She’d spent so much time with the Esera clan after Ísa hooked up with Sailor that Veni had once said, “With you and Danny so close in age, you must feel like brother and sister.”

After gagging, Catie had—very firmly—said, “No. Daniel Esera is not my brother. I’m not sure he’s even human.”

Veni had burst out laughing, her giggle an infectious thing, but truth was truth. As for Sailor and Gabriel, they did treat her like a kid sister, but she didn’t mind—they were older, had been adults when she first met them. Jake, closer to her and Danny in age, was a friend.

It was only her and Danny who’d rubbed each other wrong from their first meeting. “And I’d still stab the loser who did this to you,” Catie muttered, her hand yet locked with his. “Don’t let it go to your head. I’d do the same for anyone who had drugs slipped into their drinks.”

Then she squeezed his hand and watched his chest rise and fall.

3

(STRICTLY) TEMPORARY CEASE-FIRE

Danny woke up feeling like shit.

His head was all fuzzy, his mouth tasted like he’d snacked on a furred animal of indeterminate origin, and his body felt like it had taken tackle after tackle in a bruising battle of a game. The only point of warmth, of softness, was in his right hand.

Looking down, he saw a tumble of hair made up of so many shades of red and brown that to call it auburn felt like an insult. That hair was captured sunsets and autumn fire; he loved watching it blaze in the sunshine.

“Catie?” His voice came out low, gravel-rough.

It didn’t wake her where she lay sleeping with her head against the side of his bed, her hand curled into his. No, not curled into his. Gripping his tight.

Why was Catie in his room?

That was when he noticed the curtain around the bed. Another breath and the scent of antiseptics and who knew what else flooded his system. Hospital. This was a hospital. No mistaking that smell or the medical items nearby—including what looked to be an empty nurse’s cart. And yeah, this skinny thing with a metal frame definitely wasn’t his bed.

He went to look at Catie again, was distracted by the bright white light coming through the window behind her. So bright it hurt his eyes.

Frowning, he went to lean forward.

Catie jolted up. “What? I wasn’t asleep!”

All huge brown eyes and golden skin creased with sleep wrinkles, she glared at him before breaking out into a sudden, dazzling smile that threatened to steal his breath. “Hotshot.” She used the knuckles of her free hand to knock gently against the side of his head. “You have all your marbles?”

He scowled. “Why the hell am I in the hospital? Did you run me over?”