The Ravaging in Between (The Reanimation Files Book 3) Read Online Free Page A

now awakened from your coma. That is miraculous.”
    “To say the least.” That was a lot of shocking information to absorb. “And my reanimation power? Is it…”
    But I realized I didn’t need anyone to answer that for me. I could feel that it was gone, a hundred percent. I knew that some of the weakness and disorientation I felt was due to being without my reanimation power, and that even when I recovered from being in a coma, some of that feeling would always remain. My reanimation power had brought me nothing but immense trouble lately, but it had been a part of me, and now I would forever feel bereft because it was gone.
    “You remain a necromancer,” Dr. Stevens said. “But your reanimation power died with Renton.”
    “This makes no sense. None whatsoever.”
    “It’s overwhelming, I understand. I will give you some time to wrap your head around it.”
    “I’d love to do so from the comfort of my own bed. When can I go home?”
    “Not for a while. We need to keep you for observation to ensure that you are not going to relapse, and you will need physical therapy since you have not used your limbs in some time.”
    Looking at my body, I realized that I had lost a bit of weight. Being fed intravenously wasn’t exactly a balanced diet. I sighed and leaned back against my pillows.
    “Great,” I muttered. “Can I at least get some water? And then an entire cow to stuff down my throat?”
    “Here.” It wasn’t the doctor or a nurse, but Micah who was suddenly at my bedside holding a glass of water. I took it and gulped it down, and then he poured me more from the pitcher he held.
    “Thank you,” I said. He nodded, his eyes never leaving my face.
    “You seem stable for the time being so we will give you two some time alone. I will get a rush analysis on the blood we drew, then we can talk some more.”
    I barely saw Dr. Stevens and the nurses leave; I only had eyes for Micah. He sat down on the edge of the bed and tentatively reached for my hand. I moved it forward to encourage him, and he wrapped his fingers around mine. I felt a fine trembling going through his body.
    “You’re so warm,” he whispered, staring at our hands. “You were cold before. You were so cold…”
    “Micah…”
    He looked at me and the pain in his eyes was hard to look at.
    “Hold me. Please.”
    Micah didn’t move. He gripped my hand tighter, almost painfully so, then his expression cracked and he pulled me into his arms. His embrace was crushing, but I didn’t care. I buried my face in his neck and inhaled the scent of him. I missed him as though a century had passed since I had last seen him. I needed his words, his touch, his embrace, more than I needed anything right now. I felt like there was so much to say, but I had no idea where to start.
    Sobs wracked Micah’s body as he clutched me, one hand tangled in my hair. Tears poured from my eyes and I wished my body wasn’t so weak so that I could hold him as tightly as I wanted to. After a good long time, we finally broke apart and I reached up to wipe the tears from his face. I cupped his check with my hand and he leaned into my touch and sighed. His hand reached up to cover mine. Another sigh escaped him.
    “I went over this moment a million times,” he said softly. “What it would be like when you woke up, what I would do, what I would say. And now that the moment is here…”
    “You’re at a loss,” I finished. “Same here.”
    “Your letter,” he said. “I guess that’s a good place to start.”
    “You found it? I thought it would take some time.”
    “I found it the next day. It was in your underwear drawer.”
    “Should I question why you were in my underwear drawer so soon, or should I just be flattered?”
    “I needed your insurance card. You once told me you kept your important documents in that drawer, remember?”
    “Silly me. Guess that wasn’t as good a hiding place as I thought.”
    “You were alive, here, in a coma, but reading