Page 26 of A Token of Blood and Betrayal

Melissa crookedly pursed her lips as she stared into the fridge.“You have nothing to eat.”

The front door swung open.Christian entered carrying a Rain Hotel tote bag overflowing with vegetables.

“Food!”Melissa half walked, half danced her way to take the bag from him.

His now-empty hands hung in the air for a few seconds before he lowered them to his sides.“What are you doing here?”

“Helping.”She set the bag on the counter.“Are you cooking?”

“Yes.”His frown shifted from Melissa to me.

“She knows about the token,” I said.

His gaze shot back to her.“Melissa?”

She gave him an apologetic look.“Sorry.”

“She eavesdropped,” he said.When I nodded, he shook his head.“I’m sorry.”

It’s not your fault.The words were on my lips, but I held them back.“She can’t tell anyone.”

“She won’t.”

“If Crusco finds out—”

“He won’t.”His voice carried a conviction that cut straight through me.Christian couldn’t stop Crusco, not really, but he’d still stand in the way and take blow after blow.That kind of unrelenting loyalty was part of what made me trust him.

“Watch her,” I said gently.

His shoulders relaxed.“I will.”

Movement to my left drew my attention.Nora strolled in, phone in hand.“Jared’s on speaker.”

Her focus unhurriedly shifted from me to Christian to Melissa and lingered on the vampire.“Get out.”

Melissa leaned against the kitchen counter, crossed her arms, and returned Nora's gaze in a way that too closely resembled a challenge.

"She knows about the token," I said, playing peacemaker.

Nora’s eyebrows arched.

“My time is limited,” Jared said, his grumpy impatience lashing out from the phone’s speaker.

Right.I needed to concentrate on solving problems instead of refereeing egos.“Nora told you about the token?”

“Yes,” Jared said.No elaboration of course.

I refrained from rolling my eyes.Barely.“What do you know about djinn and fey bargains?”

Nora strode to the couch.Jaw clenched, I followed to make sure I heard Jared’s response.

“Djinn are rare.At times, there have been no known djinn in existence.When they are made, they are the cause of many wars.You cannot let knowledge of Garion spread.”

I looked at Melissa as I sank onto the couch.She was still in the kitchen with Christian, who’d finished unpacking the bag and turned on the stove.Undoubtedly, both were listening in.

“I know,” I said.“But I need information that will help me break my bargain with Canyon.”

“You will not break the bargain.”