“Feish said there was a demon.” Crash let out a slow breath and I noticed he didn’t have tea. The pulse in his throat was hammering away, and the flush to his skin was subtle but undeniable.

He really was a grump when he woke up. “That’s what Robert said.” I took a sip of the tea and the familiar bitterness of it made me grimace even as it took me back to Gran. “Feverfew tastes like crap, works like a charm on headaches. Thanks, Feish.”

“Wait, who is Robert?” Crash growled with a sharp look around the room.

“Friend of mine. He’s kind of like Feish, but with bones.” Yes, my words were not really stringing together well. “Feish, did you put something else in this?”

“Yes, I put kava kava in it,” she said.

I groaned. “I get high on kava kava. It’s like . . . it makes me goony.” And then I giggled. “Thanks, Feish, you rock.”

Feish bobbed next to me. “No, thank you. Sleeping master doesn’t wake easily.”

I squinted at her. “You mean someone sent the demon to hurt him?”

“Waited for me to leave for supplies,” she whispered, cringing. I could feel Crash’s eyes on me as heavy as a weight.

I pointed at her. “Smart, you are so smart! They have your Achilles’ heel figured out.” I took another sip of the tea, forcing more of the bitter stuff down my throat. Already the ache in my skull faded, even as the room spun a little more. “Look, I didn’t pop by for tea. I need a ride out to the wildlife reserve. I’ve got a job!” I pumped a fist in the air for good measure.

Feish tugged on my arm. “I’ll take you. Boss, you good?”

“Fine. Take her.” He stood and strode from the room, and damn it, there was no sheet this time. But I only just noticed, which meant I saw only the back end of him leaving. The kava kava had disintegrated my filter, and as he strode away, I couldn’t resist.

“Nice ass!”

He paused in the entryway to the bedroom, just a split second, but I couldn’t help it. I laughed. “That’s right, work it!”

The door slammed shut behind him. Feish let out a sigh of relief. “Come, I take you on my boat.”

“Wait, you have a boat?”

She tugged me along toward the door, guiding me out, and I let her. Because I had my tea in one hand, and I wasn’t letting it go for anything. “You know, this is the first time my body hasn’t hurt in like a week?”

“Training is hard on older ones.” Feish linked her arm with mine and let out a heavy sigh. “Especially us women.”

“Yes, right?” I squeezed her arm. “I like you, Feish. Maybe we can be friends.”

She startled. “I have no friends.”