“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?”

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.”