around me.