Page 84 of A Token of Blood and Betrayal

Chest tightening, I looked away.I didn’t have the strength for this yet.

“It would appease my wolf,” he said.“He’s pacing and snarling like we’ve been dosed with wolfsbane again.”

That brought my gaze back to him, my eyes narrowing.“You’re in the Null.”

The corner of his mouth lifted a millimeter.“Then it’s me who’s pacing and snarling on the inside.May I?”

I bit my bottom lip but let him peel back the towel.It tugged and pulled at the wound.The metallic scent of blood burned my nose.

“Fuck,” Blake whispered.

I made the mistake of looking at my ruined flesh, the jigsaw of gashes that revealed muscle and bone.

“I… I had to disinfect it,” I spluttered out.“I used soap and hot water and… and maybe I should have cut out the wound.”

“God, no,” Blake said.“Look at me.”I did.“Breathe.You did everything right.This shouldn’t have happened.”

“I shouldn’t have left The Rain.I should have come back.Not stayed the night.Or half of it at least.I wasn’t going to.”I was rambling, tripping over my words because I was afraid and couldn’t make sense of anything.Why had the wolf come after me?

The question cycled through my mind again.It wasn’t something I’d thought about yet.The why.The attack had been well orchestrated, the three other wolves all distractions to lure Thordis and Eli away.The werewolves hadtargetedme.

“What are you thinking?”Blake asked.

My breathing shallowed.Anger replaced a good amount of my fear.Lehr controlled the wolves in this region.They wouldn’t have attacked unless he’d allowed it or ordered it.“He’s gone too far this time.”

“Who?”

“Who do you think?”I snapped.Holding my injured arm against my ribs, I moved away from Blake, braced my hand against the wall, then tried to stand.

I didn’t get an inch off the ground.

“What are you doing?”He kept me upright, which was infuriating because I was pissed and needed to be strong, and also a relief because collapsing completely would have hurt.And been humiliating.

“I’m standing.”

A dark eyebrow went up.Then went down.“Wait.It wasn’t us.”

I made another attempt to stand.

“Kennedy.”

I tried again.Blake chose to help me this time.And he kept me steady while the hallway spun and spun.I felt the blood drain from my face, felt my lungs constrict.Even though I didn’t allow myself to lean into him, Blake bore more of my weight than I did.

“We didn’t do this,” he said.

“How do you know?”

“The same way I know we didn’t kill your parents.”

I opened my eyes.Glared.

“And I wouldn’t fucking allow it.”His gaze hardened for the first time.

“You couldn’t stop Lehr if he gave the order.”

“I would, and he didn’t.As much as you piss him off, you’re the last Rain.I’m aware of everything that has anything to do with you, and Lehr did not order someone to attack you.”

My head pounded.“Youthinkyou’re aware of everything.”