Page 66 of A Token of Blood and Betrayal

“Blankets,” he replied.

Chapter Seventeen

Halfanhourintoour drive, my cell phone rang.

“Do not answer that!”Deagan shouted from the trunk.

“Why?”I checked the phone.Jared was calling, and my battery was already back up to fifteen percent.

“We do not need to speak to his lordship at the moment.”

“He’s been worried about you.”

“Jared does not worry.He merely wants a report.”

I stared at the back seat via the rearview mirror.“You don’t want him to know where we’re going.”

“Correct!”he said with the energy of a game show host telling a contestant they’d won the grand prize.

Shaking my head, I silenced the call.It was probably better I didn’t talk to Jared.He’d hear the road noise and know I’d left The Rain.The last thing I needed was for him to send someone to look for me.

“I will make my grand appearance later tonight,” Deagan said.

A few minutes passed before Deagan spoke again.“You came to my rescue.”

“Not just me.Christian and Melissa did most of the work.”

“Melissa,” he said.

“Christian’s sister.”I couldn’t remember if they’d met.

“Ah, Crusco’s vampire.She entered the compound with you?”

“Yeah.She wanted to help.”

“You are telling me two humans and a fledgling vampire walked into Arcuro’s compound… and you were able to walk out?”

“Basically?I manufactured a diversion.Most of the vampires were gone.”

“Ever surprising you are, Ms.Rain.That is why you had to come with me.”

“And you needed a driver,” I muttered.

“Touché.”A bump followed by a curse and then a shuffling sound came from the back.“It is quite stuffy back here.”

“At least there’s only one of you this time,” I said.

He chuckled.“There is that.”

I just shook my head, smiling as I slowed the car.“I’m turning in to the neighborhood now.”

“Wonderful!Take a left at the first stop sign.The house number is 5104.A keypad is attached to the garage.”He gave me the code to open it.

I followed his instructions, pulled into the garage, and turned off the engine.The sunlight disappeared as the door lowered back into place.It wasn’t completely dark, but Deagan could easily avoid the few beams of light that managed to make it in.

Deagan used the trunk’s interior latch to open it.He tossed off his blankets, climbed out, then brushed off and adjusted his clothing.

Then brushed off and adjusted it again.Were his hands shaking?