Page 52 of Shadow Mate

“No. Don’t do that to me. I haven’t seen you in a week and things aren’t exactly going well. I need to know what’s going on,” I said.

“You should sit down,” Zoe suggested.

“Who wants coffee?” Luke announced.

We all looked over at him. He was already out the door, but waiting right outside in the hall. “I have a meeting in town. I can bring something back.”

“Morgan takes hers with cream and sugar,” Zoe said.

“She likes caramel lattes the best, if that’s an option,” Jasmine added.

“I don’t need anything fancy,” I said.

“She likes the breakfast burrito at the cafe,” Zoe added.

“She can speak for herself,” I said.

“Sorry,” Zoe said, wrinkling her nose.

“Got it. Breakfast burritos and coffee all around.” Luke looked like he wanted to say something else, but after a lingering pause, he turned and left.

“Shit, you got under his skin,” Zoe said. “I’ve never seen him this rattled.”

“He’s cute,” Jasmine commented. “I mean, maybe getting kidnapped wasn’t the worst thing that could happen.”

I glared at my best friend. “Being kidnapped isnota good thing.”

“He seems to be worried about you, though, kidnapper or not.” Jasmine shrugged.

“When you were hurt, I thought he was going to lose it,” Zoe said. “He’s been hunting for accomplices. Scarlett and I are helping. If we find anyone, they won’t get mercy.”

A flicker of warmth rose low in my belly, and I quickly extinguished it. “If I die, he dies. It’s not difficult to figure out why he was freaking out or why he’d want to prevent it from happening again.”

“Maybe.” Zoe guided me to the bed, then sat down next to me. Jasmine took the spot on my other side. I had to admit, despite my injuries, I felt better just by having them here.

I was failing miserably at keeping Zoe out of the friend zone. “Wait, you two seem awfully chummy.”

“I got here right after you were hurt. I spent yesterday getting to know your new friends,” Jasmine said.

My upper lip twitched at the causal way she explained my situation. It was far more complicated than that, wasn’t it?

“You look so much better than yesterday,” she said.

“So you all got chummy while I was stuck in bed from a potion to keep me asleep?” I asked.

“Speaking of potion.” Jasmine jumped from the bed and grabbed the glass jar Luke had set there earlier. “Did you take this yet?”

I shook my head.

Jasmine unscrewed the lid then passed me the jar. “Take a few small sips. It’s not an exact science and you can’t really over-do it on this. So if that doesn’t help soon, have some more. I should warn you, though, it is going to reverse the potion I gave you.”

“So everyone knows about that?” I asked.

“No, but this is a basic healing draught. It will rid the body of any other potions or toxins to help you heal faster,” Jasmine said.

I was willing to try shifting again, but this felt so soon.

“Go ahead, it’ll speed up the healing,” Jasmine encouraged.

---