I leaned closer, my eyes widening as my tea threatened to slop when I moved faster than I thought I should. Frowning, I finished it off, not minding the bits of leaves that came with it. Smiling, I leaned close, enjoying the smell of musk and bane. “My secret,” I whispered, wondering if David would let me hunt for his tattoos if I asked. He looked great for an older guy. “I’ve got a secret, but I’m not going to tell you.”

“I’ll be back,” Jenks said, swooping close. “I want to know what she put in that tea.”

He zipped out, and I blinked, watching the sparkles of his pixy dust settle. I’d never seen so many before, and they were the colors of the rainbow. Jenks must have been worried.

“Secret?” David prompted, but I shook my head and the light seemed to brighten.

“I’m not going to tell. I don’t like the cold.”

David put his hands on my shoulders and eased me into the pillows. I smiled up at him, happy when Jenks flew in. “Jenks,” David said softly. “Has she been bitten by a Were?”

“No!” he protested. “Unless it was before I met her.”

My eyes had slid shut, and they opened when David shook me. “What?” I protested, pushing at him when he peered at me, his liquid brown eyes too close to mine. Now he reminded me of my dad, and I smiled at him.

“Rachel, honey,” he said. “You been bitten by a Were?”

A sigh came from me. “Nope. Never you and never Ivy. No one bites me but mosquitoes, and I squish them. Little bastards.”

Jenks hovered backward and David drew away. I closed my eyes, listening to them breathe. It seemed awfully loud. “Shhhh,” I said. “Quiet.”

“Maybe I gave her too much,” David said.

Ceri’s soft padding of feet seemed loud. “What…What did you do to her?” she asked, her voice sharp, pulling my eyes open.

“Nothing!” David protested, his shoulders hunched. “I gave her some bane. It shouldn’t have done this. I’ve never seen it do this to a witch before!”

“Ceri,” I said, “I’m sleepy. Can I go to sleep?”

Her lips pursed, but I could tell she wasn’t angry with me. “Yes.” She tugged the coverlet to my chin. “Go to sleep.”

I slumped back, not caring that I was still wearing wet clothes. I was really, really tired. And I was warm. And my skin was tingling. And I felt like I could sleep for a week.

“Why didn’t you ask me before you gave her bane?” Ceri asked sharply, her words a whisper but very clear. “She’s already on Brimstone. It’s in the cookies!”