Page 20 of Redeemed

“Albion. I’ll remember that.”

“And I will remember you, David Collins.” He leans against the door frame. “Come by here this time tomorrow and I’ll have the ward ready. Oh, and bring cash. I don’t take plastic.”

“Twelve hundred and a business card with my phone number so you can reach me when you need my service.”

“You said fifteen hundred.”

“And you said no.”

“Fuck you.”

“Get in line.”

He’s glaring, but I know I’ve won.

“How do you feel about necromancers?” he asks.

Aw shit, Trajan’s going to lose his mind.“My boyfriend’s not fond of them, but I said I’d do the job and I will.”

He’s gripping his last reservation with both hands, but then he sighs. “All right. Shit’s been slow around here. I’ll see you tomorrow afternoon.”

I give him a real smile. “Thanks.”

And then I text my sister Abby.

Mom needs to transfer $1000 into my account please and don’t ask why.

I’ll explain when I can. I’m not part of the Collins pack anymore, but I’m still a Collins and Mom’s making sure I don’t starve to death. Well, Mom and Connor and Trajan. Everyone’s been really cool about helping me get back on my feet. I may never be able to pay them all back, but I promise to pay it forward.

Abby responds with a series of emojis that I’m pretty sure translate as “Done and the story better be good.”

Thank you.

I Uber back to the hotel and let myself into ourtwo-room suite. Connor’s at the desk and Trajan’s not around.

“Everything okay?”

Connor shrugs and points to his laptop. “I’m comparing the list of Jacques’ houses that Trajan sent me with real estate records and deeds recorded by the city.”

“Cool,” I say, but I’m really looking around the room for any trace of Trajan. Nodding at the door to the vampire room, I ask, “Has he been out?”

Connor’s lips grow thin. “No.”

Giving him a sympathetic smile, I tap on the door. No answer. I knock louder and hear a muffled…something. Taking the grunt for an invitation, I open the door.

Trajan’s lying on the bed. He doesn’t move when I open the door, and when I whisper his name he says something like, “Go away.”

Now, there’s human-still, and vampire-still, and then there’s Trajan’s utter lack of movement. His “Go away” might as well have been an invitation, because I can’t help myself. I cross the small room in two strides and kneel by the bed.

Wolves aren’t psychic by nature, but I’d meant it when I told Connor that if a pack member is hurting, I’ll know about it.

And Trajan is in agony.

He’s radiating pain and his body is rigid, as if he’s fighting with every individual muscle to keep from doing…something. I put a hand on his shoulder and the pain crawls up my arm, locking my own muscles in the battle.

“Tray,” I whisper. “Oh my god, Tray.”

We stay there for a long while and slowly, as if he’s unloading some of his burden on me, he relaxes. Connor pokes his head in the door, but I wave him off. He gets it and after a while I hear the door to the suite open and close. Maybe he’s gone for food. I’ve completely lost track of time.