Katie turned around and jumped when she saw Alexis there. “God, you’ll give me a heart attack.”

“Sorry, would you like a drink?”

Alexis was sure something was going on. The phone call coupled with Katie’s increased heart rate suggested that.

Katie rubbed her bandaged wound and snapped, “No—sorry, I’m just sick of this. I want to be better.”

Before Alexis had time to think about what she was saying, she blurted out, “I could make that injury better, you know.”

Katie’s eyes widened and she walked closer. “What? By drinking your blood?”

Alexis wished she’d never opened her mouth. Her heart was pounding. Katie looked shocked at the suggestion of drinking her blood, and she’d nearly done that to her. Now was she offering to break another Debrek rule? She’d lived by them strictly, and now because of Katie she was willing to break them.

“No, not that. This only works for minor wounds, and we’re not supposed to, but my blood dripped onto your wound can heal it. The Debrek clan banned the practice because we are not supposed to interfere with humans in that way.”

“I wouldn’t want you to break a rule for me,” Katie said.

Alexis took Katie’s hand. “We could keep it our secret.”

Katie shook her head. “Secrets take a heavy toll on you, Alexis.”

Alexis put her head down. “I know that, believe me, but it’s not a cardinal rule, like consent. Let me heal it?”

“I’m not sure,” Katie said.

“Okay, well, I’ll change your bandage. Come on,” Alexis said.

Katie followed Alexis to the kitchen table and sat down while Alexis got the first aid case out. There was such a tension between them. It had been building since Alexis’s kiss earlier before the attack on Sybil. She didn’t know how she would handle Alexis touching her. Just being this close was giving her goosebumps.

Alexis got the new bandage ready then started to unwrap the old one. At the touch of Alexis’s fingertips, Katie had an intake of breath.

Alexis stopped. “Sorry, did I hurt you?”

“No.” Katie’s lips parted, and she moistened them with the tip of her tongue. She saw Alexis’s eyes focus on her lips and the blood-red colour of hunger wash across her eyes. Katie had the urge to push her fingers into Alexis’s hair and bring Alexis’s lips to hers. Instead she looked down, away from temptation. “No, you didn’t hurt me.”

Alexis pulled off the bandage, and then she did feel pain. “It feels worse. Hot and painful.”

Alexis threw down the bandage, and growled, “It looks like it’s infected. Fucking Josie.”