iot

w seconds I had no idea where I was. Then it landed all at once: Sebastian's apartment,

on the nightstand, no new messages waiting, which so

es, tired eyes, and nothing about it looked married. When I stepped out into the main room, Sebastian was already awake, standing

p early,"

dn't

counter. "Coffee's

e I was. "Wha

f the league tries to pull you in for a medical, the prote

on't care abou

t most of them care about

my hands something to do. The apartment sat quiet ar

of the

bitter. "I need to get my

ady had someone check; two cars stayed on y

htened. "So I'

now.

than I meant to. "This is

t

tempo

le is handled and the people asking questio

like th

ical staff quiet for a while, and that I should stay inside and not open the door for anyone. When I asked where he was going, he told me just to the other room, that he wo

ken my stick, the one who'd smelled me in the locker room, the one who now knew enough to destroy me if he decided to. Out of habit, I

ed with an un

g to Wolfe w

een. My hands ha

back into the main room, took one l

He read it, jaw tight. "Th

e succe

wer it. Do

or you

dical officer who flagged you in Vancouver is being told to

much

e're lucky. A da

le heading to normal jobs, none of them having just married their rival to keep a secret from ending thei

r today. Write down exactly where they are and what t

u have people who ju

y to be careful. Th

n't a

a moment. "You'r

m f

hen's the last

't rem

nd set it on the counter. "Eat something. Then

public

l see it. We need a story, quiet one, no big announcement, just en

ou want me to prete

lieve it enough that the

d. "I'm not good

pretending to be a

wanted them to. I looked away

I'm statin

s until I finally asked, "What

. And the chance to keep them from taking s

ot a full

ly one I hav

down a few bites that tasted like not

building has security. You're listed as a resident

m a pr

cted. There's

feel the

more time from the

t lasts, pretty boy. The com

n looked at me. "They're not backin

ow

ause becomes too messy for them to fight. That means you stay

down. "I didn't

survive. This

ce less than twenty-four hours ago, now telling me how to st