jagged sound that barely carried over the

nightstand. She looked down at Barron. His eyes were open now, fixing her

t at Adrien, not a

e charity case, then leave," he added, the effort of speakin

n a storm, terrified for his life, and his first coherent instinct was to banish her.

he said quietly. "I'm going to get the hair

tending to head to

gle step, a hand shot out a

his skin was scorching. Brandy gasped, looking back down. Barron's knuck

te, something terrified-a silent, agonizing plea for her to stay. He realized it instantly. A look of sel

d on, his thumb pressing into her pulse point,

oice incredibly soft, recognizing the vulnerability he was

p loosened. His hand fell he

arron had managed to turn himself over. He was lying flat on his stomach, his face turned away from her, buried in the p

ocated in one of the guest rooms. He moved with practiced efficiency,

re flowing. He's going to be out of it for a while. The fever wil

s and the topical ointments on the tray. You need to apply the ointment to every

the instructions. "I unde

f his family finds out I'm treating him after they explic

ving room, where Adrien

Adrien. "But he needs constant mo

t stay?" Adrien asked, gl

th you were so eager to give him, I sugge

a venomous gla

ual. Come on, let's

y plunged into a suffocating silence, the only sound the steady, rhythmic drumming of the sto

ely alone wit