Page 156 of Phoenix Rise

“The kind of rest I need isn’t sleep,” she said gently. “And I’ve given Jacques the spare room until this is over.”

Over? I was beginning to doubt it would ever be over. At least not in any way that was good.

The suite looked like someone had thrown a bloody party, and then just up and left. The table lay buried beneath a mountain of maps, bits of paper, beer bottles, and mugs. Chairs had been abandoned throughout the room.

The Watcher had sent everyone home to rest, physically laying hands on Nikolai to push him out the door.

Mari was the only one left. She shot worried glances at Anna.

I set the mug down and walked up to her. “It’s okay, Mari. Get some sleep.”

“She’s not in a good place,” the ogre whispered.

“I know,” I said. “I’ve got this.”

I didn’t, not really, but I also didn’t think there was anything Mari could do that would help. Her orange eyes locked with mine before she nodded. “You know where I am.” She walked out the door.

Cara sat on a kitchen stool as I reclaimed the mug. Trix lay at Anna’s feet and watched me approach. I folded a long arm around my mate and turned her away from the window.

She immediately went rigid, as if staring out at the carnage was helping to hold her together.

Reaching for her along the link, I was met with such anguish that it almost panicked me. I took a deep breath, lowered my lips to her ear, and whispered, “Come with me, Angel.”

She shuddered and closed her eyes. “Where are we going?”

“We scored the presidential suite.” And then I added the one thing that ensured she would come. “I need to lie down, or I’ll fall down.”

It was a cheap ploy, and I knew it, but it was all I had. And her eyes flew open to meet mine before I felt the surrender in her body. I pressed the mug into her hands.

“What’s this?”

“One of Cara’s concoctions,” I replied.

“She puts things in them, you know,” she protested as I led her down the hall.

“She’s a healer, Angel. It’s what she does. Hold on to it now.” And I bent to sweep her up in my arms.

Tea sloshed over the edge of the mug, and she took a big gulp to drop the level, before accusing, “I thought you were tired.”

“I am. But you don’t weigh anything at all.”

“That,” she said as she balanced her burden and placed her free arm around my neck, “Is a lie. But sweet.”

“I’m a sweet bloke. Just don’t let it get around. Everyone will want a piece of me.” The bedroom door was partly ajar, and I shoved it wider with a well-placed knee.

“This is—”

“Yep. She claims she doesn’t need sleep. The only other option is sharing a bed with Jacques—”

“This’ll do,” she said, with a hint of her old spunk.

I sat her down. As she squirmed out of her sword harness, I fluffed a couple of pillows and propped her up. Trix did her dog thing, curling up on Anna’s other side.

“Drink up,” I said.

“Now Iknowthere’s something in this.”

“I’m sure there is. But you need it right now.”

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