I could smell leather. My face screwed up as feeling started to come back into my legs and arms. Oh God, it hurt. I opened my eyes to find Trent and Jonathan peering down at me. Blood seeped from Trent’s hairline and water dripped from his nose. Above their heads was the interior of the limo. I was alive? How did I get to the car?

“ ’Bout time you found us,” I breathed, my eyes closing.

I heard Trent sigh. “She’s okay.”

I suppose. Maybe. Compared to being dead, I guess I was okay.

“Pity,” Jonathan said, and I heard him shift away from me. “It would have simplified things if she wasn’t. Not too late to slip her in the water with the rest.”

“Jon!” Trent barked.

His voice was as hot as my skin felt. I was freaking burning up.

“She saved my life,” Trent said softly. “I don’t care if you like her or not, but she has earned your respect.”

“Trenton—” Jonathan started.

“No.” It was cold. “She has earned your respect.”

There was a hesitation, and I would have drifted off to nothing if the pain in my legs would let me. And my fingers were on fire. “Yes, Sa’han,” Jonathan said, and I jerked awake.

“Get us home. Call ahead and have Quen draw a bath for her. We have to get her warmer than this.”

“Yes, Sa’han.” It was slow and reluctant. “The I.S. is here. Why don’t we leave her with them?”

I felt a small pull upon my chi as Trent tapped a line. “I don’t want to be seen here. Just don’t get in anyone’s way and we won’t be noticed. Hurry up.”

My eyes wouldn’t listen to me anymore, but I heard Jonathan get out and shut the door. There was another thump when he got in the driver’s door and the car eased into motion. The arms around me tightened, and I realized I was in Trent’s lap, the warmth of his body doing more than the air to warm me. I felt the softness of a blanket against me. I must have been swaddled up right tight; I couldn’t move my legs or arms.

“I’m sorry,” I murmured, giving up on trying to open my eyes. “I’m getting water all over your suit.” Then I giggled, thinking that had sounded really pathetic. He was already soaked. “Your Celtic charm isn’t worth a damn,” I whispered. “I hope you kept your receipt.”

“Shut up, Morgan,” Trent said, his voice distant and preoccupied.

The car picked up speed, and the sound seemed to lull me. I could relax, I thought as I felt the tingling of circulation in my limbs. I was in Trent’s car, wrapped in a blanket, and held in his arms. He wouldn’t let anything hurt me.

He wasn’t singing, though, I mused. Shouldn’t he be singing?

Twenty-Seven

The warm water I was sitting in was nice. I had been in it long enough to prune twice, but I didn’t care. Ellas-beth’s sunken tub was fab. I sighed, leaning my head back and staring at the ten-foot ceilings framed by the potted orchids lining the bathtub. Maybe there was something to this drug lord business if you got to have a tub like this. I’d been in it for over an hour.