Page 61 of A Token of Blood and Betrayal

Imadeatripback to the Catalan.I wanted to check on Deagan again, yes, but I was also procrastinating.Just before my cell phone died completely, Carrie had texted.Today was the day I’d promised to visit, and her message contained a threat.If I no-showed on her this time, she swore she’d become a card-carrying member of my “resort.”

Thatwas entirely Blake’s fault.He’d told her The Rain was secluded and special because it was a sex retreat for VIPs.I’d wanted to strangle him for that explanation.

I climbed the stairs to Deagan’s floor, still trying to decide if I could risk dropping by the apartment.I missed my college life, how routine the days had been, how normal, and how my biggest stress was studying for tests and passing final exams.I missed hanging out with Carrie and the guys on the breezeway, all those times John and Alex had swiveled their TV around so we could watch a game through their window.I’d taken advantage of those pockets of time.I hadn’t enjoyed them enough.That was the thing about everyday moments.You only noticed how special they were when you lost them.

I want them back.

The thought was selfish.I’d withdrawn from that life to protect them.I was hoping the paranormal world might forget my college days.That it might not realize my friends could be used against me.Maybe it would when they graduated and moved away.Until then, I had an earth elemental watching out for them, and Jared kept tabs on them as well.They were as safe as I could make them.

I reached Deagan’s door, pushed it open, and walked in.

Only to screech to an abrupt stop.I’d expected Deagan to be passed out asleep still, not sitting up in his bed.He must have just woken because his wide-eyed gaze darted to the left, then to the right, then to the ceiling before landing on me.Hopefully that look on his face was confusion, not madness.

“Good morning,” I said carefully, testing his temperament.

He cocked his head, then looked down at himself and frowned.

I frowned too.Yesterday he’d been wearing a dingy white shirt.That was gone now.His wide, bare shoulders topped a broadly muscled chest that was dusted with dark hair.It surprised me, not only because he’d been extremely gaunt and crazed when Arcuro sicced him on me last week, but also because I’d never considered Deagan to be… attractive.He always covered his physique with frilly shirts and jackets that resembled those from the Renaissance era.

Brow still wrinkled, Deagan lifted the blanket that covered his lower body and peered underneath.I guess he was satisfied with what he saw because he dipped his head in a nod, then met my gaze again.“I believe there may be gaps in my memory, Ms.Rain.”

At his mention of my name, I relaxed and took another step into the room.“Are you okay?”

“Okay?”His lips pressed together, and he seemed to focus inward, self-assessing.

Right.Dumb question.“I—”

A throat-clearing cough caused me to turn.

Melissa stood just outside the doorway, brows lowered into a disapproving scowl.

I rolled my eyes.“He’s fine.”

She crossed her arms.“How do you know?”

“For one, I’m capable of forming coherent sentences.”

Both Melissa and I looked at Deagan.His almost shoulder-length hair was just as disheveled as the bedsheets and…

I frowned.“Where are your clothes?”

“A very intriguing question,” Deagan said.

Melissa leaned a shoulder against the doorframe.“He pissed the bed last night.It stank.I threw away what he was wearing along with the bedding.”

Deagan’s jaw dropped.His eyes widened.“Clothing can be washed.”

“It was in tatters,” I said.“Jared sent you something to wear.It should be hanging on the bathroom door.”

“Bathroom door.”He looked to his left.His face brightened, and without hesitation, he flung his blankets off and stood.

And wobbled.

Melissa and I rushed forward, grabbing one arm each to keep him on his feet.

Annoyance flickered in his eyes.“Gravity can be so cumbersome.”

I fastened my eyes on his face.“Take it slow.You’ve been out of it for a while.”