I shut off the water, opened the glass door and stepped out to grab the towel. Thankfully, my legs barely shook. I wrapped the massive length around myself twice before walking across to the wooden bench. Everything was piled neatly. First thing, I lifted the murky glass of green. Human-made pharmaceuticals do not mix well with supernaturals, but we had plenty of herbal concoctions that helped nature heal our bodies. I downed the liquid and the relief was almost instantaneous. The pounding halted and the daggers which had been stabbing into the corners of my eyes abated. Feeling much more normal, I pulled on underwear and then my usual form-fitting jeans, and a long-sleeved thermal top.
Meanwhile I was munching on the thick bread sandwich – large slabs of rare beef, with relish and cheese filling. I groaned as the deliciousness coated my tongue.
“Come on, Jessa, you can finish your sandwich while we get moving.”
I had to chuckle. Groaning sounds from the bathroom … well, anyone else would be thinking I was really enjoying myself in here, but Braxton knew me too well. Food, how I love thee.
Before leaving, I pulled my long hair back into a ponytail. The mirror was not my friend right now. I avoided looking too long at my pale, strained features.
“I’m killing that fucking sorcerer,” I muttered as I wrenched open the door and left the room, half of my sandwich clenched tightly in my hand. As if I’d summoned him with my angry words, there was a knock on the door and Louis entered the room.
“Not my worst welcome,” he said. His white smile hurt my eyes. He was so goddamn cheery, which was making me feel a little murderous.
“What do you want?” I snarled. I was not my best in the morning and hung-over made it a lot worse.
His grin did not waver. “I thought you might need a bit of relief this morning,” he said.
Braxton was on his feet and between the sorcerer and me faster than I could blink.
“I’m hoping you mean of the magical-hangover-cure variety,” I said, moving around the mound of muscled dragon shifter. “Because my sense of humor seems to have temporarily fled the building.”
And so apparently had Braxton’s.
Louis showed not one ounce of concern. “Relax, guard lizard. I know the strength of the fey wine. I should have realized Jessa would not be accustomed to it. I don’t like that due to my oversight she suffers this morning.”
Stepping closer to me, he lifted both hands to hover on either side of my head. “May I?” His eyes bore into mine. I swallowed loudly before nodding.
He cradled my head. I closed my eyes to escape the probing intensity of his gaze. An immediate warmth flooded me, hot enough to be unnatural but not quite burning. This warmth washed away any lingering effect of the wine and I felt myself again. In fact, as he finished and removed his hands, I realized I felt fantastic. My eyelids lifted and there was no more pain or stabbing. I threw my arms around him.
“Thank you. That was like coffee, only a million times better.”
His expression was unreadable when I pulled back. “You’re welcome, Jessa. I’ll see you around.” He left just as silently as he’d arrived.
I schooled my features as I faced the grim Braxton. “Let’s go find the others,” I managed to murmur as I shoved the rest of my sandwich in my mouth.
Braxton examined me, his face kind of blank, but his eyes were alive. Then he exhaled in a visible motion and strode out the door. I followed along, having no idea what was pissing him off. We walked in silence through the quiet, cool, morning forest. It was tranquil, and yet at the same time a plethora of noises flooded through the shrubbery. Braxton was marching along, his face still sort of expressionless, but … that light in his eyes, that happened when he was seriously contemplating something.
I broke the quiet. I never could stand that uncomfortable silence between friends. “You worried? About Nash?”
His head flicked around and the slight widening of his eyes surprised me. My question seemed to have jolted him into remembering Nash. He clearly had not been thinking of the little boy. And just like that he was back on point and focused on the mission.
His pace increased. “Come on, Jess, let’s move it.”
I had to jog to keep up with him. We found the rest of our group in a small clearing to the western end of the forest. Mischa was there, so I guessed Jonathon had caved. Braxton, Mischa and I were dressed in simple, warm and easy to shed clothes. The other Compasses were in army style fatigues, form fitted so as not to catch on anything and in dark colors to blend in.
Jacob grinned at me. “Nice. You look like my Jessa again, and not like moldy old ass.” The fey’s white-blond hair was glistening in the slivers of sunlight penetrating the gloom.
I flipped him off as a reply.
“Harsh, man,” Tyson piped up. “It was more like drunken chicken ass.”
I refrained from kicking him in the ribs, which is what I wanted to do. “Ha ha hardy har. You’re all freakin’ comedians. Let’s get this show on the road.”
Braxton pulled us in close. “We have one shot to do this, the entrance moves in twelve hours. I don’t want any heroes. Follow my lead. I’m in command here.”