Page 16 of A Token of Blood and Betrayal

I would never understand how men could go from punching each other to respectful claps on the back.

When Christian turned and began to make his way toward the back porch, I snapped my mouth shut.The fight was over.I needed to stop dawdling and to focus, so I scanned the ring of spectators as it collapsed, searching for Garion even though I hadn’t seen him when I’d looked before.With all the bets settling and the rising hum of conversation, he would have been noticeable rooted quietly in his bubble of space.

He wasn’t there, but one person caught my interest, and it took a moment to figure out why.The man was only vaguely familiar.He wasn’t on staff, and we didn’t currently have guests, so who…

I turned to stare at Phedre and Thordis.“Is that the delivery guy?”

Both Valkyries’ eyes went just as wide as when I’d first appeared.

Phedre’s gaze darted to the man.“No?”

“Phedre.”I dragged her name out.

“Yes?”she responded.

“Yes, you invited the deliveryman?”She didn’t have to answer.I knew it was him.The Rain’s staff didn’t leave the property.Everything they wanted or needed was shipped here.This guy—Roger or Ron or something like that—started the route a few weeks ago.“You can’t invite humans here.”

“Your friends were here,” Phedre said.

“They were hereuninvited, and it was a problem.Escort him out before he learns something he shouldn’t.And don’t invite him again.”

Phedre’s mouth flattened into something remarkably similar to a pout.She looked at Thordis, and Thordis’s eyebrows rose.A moment passed before Thordis let out a disgruntled, “Fine,” then headed toward the delivery man.

After a pointed look at Phedre, I walked toward Christian.One of Isaiah’s punches left a cut across his right cheek bone.Blood and muck blended together in a thick paste that would undoubtedly cause an infection.Fortunately, Christian had brought his mini-hospital.He opened the well-stocked trauma kit and took out one of those instant cold packs.

“You’re bleeding,” I said.

He met my gaze briefly, then looked toward the staff.“Hey.”

Isaiah glanced up just in time to catch the pack Christian threw.He raised it in appreciation, then returned to his conversation, probably paying off a wager or ten.

Christian grabbed a water bottle and twisted off the top.

“Was this the greatest idea when you’re still hurt?”I asked after he’d chugged nearly half the bottle.

He shrugged.“I won.”

I scowled.“Not the point.”

He responded with a crooked smile, which made me roll my eyes.In truth, I was glad he felt well enough to fight.He’d almost been killed twice in the past ten days, first during a confrontation with Satine after we ditched her to speak to a rival Heir and then when we invaded Arcuro’s compound.He needed a break from the violence just as much as I did.

Phedre popped up between us.“I knew you’d conquer him.”

Christian raised his bottle in a brief salute.Blood still trickled from the cut under his eye, but instead of taking care of it, he finished off the water.

“You’re bleeding,” I said again in case he hadn’t heard me the first time.

He ran the back of his hand over his face, then stared at the blood smeared across his skin.He pulled up his shirt to blot the wound, revealing his lower abs.

Without looking, I elbowed Phedre, knowing she was salivating over that glimpse of muscle.

“You’re looking too,” she muttered.

“I’m much more subtle about it.”I smoothed out my expression before Christian let his shirt fall.“That’s unsanitary.What good is a trauma kit if you’re not going to use it?”

“I don’t want to waste it,” he said.“I’ll shower when I get back to the Catalan.”

“Just—” I stopped, decided to ignore him, then dug through the kit until I found alcohol wipes, an antibiotic ointment, and a large Band-Aid.He gave me an unconvincing glower but didn’t protest when I opened the wipe then gently cleaned the cut.