David dropped the bag into his backpack and zipped it shut. “Not much. Your witch metabolism is too slow for it to really work. But my old partner was a witch, and he said it helped with his hangovers. It’s got to taste better, if nothing else.”

He stood to leave, and I sipped again, agreeing. My jaw relaxed; I hadn’t even known I had been clenching it. Warm and smooth, the bane tea slipped down my throat with a mixed taste of ham broth and apples. My muscles seemed to unknot, like taking a shot of tequila. A sigh slipped from me, and the soft weight of Jenks landing on my arm pulled my eyes to his.

“Hey, Rache? You okay?”

I smiled and took another swallow. “Hi, Jenks. You’re all sparkly.”

Jenks’s face blanked, and David looked up from working the buttons closed on his coat. His brown eyes were questioning.

“Thanks, David,” I said, hearing my voice slow, precise, and low. “I owe you, okay?”

“Sure.” He picked up his backpack. “You take care of yourself.”

“I will.” I gulped half my tea, and it slid down to make a warm spot in me. “I don’t feel too bad right now. Which is good, seeing as I have a date with Trent tomorrow, and if I don’t go, his security officer is gonna kill me.”

David jerked to a stop in the threshold. From beyond him came the tap-tap-tap of Keasley hammering a blanket over the door. “Trent Kalamack?” the Were questioned.

“Yeah.” I took another drink, swirling the tea with my pinky until the bane made a whirlpool and shifted the brew even darker. “He’s going to talk to Saladan. His security officer is making me go with him.” I squinted up at David, the light from the hallway seeming bright but not painful. I wondered where David’s tattoos were. Weres always had tattoos, don’t ask me why.

“Have you ever met Trent?” I asked.

“Mr. Kalamack?” David rocked back into the room. “No.”

I squirmed under my afghan and focused on my cup. David’s partner was right. This stuff was great. I didn’t hurt anywhere. “Trent is a prick,” I said, remembering what we were talking about. “I’ve got the goods on him, and he’s got the goods on me. But I don’t have anything on his security officer, and if I don’t do this, he’s going to tell.”

Jenks hovered, making an uncertain swoop from David to the door and back to me. David eyed him, then asked, “Tell what?”