Page 17 of A Token of Blood and Betrayal

“Sorry,” I said even though he hadn’t winced.“Why did you agree to fight?”

“Practice.”His gaze shifted to his right.

“Daily practice is a must,” Phedre said.“We’ll start when Thordis returns.”

It took a second to realize that the last part was directed at me.That’s right.I’d agreed to let the Valkyrie teach me how to defend myself better.I’d taken classes when I was younger, but I was definitely rusty.Besides, I’d never actually applied those skills in real life.

“This isn’t the right time,” I said.

“There isn’t a right time for someone to grab you from behind, ensnare your hair and use it to sling you against a brick wall.Your pretty face would hit it, probably breaking your nose or your teeth, and then you would be spluttering blood, wondering what hit you when it hits you again.And again.And maybe one more time before you pass out, and then who knows where you’ll wake up.If you wake up, of course, which is a high probability since you’re”—she motioned toward me as if I were a sad thing—“you.”

“That was… specific,” Christian said.

“I’ve made it happen more than once.”Phedre grinned, then sauntered away, hopefully to make sure Thordis actually escorted the delivery guy off the property.

“You’re letting them train you?”Christian asked.

“They’re Valkyrie.”I discarded the alcohol wipe and opened the tube of ointment.“Fighting is kind of their thing.”

“If you want to come out to the gym, I could show you a few things.”

I met his gaze.

“Just some basics,” he said quickly.“So they don’t overwhelm you.Phedre and Thordis, I mean.”

His expression closed off, and he looked away while I applied the ointment to his face and pressed a bandage over it.

“Are you okay?”I asked.We hadn’t really talked since the compound.He’d been through a lot, and it was possible he resented me for involving him, especially since he hadn’t exactly endorsed my plan to rescue Deagan.

“Yeah.You?”He started to unwrap the tape around his knuckles, which I hadn’t noticed due to the mud camouflage.

“I’ve definitely been better, but generally speaking, I’m…” Stuck?Trapped?Doomed?“Tired.”

He nodded, probably only half listening.No one wanted to hear about my problems.Everyone had their own, especially Christian, who was still trying to help Melissa.She was safe at The Rain, but she’d be even safer when her master was dead.

“How’s Deagan?”The way he asked the question seemed pointed.

“You know he’s here.”

He shrugged.“Melissa called before my fight.”

“Oh.”

“A couple of other people mentioned it too.”I must have looked surprised because his brows rose.“People pay attention to you, Kennedy.”

I guess that made sense.I was the last Rain and the hotel’s owner, which basically stamped a big redIMportantover my name.That label didn’t fit right though.I was better suited for being “just” another college student or young adult.Plus word had spread extremely fast, as if the staff had a group chat live-tracking my life.

Since I didn’t know how to respond to Christian’s statement, I shrugged and then changed the subject.“You haven’t seen Garion, have you?”

He finished unwrapping his hands.“We crossed paths on the way out here.Any reason he’d be headed to the Catalan?”

I frowned.“I don’t think so.Besides, I was just there.I put Deagan in a room on the third floor.He’s unconscious.We’re hoping waking up human helps rebalance him, but we’re not sure what kind of condition he’ll be in.I was hoping you might watch him in case he’s not okay?”

He didn’t answer immediately—he wasn’t one to rush to decisions—so I gave him time to think.

“I can do that,” he finally said.

“Thank you.I’d give you a hug but…” I waved my hand at all of him.