Page 63 of A Token of Blood and Betrayal

I hadn’t thought about that.“Guests typically bring their own.”

He made a noncommittal sound.“Toothbrush?”

“They bring that too,” I said.

He peeked his head out of the crack in the door.“What kind of hotel doesn’t offer complimentary toothbrushes and soap?”

“This one,” I said.“For now.I can go back to the residence to get some.Unless Melissa…”

Melissa backed toward the hallway door.“My shampoo is expensive.And I don’t share toothbrushes.”

“Not even once?For an Aged and influential vampire?”Outside the Null, she’d trip over herself to cater to Deagan’s needs.

“Nope.”Grinning, she gave me an enthusiastic wave and then left.

Deagan sighed.“Water and a washcloth will do for now.”

I wanted to sigh as well.The Rain was perpetually stuck in nineteenth-century hospitality.I blamed it on the very old, grumpy men and women guests who weren’t big fans of change.Even when my parents eventually gave in to my demands for an internet connection, they’d basically had to create a presentation with a bulleted list of reasons why it would benefit both The Rainandthe paranorms.Even then, Arcuro and Lehr had only reluctantly provided the extra funds.

Once I climbed out of the financial mess they left me, I’d renovate, repair, and spruce up the hotel.I’d drag it into this century, make it what it was meant to be—a haven for paranorms, not a medieval museum.

The shower squeaked on.“Where is his magnificence?”

Even with the water running, I heard the worry in Deagan’s voice.

“He’s fine,” I said.“He’s at the compound.”

Deagan’s head suddenly peeked out the narrow opening between the door and the wall.“He cannot be fine if he’s there!”

I raised my hands in a calm-down motion.“He’s—”

“He wouldnothave traded himself for me.”

Thatwas true.“Arcuro’s dead.”

“Arcuro is not…” Deagan’s brow furrowed.

“He’s dead,” I assured him.

Still frowning, his head disappeared back into the bathroom.A few seconds later, he asked, “How?”

Jared wanted to keep my involvement in Arcuro’s death a secret.If he wanted Deagan to know I’d killed the asshole, he could tell him when they spoke again.“It’s unclear.”

The rings on the shower curtain scraped along the metal rod.“It is nearly impossible to kill one’s master, let alone one’s creator.Jared could—Good God!”

I tensed.

“It’s freezing!”

Oh.Right.Cringing in sympathy, I said, “The water heaters are electric.”

“Argh!”He said that, the actual wordargh.

“I recommend a sponge bath?”I really should have thought about the cold water.

“I’m already a block of ice.”He cursed, then apparently decided to endure the shower.A minute later, the water shut off and the curtain scraped along the rod again.Now that it was quieter, I could hear him muttering about the hotel’s lack of amenities.

I sighed.“The power will be back on soon.”