Irritation slid into my voice.“Are you two going to try to help me or just criticize everything I do?”
“It’s our job to tear you down.”
“Physically, maybe.Not mentally.Some encouragement or advice, please.”
“Don’t fall down,” Thordis said.
I glared.“I should fire you two.”
“You can’t,” Thordis replied happily.“I’m not an employee.”
I finger-combed more dirt and bark shreds from my hair.“Yes, you are.I read your paperwork.”
“Phedreis employed by you.I’m just here for the sex.”
My brain stumbled over the last word.I’d expected her to say food or company or some other normal reason.
“I think you offended her human sensibilities,” Phedre said.
“Because I said”—Thordis dropped her voice to a whisper—“sex?”
Phedre nodded vigorously.
“Oh.”Thordis’s face brightened.“Then you must be happy we started the fight club.Before that, all the entertainment we had was sex.”
I wasnotgoing to comment on that.“What do I need to do to get better?”When they both stared at me like dumb hyenas, I quickly added, “Helpfuladvice only, please.”
They must have simultaneously decided I was in desperate need of a few lessons.We left the terrace, and they actually took time to showandexplain the how and why of both offensive moves and defensive ones that could be turned around and used as attacks.They didn’t let me get out of the fight club, though, insisting I practice every simple step and grapple they taught me before they added anything else.I didn’t win against Thad, but I did manage to last almost three minutes once.
When the Valkyrie were finally done with me for the night, I was completely and utterly exhausted.I climbed into bed, hoping my mind would stay quiet long enough to fall asleep.
I did, but it wasn’t exactly restful.Blake stepped into all my dreams, whispering into my ear.I haven’t been with anyone since before Beltane.
Chapter Fifteen
Iwokeupextremelyirritated with Blake.
I should be focusing on important things: the token, my bargain, Deagan, and the unending fallout of my decision to ditch Satine in New Orleans.I shouldn’t be staring at the ceiling, wondering if Blake would show up today.If he might call.
Grumbling, I forced myself out of bed, rubbed the sleep from my eyes, then used the last seven percent of my phone’s battery to call the electric company.They transferred me from person to person and put me on hold after hold for so long that my teeth were brushed, my hair and makeup were done, and the trash, which included the food Christian had started to cook and everything remaining in my fridge and freezer, was taken outside to the dumpster.When I finally connected with someone who assured me they were the final authority on the matter, they rejected my explanation for not paying the bill.
I would have to leave the Null.It wasn’t something I wanted to do until I had the fey bargain canceled, altered, or subverted, but Blake said Canyon couldn’t get to me as long as I was driving.What were the odds he’d find me at the bank or electric company?
Higher than I wanted them to be.
I was going to have to take the chance though.The Rain needed to be operational, and the staff deserved to live in the modern age.
If I was going to go to the bank, I wanted to understand the finances better, so I asked Sullens to bring flashlights to the office.We went through The Rain’s purchase orders, invoices, and everything else that needed to be paid, like the loan my parents had decided to take out a year ago.Dad had always been in charge of the finances, but he wasn’t the most organized person in the world.It took several hours to make sense of anything, and when we finally finished the review, the situation could only be labeled as dire.
“We need more money,” I said.
“Yes.”Sullens straightened a stack of unpaid bills—the power company wasn’t the only one past due.
“It’s my fault.”
Sullens had the decency not to reply.
“I’d assumed my parents set up autopays like everyone else living in the twenty-first century.”
