I smiled, a new warmth growing in me. 'You aren't kidding. But you know, it's likely going to be the only time I'll ever be that skinny and have a fur coat.'
A faint smile came over him. 'Where does the extra mass go, anyway?'
There was only one cookie left, and I forced myself to eat it slowly. 'Back to a ley line.'
His head bobbed. 'We can't do that.'
'I noticed. You make one hell of a big wolf, David.'
His smile widened. 'You know what? I changed my mind. Even if you ever want to go into insurance, don't call me.'
Jenks dropped to the empty plate so I wouldn't have to keep shifting my head to see both of them. 'That will be the day,' he snickered. 'I can just see Rachel in a gray business suit with a briefcase, her hair in a bun and glasses on her nose.'
I laughed, immediately falling into a coughing jag. Arms clasped about me, I hunched into myself, shaking with rough, hacking coughs. My throat felt like it was on fire, but that paled next to the throbbing ache in my head that exploded at the sudden movement. That pain amulet bumping about my neck wasn't doing much good.
David patted my back in concern. The hurt from my shoulder broke through the amulet, and my stomach roiled. Eyes watering, I fended him off. Ceri came in, making soft admonishments as she set a mug of tea down and put a hand on my shoulder. Her touch seemed to calm the spasm, and gasping, I let her ease me back into the pillows she propped up behind me. Finally I stopped and met her gaze.
Her shadowy face was pinched in concern. Behind her, Jenks and David watched. I didn't like David seeing me like this, but it wasn't as if I had much choice. 'Drink your tea,' she said, holding it up to me and putting my hand around it.
'My head hurts,' I complained, taking a sip of the bland brew. It wasn't real tea, but something with flowers and weeds in it. What I wanted was a cup of that coffee, but I didn't want to hurt Ceri's feelings. 'I feel like run- over crap,' I complained.
'You look like run-over crap,' Jenks said. 'Drink your tea.'
It was tasteless but soothing. I took another swallow, scraping up a smile for Ceri. 'Mmmm. Good,' I lied.
She straightened, clearly pleased as she picked up the washbasin. 'Drink it all. Do you mind if Keasley tacks a blanket over your door to stop the draft?'
'That would be great. Thanks,' I said, but she didn't leave until I took another sip.
Her shadow left the hall, and my smile fell into a grimace. 'This stuff is tasteless,' I whispered. 'Why does everything good for me have to be tasteless?'
David glanced at the empty doorway and the light spilling in. Jenks flew to land on his shoulder as the Were unzipped his backpack. 'I've got something that might help,' David said. 'My old partner used to swear by it. Begged me for some when he partied-too-hearty.'
'Whoa!' Hand over his nose, Jenks flitted upward. 'How much bane you got in there, Johnny Appleseed?'
David's smile grew sly. 'What?' he said, his brown eyes innocent. 'It's not illegal. And it's organic. No carbs, even.'
The familiar spicy scent of bane rose thicker in the small room, and I wasn't surprised when David brought out a cellophane bag with a zippy top. I recognized the name brand: Wolf's Head Organic. 'Here,' he said as he took the cup out of my hand and set it on my bedside table.
Hiding what he was doing from the hallway, he shook a good tablespoon into my drink. Running his eyes over me, he shook in a little more. 'Try it now,' he said, handing it to me.
I sighed. Why was everyone giving me stuff? All I wanted was a sleep charm or maybe one of Captain Edden's strange aspirins. But David looked so hopeful, and the smell of bane was more appealing than rosehips, that I stirred it with my pinky. The crushed leaves sank to leave the tea a richer color. 'What good will this do?' I asked as I took a sip. 'I'm not a Were.'
David dropped the bag into his backpack and zipped it shut. 'Not much. Your witch metabolism is too slow for it to really work. But my old partner was a witch, and he said it helped with his hangovers. It's got to taste better, if nothing else.'
He stood to leave, and I sipped again, agreeing. My jaw relaxed; I hadn't even known I had been clenching it. Warm and smooth, the bane tea slipped down my throat with a mixed taste of ham broth and apples. My muscles seemed to unknot, like taking a shot of tequila. A sigh slipped from me, and the soft weight of Jenks landing on my arm pulled my eyes to his.
'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.'
My eyes had slid shut, and they opened when David shook me. 'What?' I protested, pushing at him when he peered at me, his liquid brown eyes too close to mine. Now he reminded me of my dad, and I smiled at him.
'Rachel, honey,' he said. 'You been bitten by a Were?'
A sigh came from me. 'Nope. Never you and never Ivy. No one bites me but mosquitoes, and I squish them. Little bastards.'
Jenks hovered backward and David drew away. I closed my eyes, listening to them breathe. It seemed awfully loud. 'Shhhh,' I said. 'Quiet.'
'Maybe I gave her too much,' David said.
Ceri's soft padding of feet seemed loud. 'What…What did you do to her?' she asked, her voice sharp, pulling
