Ivy’s oval face scrunched in anger as she unscrewed the top. “I know what I’m doing.”

Jenks glared at her. “She’s too weak for what you usually give her. She can’t eat enough to support that high a metabolism with all the blood you took out of her.”

“And you know all about that, don’t you, pixy?” she said sarcastically.

So much for playing nice. Tired, I let my eyes shut while they argued, hoping I didn’t die in the interim and make the problem moot. I wasn’t ever going to get my water. Ever.

“Rachel?”

It was close and direct. Startled, I opened my eyes. Jenks was kneeling beside the bed with that cup and straw in his hand. Ivy was behind him, her arms crossed over her chest, cheeks spotted with red. Anger and worry warred in her expression. I’d missed something. “No Brimstone,” I slurred, my hands rising to push it away. My throat tightened as my emotions swung from one extreme to the next. They were so worried about me.

Jenks furrowed his brow, looking too severe for someone so young. “Don’t be stupid, Rache,” he said, catching my arms and easily forcing them down. “You either take it with Brimstone or you’ll be flat on your ass for four weeks.”

He was swearing. I knew I must be doing better. I could smell the water. I couldn’t move my arms under his soft restraint, and I felt sick. Why were they making me do this?

I looked at the straw, and taking that as a yes, Jenks slipped it between my lips. Breath held, I sucked it down, thinking the rusty water tasted better than the last cold beer I’d had. Tears started leaking out, my emotions thoroughly out of control. I thought of Ivy doing the same to me, bleeding me dry with that same metallic taste of me in her mouth.

I started to cry, choking on the water. Damn it, what in hell was wrong with me?

“That’s enough,” Ivy said softly. Through my watering eyes, I saw her reach out in concern, her hand touching Jenks’s shoulder. He jumped, and Ivy pulled away, her face full of an inner pain.

She thought she was a monster. She thought she couldn’t touch anyone without ruining them, and I had proved her right.

The enormity of her life’s misery fell on me, and I started to shake.

“She’s going into shock,” Ivy said, oblivious to the real reason. I’d hurt her. I thought I had been strong enough to survive her, and by failing, I’d hurt her.

Jenks set the cup aside and rose. “I’ll get a blanket.”

“I’ve got it,” she said, already gone.

My hands fluttered, and I realized I was getting sticky blood all over the bed. They were trying to help, but I didn’t deserve it. I wished it had never happened. I had made a mistake, and they were both being so nice about it.

Another tremor shook me. I tried to scrunch up into myself for warmth. His green eyes pinched, Jenks pulled me upright, slipping in behind me. Curving his arms around me, he kept me from shaking apart.