Page 85 of A Token of Blood and Betrayal

“I am.”

I managed a pained laugh.“Lehr deliberately keeps things from you.”

“He can’t.The pack…” His anger faded with the words.He studied me, and I realized my mistake.“What is he keeping from me?”

Stupid, Kennedy!

“Just… our conversation in his truck.”I should stop talking.Blood loss was making me reckless.

“What are you keeping from me?”His voice turned quiet.

If I’d had any lingering doubts about Blake knowing Lehr had forced me to kill Shelli, they would have vanished in that moment.The way he stood so lethally still said I needed to keep it to myself, but the stubborn set to his jaw indicated he wouldn’t let this go, so I did what I had to.I let my knees buckle.

His arms tightened around my waist.His chest, rigid with frustration, softened as he embraced me, and I melted into him.Was this a cowardly way out of the conversation?Yes.Was I protecting Blake from the truth?Also yes.If he confronted Lehr, someone would die.Blake had an alpha’s confidence.He believed he could kill Lehr if it came down to a fight.I didn’t want to find out if he was wrong.

“We’ll talk about this later,” he said gently.“Let’s take care of your arm.I’ll take you to the hospital.”

A hospital meant I’d have to leave the Null.That wasn’t going to happen anytime soon.Just looking at the door at the end of the hall made me queasy.I wasn’t ready to face what might be on the other side of the threshold.“I just need to sleep.”

“If it helps, I brought the Jaguar,” he said, a tease entering his voice.

“Thoughtful but no.You can take me to bed.”

He laughed.“Trying to distract me.Clever.How about we revisit that idea after you see a doctor?”

“I don’t need a doctor,” I lied.

“Your arm won’t heal on its own.”

“I’ll get a poultice from Astrid.”

“That also requires you to step outside the Null.”His words and the fact that he knew it wasn’t the hospital I wanted to avoid arrowed straight through me.

“Tomorrow,” I said.

“Your arm will be septic by then.It’s likely already infected.”He pulled me toward the door.

I dug in my heels.Futilely.“Just one more day.Please.”

“A day won’t matter,” he said gently.“It’s dawn.The outcome is the same whether you go outside now or next week.You can do this, Kennedy.You’re strong.And you’re probably fine.”

“Probably.”I tried to make the word come out scathing.Instead, it came out afraid.

“It’s been three days since the full moon,” he said.

“Four days is better.”

“I’d let you stay as long as you wanted if your arm wouldn’t kill you.”

“Then just bring a doctor to me.I know the pack has someone.”

He sighed.“We do.And she would insist on treating you outside the Null.”

“Fine.I’ll just stick my arm out there.”

“Kennedy.”

Even though I knew he was right, I shook my head.“I can’t survive like that.”