Page 12 of Burdened Bonds

“You’re really persuading me.”

“Yeah, but look.” He holds out his free hand. “No boils, no rashes, and I’m not convulsing, not dropping down dead. It’s safe, just tastes like donkey balls.”

I pull a face, one he examines.

He dips his head so we’re eye level and the hook in my stomach hums, pulling me his way. “You’re still weak, little rabbit, and you need to be strong. Drink this. I swear on your pig’s life it’s going to help you, not harm you.”

“On my pig’s life?”

“Yeah, I like him.”

I snort and then watch in shock as Pip sidles up to the man and lets him tickle his ears.

“This is so fucked up,” I mutter, taking the cup from his hand and wondering if I lost my senses in the battle, if I went into some crazy-ass dream after what happened to Tristan, one from which I’m yet to emerge.

But crazy dream or not, I don’t think Renzo Barone is going to hurt me – not yet anyway. And as I have no idea what’s happening back in Los Magicos, as I have no idea where my mates and my friends are – I think I have very little to lose by drinking something that might benefit me.

I take a sip, Renzo’s face lighting up as I do, and then I take another and another. It does taste revolting, but it also has a warmth seeping through my body, fortifying me, removing the aches and the pain and helping to clear my head.

“This is good,” I tell him.

His chest practically puffs with pride. “You think?”

“Yeah.” I take another gulp, my magic pulsating through my veins. “Several hours?” I ask him.

He nods.

“And do you know what’s happening in Los Magicos? Who those men were? The ones with the dragons? Are we win–”

Renzo frowns and shakes his head. “Too many questions, little rabbit.”

I tilt my head and examine him like he’s been examining me.

“Do you know what happened after we left Los Magicos?”

“No,” he says and pulls his phone from his pocket. “There’s no signal out here. And anyway, the thing died a while ago. You don’t have any chargers in this house.”

“We never had a phone,” I explain, then remember the cell phone Trent gave me. The last thing I remember wearing was that ball gown from Tristan – a lump forms in my throat that I swallow away. My phone had been in my purse but god knows where that went.

For the first time, I glance down at my body and register the outfit I’m now wearing.

Not a ball gown any longer.

Pajamas.

“Did you undress me?!” I shriek, leaping to my feet. A smirk forms on his face. “Fuck, did you … did you touch me?!” I wrap my arms around my body, feeling violated and nauseous.

He looks down at Pip, annoyance and anger on his face, and I step forward, concerned he’s going to strike out at my pet.

Pip squeaks up at Renzo and then at me.

“If you’re implying …” he says, his voice tight and dangerous.

“You undressed me,” I snap. “You took my fucking clothes off.”

“It’s what you do when someone is unwell,” he explains. “You put them in something more comfortable.”

“Sure,” I say with sarcasm, remembering that I hadn’t even been wearing a bra under that dress. Realizing I’m still not wearing a bra.