Page 92 of A Token of Blood and Betrayal

And something I still needed to do, a confrontation that very well might make kissing the last thing Blake would think about doing to me.

My phone startled me when it rang.I looked at the screen, half expecting to see Blake’s name pop up, but it was The Rain’s main line.I’d hoped it would take longer to realize I was gone, but apparently I’d been right and Garion had been counting every second

The Rain called again.Then Sullens tried from his cell phone.I could answer and tell them everything was fine—they couldn’t stop me now.

I chewed on my bottom lip, then decided I’d pick up the next call.They were undoubtedly frustrated, and I didn’t want them to worry too much.

The phone rang again.I answered it one second before my brain read the caller’s name.

“Sounds like you’re being you again,” Blake said, his drawl almost disguising the irritation beneath his words.

I wasn’t ready to hear his voice.It sling-shotted straight through my paper-thin defenses.

“I’m running a quick errand,” I said.“They want me in bubble wrap.”

“There’s a reason for that.”The background of creaks and rumbles signaled he was driving his truck.“Unless you’ve already forgotten you were bitten by a werewolf.”

“Very aware.”I slowed to make a turn.

“Or you’re not concerned about the fey king who wants to collect what you owe him.”

“I’m taking care of that.”

“Right now?”The question came a little too quickly and with a growl attached.He hadn’t forgotten I was keeping something from him.

“Not quite yet,” I said.“This won’t take long.I’ll be back at The Rain in an hour or so.”

“A lot can happen in an hour or so.”

“Very aware,” I said again.“I’m going to hang up.If you still want to talk later, you can give me a call.”

“I want to talk to you now.”Not a growl.A confession.A reach for something more, a hope that the intimacy we’d shared in the hallway wasn’t just a fleeting thing.

My heart cinched up tight.I panic-ended the call, afraid he’d hook me in, that I’d fall even further.I already hurt inside and out, and the gulf I was about to open between us would only bring more pain.

He called back.My good hand gripped the steering wheel, and I stared straight ahead while I tried to use logic to snuff out thewantthat burned in my stomach.I was so focused on all the insurmountable obstacles between us that I didn’t realize the vehicle driving toward me was his until I noticed the sway of the truck bed.

We stared at each other as we passed.Once he was behind me, I glanced at my rearview mirror.Even without brake lights, I knew he was stopping.The two-lane road wasn’t wide, especially for his truck’s awful turn radius, but he made it work, driving partially into the ditches on both sides.

Damn it.The last thing I needed was for him to follow me.I should have taken the back way through the foothills.It would have added a good half hour to the drive but better the extra time than Blake’s interference.

I glanced back again.Surely I could outrace a truck held together with rope, rust, and a ridiculous amount of duct tape.

He called a second time.Then a third.I made a right-hand turn onto a slightly busier road.I’d only be on it for a short time.Problem was, people I encountered on that road tended to driveexactlythe speed limit.

I glared at the sedan in front of me, which chose to drive five miles per hour under the limit.I had to slow down.That made it easy for Blake to catch up.He was right behind me when he called again.You’d think he’d realize—

He slammed into my bumper.

I yelped and grabbed the steering wheel with both hands, which freaking hurt my right arm.

His truck drifted back, then quickly closed the gap again.

Bam!

Never mind my previous thoughts, I waselatedhe hadn’t kissed me.

I punched the button to answer his call.“You should know better than to attempt to murder me.”