Several minutes later, I'm no longer nauseous. My eyes feel heavy as I wrap myself in a thick towel. When I emerge from the bathroom, I find Silas sitting on the edge of the fainting couch, a bottle of hard liquor in one hand as he glares into the fire. His bleeding crystal is clutched tightly in his other hand.
"Tell me why you can't stand touch,sangfluir. I just need to know."
I change the topic without batting an eye because there is no way in hell I'm about to give him a post-coital sob story. That's way too intimate, and already, I'm having a hard time not taking the bottle away from him to try and soothe his inner demons myself.
"Something happened during my episode," I surmise. "Something the three of you were eager to keep me from noticing. Tell me exactly what I missed."
Silas's attention flicks down to the scar on my chest that's just visible above the top of the towel before he looks away. Yet even that tiny movement makes me tense.
What does he know?
"If you're not answering questions tonight, neither am I," he mutters. "But now that you've forgiven me, tell me what you wanted my help wi?—"
"I never officially forgave you," I point out because a little lighthearted torment never hurt anybody.
He lifts the bottle to his lips and takes a swig before rubbing his face. "You are the most stubborn creature in existence."
"You have no idea."
My stubbornness is what made me what I am today. That, and my sense of focus, which is why I quickly get back to business.
"I need you to perform two tracking spells. One to find Kenzie and one to find the person who poisoned me. You can use their dried blood from the clothes I was wearing."
He examines me curiously. "You can't cast the spell yourself?"
"Not at the moment."
To my relief, Silas doesn't ask follow-up questions and instead nods. "I can track them. As long as I get to drain the life out of the one who poisoned you."
Intriguing. But as much as I'd like to see how Silas uses those surprise fangs, I give him a dark smile.
"No. But you can watch me kill them. Deal?"
The corner of his lips twitch. "Very well."
"I'll go get the bloodied clothes," I tell him, turning toward the door.
"You want to do the spells tonight?"
He's surprised. That's understandable since it's now well past midnight. But every minute that ticks by is another minute where that changeling could spill my secret. And even though I know Kenzie is alive, I don't know what condition she's in or where she is. I need answers, even if my limbs feel heavy and my stomach is starting to complain that I forgot to put anything in it today.
As if Silas sees how tired I am, he moves quickly to step in front of me when I reach for his door handle.
"We'll do the spells first thing in the morning."
"I told you this was time-sensitive."
His crimson irises are unbearably tender. "It wasn't a suggestion, Maven. You're tired. That episode clearly took a toll on you. Rest so you'll be better able to help Kenzie once we track her down."
He's annoyingly logical.
"Fine," I grumble, reaching for the door handle again.
"Sleep here tonight," Silas blurts. When he sees me start to shake my head, he adds on quickly, "You'll have the bed to yourself. I sleep on the couch most of the time, anyway. Besides, the Immortal Quintet made it clear that those violating the curfew will be caught and punished. And…”
"And?"
Vulnerability returns to his face. "I just…want you here. Please."
