Jorick woke Katelina the next evening. He checked her wounds and then got dressed in one of his usual ensembles: black jeans and a long sleeved black pullover. He kicked the blue jeans and shirt from the day before under the bed, as though he could pretend he'd never borrowed them from Oren, or even worn them. Then he quickly brushed a kiss across her cheek and promised to return.

After he left, she lay in bed until she summoned the courage to leave the warm covers. The room ...