Read Suture (The Bleeding Worlds) for Free Online

own universe into ours."
    "Which is why he changed?"
    Woten nodded. "Our abilities keep us from the full harm, but you must ensure your team never removes the tethers Mr. Takeda's research team provide you with. These places are like a crossroads, if any of them remove their tethers and leave, they could end up…well, they could end up anywhere."
    "So the condition of the building was due to something occurring in his own world," Njord said.
    "I can only imagine what kind of horrors consumed his world and would make him live that way. Such places, well…"
    "I know," Njord replied. "So we will be setting up a briefing after breakfast?"
    "Yes."
    Njord stood to leave.
    "Oh, Njord. There is one more thing. Angie will be staying here and you will have a, what shall I call her, exchange student, in Angie's place." Woten separated a folder from the stack on his desk and slid it across to Njord. "This is her dossier. Her record is impressive. One I'd like to snag away from that old, womanizing ass."
    Njord lifted the dossier and opened to the first page. "Fine, yes, I'm sure she'll work out. But you said we needed to keep Angie close to Gwynn. Allowing his subconscious to go unguarded might allow the Catalyst to find him."
    "She has performed her job admirably. I spoke to her after you returned. The strain this is putting on her is obvious. She needs a rest. Mr. Takeda assures me the distortions in the Veil where you're going will be more than sufficient to mask Gwynn's presence. Angie has a wonderful gift we can't afford to have burn out."
    "What if these distortions fail to hide Gwynn?"
    "I am taking other steps to ensure his safety."
    "How?" Njord asked.
    "Let us say this current mission offers an opportunity. I intend to take advantage of it."
§
    Fuyuko found Gwynn sitting in the cafeteria pushing scrambled eggs around on his plate.
    "Did you get back to sleep?" she asked.
    One look at his eyes and she knew the answer. His gaze fell from hers and scrutinized something across the room. She followed his line of sight. She sat down at the table and leaned forward. In a conspiratorial whisper she said, "Angie's a pretty girl. I approve of your taste."
    Red flooded his cheeks. "It's not like that," he stammered. "I just…my dream last night. She was…"
    "She was in your dream?" Fuyuko was a good girl. An honourable girl. That didn't mean she hadn't peaked at her father's notes on the other members of Ansuz. She knew something about Angie's abilities. "So…" She gave him a wink. "What kind of dream was it?"
    He sputtered. "It wasn't anything like that. Besides, you know it wasn't a good dream."
    "All I know is you needed a shower afterwards," she laughed.
    "I. No, I mean. I…" He started to laugh too.
    Jason set his tray down on the table. "Am I missing something good?"
    Gwynn went pale.
    "No," Fuyuko said. "It was nothing important. Just joking about how we both need more sleep."
    Jason looked between them. "Well, you don't look too bad Fuyuko. But Gwynn, you do kinda look like crap."
    "Thanks. You're just saying that cause you like her better."
    Jason planted a quick kiss on Fuyuko's cheek. "Yeah, you're probably right. Can you blame me?"
    "Oh don't worry about it," Fuyuko said. "Gwynn's got his eye on someone else right now."
    "Really? Spill it."
    Gwynn shot a death glare at Fuyuko. For eight months she'd been fighting against feelings of inadequacy and weakness. Wandering the halls of Suture, she wondered if she belonged anymore. Sitting with these two boys, sparring with them and poking fun in all the right places, it felt as close to her old life as she had found.
    "He had a dream about Angie last night." Gwynn looked pissed. She loved it. She toyed with the idea of relaying how he'd required a shower afterward, but figured it would be going too far. Jason, however, spoiled any further fun.
    "Have you ever had a dream about her before?" His tone was far too serious. A little too late, it dawned on Fuyuko Jason had spent