Page 88 of A Token of Blood and Betrayal

“Shit.”He knelt in front of me.Reached for my uninjured arm.

I tensed and withdrew, my heart rate spiking, my mind shouting an alarm repeating werewolf, werewolf, werewolf.

Raj’s mouth pinched shut.“Blake told me to watch you.He trusts me.You’re safe, but you’re… in a lot of pain.May I help?”

Jaw clenched, I nodded.

Raj gently touched my hand.It didn’t do anything at first.Maybe because I was still tense?Still cautious?

“You do have strong walls,” Raj said.

“Practice.”My body flushed with a cold sweat.“Logic.Every interaction with a paranorm is influenced by magic.”

“More like skepticism.If you want help—”

“I know,” I said between clenched teeth.Let the walls down.Let the wolf in.

Gradually, my lungs were able to expand more.The pain-induced nausea lessened.But the hurt and the heaviness wouldn’t loosen its grip.I was too torn up and broken for real relief.

My eyes drifted shut.“You don’t help as much as Blake.”

“There’s a reason for that,” Raj muttered.

I tried to force my lids open a crack.“Because he’s dominant.”

“I wish.”Another mutter, lower this time.Rough.Like the words tasted bitter.

“You’re annoyed he…” My muddled brain couldn’t grasp the rest of what I’d wanted to say.I tried to focus harder, tried to keep myself conscious.Just tried to be aware.

Pretty sure I lost the battle.I sank into a dream where I didn’t hurt.A place where I was actually safe and almost comfortable.Almost cozy.And it was strange because Nora was there instead of Raj, and her voice was easy?Friendly?Casually cool?Whatever it was, I’d never heard that kind of tone from her.

Sparse words began to make sense.They strung together into phrases.Then into full sentences.And finally into a conversation that made some sort of sense.

“Astrid had the coven help her create it,” Nora said.“Should be more powerful.And I brought this.”

“She doesn’t need more vampire blood.”A growl from Blake that had all the logic of a dream.Witches don’t create vampire blood.

“She might,” Nora said.

“She was nearly turned—”

“I know.The poultice will fight the infection, speed up healing, and you’re doing what you can.”

“It’s not enough.”

“That’s why I brought the blood,” she said.“As weak as she is, it’s a risk, especially since she drank from Jared earlier—”

“She doesn’t need the blood!”

My dream-body felt the power behind his words, but it didn’t scare me.This magic was warm and secure.I was okay with drowning in it.

Time dream-skipped forward.Christian and Melissa were dragging me out of Arcuro’s compound.Or dragging me down into it?Christian had his trauma kit in hand.I was patched up like a mummy but still bleeding and hurt despite them both doing everything they could to save me.

Another dream-skip.This time, Canyon was my savior.He healed me with one wish.It was a thank-you, he said, for giving him the token and the collared djinn he held on a leash.

Skip.

“Have you contacted my father?”Nora asked.