“Hey,” I exclaimed, annoyed. “You said she wouldn’t mind.”

Grinning, he slid down a few feet. “Actually I said what she doesn’t know won’t hurt you.” He put up a third finger. “You leave windows open when the heat is on.”

A family of three walked past, the kids like stairsteps and noisy with life. I watched them pass, thinking they were the future I had been working for, just walking away and leaving me behind. Was that a problem? “I like fresh air,” I protested, gathering up my things. It was time to leave.

“You’re a whiner too,” Jenks said. “I’ve never seen anyone so pathetic when you’re sick. ‘Where’s my pain amulet? Where’s my coffee?’ God almighty, I thought I was bad.”

I stood, feeling renewed from the Brimstone boost. It was a false strength, but it was there nevertheless. “Put down your fingers, Jenks, or I’m going to break them off and shove them somewhere.”

Jenks stood as well, tugging his aviator jacket straight. “You bring home demon familiars. ‘Oh isn’t she sweet?’” he said in a high falsetto. “‘Can we keep her?’”

I hiked my shoulder bag up higher, feeling the comfortable weight of my splat gun inside. “Are you saying I should have let Al kill Ceri?” I said dryly.

Laughing, he gathered up his sundry bags, consolidating them into two. “No. I’m saying that it takes a very strong person to let you be you. I can’t think of anyone better than Ivy.”

My breath escaped me in a huff. “Well I’m glad we have your blessing.”

Jenks snorted, his gaze going over the heads of the tourists to the archway and the parking lot where the car was. “Yeah, you got my blessing, and you’ve got my warning too.”

I looked at him, but he wasn’t paying me any attention, scanning the area now that we were ready to move again.

“If you think living with Ivy and trying to avoid getting bitten was difficult, wait until you try living with her while trying to find a blood balance. This isn’t an easier road, Rache,” he said, gaze distant and unaware of the worry he was starting in me. “It’s a harder one. And you’re going to be hurting all the way along it.”

Twenty-five

The wind was whipping the decorative flags at the archway to the parking lot, and I blinked at them, fascinated. I had the remains of a burger in one hand, and a fizzy drink in the other. Jenks had insisted I get some iron-rich protein in me to chase down the Brimstone, but I suspected it had only been an excuse to get the drink, which he then spiked with even more Brimstone. Why else would I be feeling this great when my life was in the crapper? And I was feeling pretty damn good, like a weight had lifted and the sun was starting to shine.

Ivy would return soon, and though I had been all tough-girl by coming out here, it seemed prudent to get back before she found out I was gone. If Jenks and she were to be believed, I structured my life to be as horrific as possible to have fun in bed, but having Ivy mad at me might be too much for even me right now.