"Handle what? Luce, you're confusing me. Let me help, whatever it is."
But I was already backing away, my hand on the doorknob. Rissa's face flashed through my mind again. A fierce surge of longing caught me off guard. I needed to see her, to assure myself she was safe.
And of course, work out how we would stop the formless ones and screw over the Council. Business as usual.
"I'm sorry, Jeanette. I have to go now. I'll explain everything later."
The bright California sunlight hit my eyes like a fist as I wrenched open the door and strode out, Jeanette's words fading behind me. I knew where Rissa lived, though I didn't know what I was walking into.
So be it.
The clock was ticking. And the fate of the world hung in the balance.
11
RISSA
I blinkedmy eyes open groggily, the world slowly coming into focus. Rey lay beside me on the bed, his face angled toward me, his expression sweet and unbearably tender. Like he had fallen asleep watching over me, guarding my slumber. It was so maudlin it made my teeth ache.
Not on my watch, buddy.
I planted my hands on his side and shoved hard. Rey toppled off the bed with a resounding thud, limbs flailing. I smiled in satisfaction.
"What the hell, Ris?" Rey groaned from the floor, rubbing his backside.
"Bed's only big enough for me," I retorted. "And you were being creepy, watching me sleep like that. Cathy let you do that?"
"I was worried about you!" He hauled himself upright. "You were out for three days. I had to make sure you were still breathing. We were going to see about putting in an IV if it lasted till morning."
Three days? The news hit me like a punch to the gut. I had been out far longer than I realized. No wonder Rey looked so frazzled and sleep deprived.
Rey's face suddenly split into an enormous grin. "But hey, you're back!" he crowed. In a single fluid motion, he launched himself at me, wrapping his arms and legs around me in an enthusiastic bear hug.
Which was a bit awkward, since he was a foot taller and a good eighty pounds heavier than me.
"Get off of me, you weirdo!" I squirmed and pushed at him, but his grip was like an octopus. My protests were muffled against his chest as he squeezed me even tighter. Damn trickster king and his superior preternatural strength.
Cathy strolled into the room, her red hair rumpled from sleep. She took one look at the scene, Rey clinging to me like a barnacle while I flailed helplessly trying to peel him off and smiled indulgently.
I caught her gaze over Rey's shoulder and sent her my best pleading look. "Help," I mouthed silently, widening my eyes for emphasis.
Cathy's smile only grew wider. She leaned against the doorframe, crossing her arms over her chest. "I don't think I will. You two look like you're having far too much fun."
Traitor. I glared at her as I continued my efforts to pry Rey off of me.
"I will get you for this, Cathy," I vowed, my words half-growl, half-gasp as Rey's arm dug into my ribs. "Just you wait."
Rey finally released me and sat back on his heels, still grinning like a fool. I gulped in a breath, savoring the sweet rush of oxygen. It felt like I had just gone ten rounds with a heavyweight boxer—a heavyweight boxer who liked to cuddle.
Rey's hand settled on my shoulder, his touch uncharacteristically gentle. "I hadeveryonein here looking at you," he said, his usual mischief absent from his tone. "Even Tanni. Nobody could figure out what was wrong, other than Bran saying it was a spell that he was reluctant to mess with since he didn’t know enough about it. We were starting to think about calling in an alchemist to see if they could do anything."
An alchemist. Shit, that was serious. If Rey had been considering bringing one in, then I must have been in bad shape.
I rubbed a hand over my face, trying to clear the cobwebs from my mind. Everything felt fuzzy, like I was viewing the world through a hazy filter. I needed to get my shit together, fast.
"Well, I'm awake now," I said. "So let's just focus on that, okay? No need to go calling the creepy alchemists."
Rey nodded. "Fine. But I'm telling you, Rissa, if you'd been out much longer..." He trailed off, shaking his head. "I don't know what I would've done."
