“He had some sort of meeting with the Highers …” His blue eyes skim me from head-to-toe and then his mouth sinks into a troubled frown. “I’m guessing everything didn’t go smoothly.”

I nod and step past him, ducking below the doorway. “The hospital we always get the medicine from was a mess … it looked like the vampires trashed it for some reason,” I say, which sounds strange because vampires usually won’t go near hospitals, but that’s what Monarch told me to say if anyone asked. And Tristan won’t question my lie. He is a strict rule follower and asking questions about things that might seem suspicious would make him a rule breaker.

“Anyway, it took me longer to find the medicine,” I tell him.

“You say it like it’s no big deal.” He shakes his head with disapproval.

I pat my pocket. “I got the vial so that’s all that really matters, right?”

He doesn’t say anything, but it looks like he wants to. He shuts the door and it takes him a minute to latch the multiple padlocks and chains and lock out the Old World. When he’s finished, he turns to me and touches his finger to my bottom lip. He traces across it, up my cheek, tucking a strand of my wet hair behind my ear.

My friend Nina told me that when Tristan touches me like this, it should send shivers across my body. I am shivering, but I’m pretty sure it’s from the cold water drenching my clothes and hair.

“What’s with the worry frown?” he asks, letting his hand fall by his side. “Did something else happen?”

“No, not really.” I shrug and wrap my arms around me as he unlocks the last steel door, “I’m just a little shaken up. That’s all.”

The door clicks open and he steps aside, letting me walk in. “Over what?”

“The vampires .” I say. “It’s not a big deal or anything, but one of them caught me.”

He drops the keys, and they clank against the floor. “Dang it.” He swipes up the keys and blinks at me. “How can you say that so calmly? I mean, they caught you. How are you even …” He lets out a breath, not finishing.

“It really isn’t that big of a deal,” I lie. “And I managed to knock it down and get away, so let’s not blow it out of proportion.”

“I don’t think you should go out by yourself anymore,” he says firmly

Tell that to Monarch. “I’m not a helpless girl,” I say with a hint of humor. “I mean, I did manage to get away all by my little old self.”

“Yeah, I guess.” He eyes me over. “Something else happened, though ... I can tell.”

I run my fingers through my wet, tangled black hair. “What’d you mean?”