“Derek.” She pinched my arm. Hard, too.
“Ouch.” I snatched my arm away and gave her a cold look.
“Enough. Come with me.” She pulled on my elbow. “Now. There’s someone here to see you. He hasn’t much time. This traveling thing is not as easy as you think. We’ve got to hurry before he’s ordered to return to Nick’s side.”
“Who? What are you—”
“Just follow me. Right into this room.” She led me away, to a room a few doors down. Where were the nurses and doctors and patients and visitors? “Go ahead,” she urged me. “Step inside. He’s waiting.”
I hesitated, lingering by the door.
“Derek…We can’t waste any more time. It’s over. Get in there. That was the deal.”
I shut my eyes, my mind reeling with fragmented thoughts or memories I wasn’t sure were mine. Aunt Fran pushed the door open for me
