Page 4 of A Token of Blood and Betrayal (Kennedy Rain #4)

I fought to keep my fists relaxed at my sides.

Jared was a multi-centuries-old vampire who'd survived by enforcing a system that kept the strongest on top and everyone else scrambling for scraps.

The paranormal world wanted a rigid power structure that crushed independence, silenced dissent, and treated change as a disease to be eradicated.

“If you see it as a weakness,” I said, “everyone else will too.”

His jaw clenched, and he turned away from me to murmur something into Nora’s ear. She nodded. They kissed. Then he stepped back and gestured toward Deagan. “If he does not improve, call.”

“I’ll call when he improves,” I said.

He didn’t acknowledge my words or my existence again. After one last look at Nora, he turned toward the exit and then stepped out into the night.

“Change has consequences in our world.” Nora’s voice was razor-sharp.

“Don’t pretend you don’t know what’s at stake.

If Jared isn’t named master, it won’t be a vote that stops him.

It will be death.” She stepped toward me.

“And if he is killed, I won’t care how noble or naive your reasons were, how much the treaty might make me suffer, or if your life is linked to the existence of the Null. I will come for you.”

“I know what’s at stake.” My words sounded strong and confident, but my pulse quickened, my stomach tightened. Nora didn’t issue empty threats, but it wasn’t just my safety I was worried about. Losing Jared would destroy her. I didn’t want to see her go through that kind of pain.

I drew in a steadying breath, then motioned toward Deagan. “Help me get him to a room?”

Her chin lifted a notch. “Sign Jared’s list?”

“Nora.” I tried to keep the exasperation from my voice. I was still bruised and sore from the fight against Arcuro, and I couldn’t get Deagan to a room on my own. But Nora wasn’t refusing just to be difficult. She was sending a message. Our fragile friendship didn’t entitle me to her cooperation.

Of course, it didn’t help that I’d left her out of my plan to infiltrate Arcuro’s compound. I was trying to make up for that, trying to earn her trust.

I held her gaze. We were inside the Null where her werewolf magic wasn’t active—I didn’t feel an oppressive hand pushing my head forward in submission—but Nora was used to people deferring to her, bowing, scraping, soaking up whatever attention she’d give them.

Never give ground to a werewolf, Kennedy. They’ll grab a leash and measure you for a collar.

Advice I usually lived by.

Shutting down the instinctive defiance tightening my muscles, I lowered my gaze to the floor.

Seconds ticked by. Nora didn’t move. Didn’t speak. She had to know this was difficult for me. She was drawing the moment out, seeing how long I’d last without snapping.

My hands wanted to curl into fists. She had five more seconds. Any longer than that and I’d—

“Fine,” she said.

I immediately lifted my head and glared. She responded with a haughty sniff, then reached down to pick up Deagan.

And nearly fell over.

I resisted laughing out loud. Barely. “Sucks having human strength, doesn’t it?”

“Did you want help or not?” she demanded.

Someone needed to grow a sense of humor. “Take his left arm. I’ll get his right.”

Nora clenched her teeth so hard I was worried about the structural integrity of her molars.

That concern vanished the second we heaved Deagan upright between us.

A sharp bolt of pain shot down my shoulder and into my lower back.

Damn it. I needed to spend more time outside the Null with one of Astrid’s poultices…

Except I couldn’t now. Not until I found a way out of my bargain with Canyon.

I wasn’t sure which was heavier—Deagan or my inadvertent betrayal of Garion.

Both made me nauseous, but there was no time to dwell.

Nora and I started down the hall. My body protested our clumsy two-person carry, especially with the way Nora kept shifting Deagan’s weight higher on her shoulder.

By the time we reached the lobby, sweat dampened my hairline and I was cursing Jared for leaving his friend in the hall instead of depositing him straight into a room.

It probably hadn’t even occurred to his majesty that Deagan would be difficult to move.

“Are you even helping?” Nora snapped.

“Yes!”

“Then how is he so heavy?”

I clenched my teeth. “You’re carrying him like a rolled-up carpet.”

“Lift your half.”

“You’re pulling him off-center.”

“Because I’m the only one doing any real work.”

I glared at her. She glared back. Then, by unspoken agreement, we lowered Deagan to the ground.

I used the break to scan the lobby, my gaze drawn as usual to the enormous central fireplace.

Its stone chimney rose up through the vaulted ceiling and roof.

Sullens stood near the raised hearth. Thad was next to him, shifting his weight from foot to foot with a nervous energy most werewolves would never display, and Shaelin, a staff member who floated from job to job, sat on the arm of a leather chair.

She was the one leading the conversation until both Sullens and Thad noted our presence.

I did my best to regulate my breathing, trying to disguise just how out of breath I was even though it wasn’t necessary—every employee knew I’d been injured a few days ago.

I should ask for their help. Maybe I would have if Nora wasn’t standing next to me.

She would never swallow her pride and admit weakness.

And if I did that now? I’d lose yet another sliver of her tenuous respect.

My gaze moved past the trio to the bar and restaurant.

We didn’t have guests at the moment, so the tables were empty.

They hadn’t been earlier. I’d found Garion putting away bottles and wiping down the bar.

Shaelin had been collecting glasses to take back to the kitchen, and Sullens and Thad had both been absent.

I chewed on my bottom lip. Had Garion gone to the Barn? Was he packing his things to leave? He had to know I wouldn’t let him walk away. We needed to finish our conversation. We could fix this. We just had to come up with a plan.

We would. Right after we lugged Deagan to a room.

I took up Deagan’s arm again and waited for Nora to do the same. Instead, she crossed her arms. “You vanished upstairs. Why?”

My irritation fled, replaced by a different kind of tension.

I’d hoped to avoid this conversation, but Nora was holding a grudge, and calling me out.

I’d found the token after she’d left to search for boxes to pack up my parents’ room.

That had been just half an hour ago. She deserved an explanation, and if I wanted to hold on to this weird new friendship we were developing, I couldn’t lie.

I also couldn’t tell her Garion’s secret, not without his permission.

“I can’t tell you,” I said.

“You can’t or you won’t?”

I flinched at her sharp tone. “I just… can’t. Not yet.”

Everything about her—the set of her shoulders, her frigid eyes, the superior lift of her chin—screamed that I was fathoms beneath her.

“I want to,” I said. “And I’ll tell you when I can.” If I can. “It’s not my secret—”

“You like to do things on your own. Do this.” She jabbed a finger toward Deagan.

“He’s your husband’s best friend,” I said. “Don’t take this out on him.”

“I am done,” she said.

I clamped my lips together, not knowing if she meant she was done with Deagan or with me or both. Either way, anything I said at this point would just—

“Pissing off paranorms again, are you?”

The voice came from behind me. Too close. Too familiar. Too much my weakness.