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Skye as she handed them over.
    Court gave a nod of thanks to Minka and turned to walk around the porch and down the stairs. He would be back to pick up Riley and Kane, unless Kane took to the woods with the Moonstone wolves.
    Once Skye was buckled in the seat of the truck, she crossed her arms over her chest and stared out the windshield. Court started the engine and backed up the vehicle before driving through the grass between the trees.
    “How are you feeling?” he asked.
    “The aspirin has dulled most of the pain.”
    He recalled how hard she had hit the pavement. “You’re likely to have quite the bump.”
    “I already do.”
    Court inhaled deeply and swerved to miss a skunk and her three babies, causing him to drive around a group of live oaks.
    “Thank you,” Skye said. “I didn’t say that back there. I know that makes me look ungrateful.”
    “You were on the defensive. I understand.”
    Her head turned to him. “Do you? Why? Why did you help me? Why were you even at the Viper’s Nest?”
    With as smart of a journalist as Skye was, Court knew he had to answer her or take his chances that she’d find out on her own. Perhaps if he made his case well enough, she might back off. It was a long shot, but one he had to take.
    “I was there because of you.” He glanced at her, the truck rocking as they drove through a muddy section. There was just enough ambient light for him to see her brow rise.
    “For me?” she repeated, shaking her head. She returned her gaze forward. “Let me guess. The articles?” she asked, her voice dripping with sarcasm.
    Court grinned despite the situation. Skye’s annoyed tone sounded so similar to Riley’s. “We’re not the only ones who are noticing you. As you know, New Orleans is a dangerous city.”
    “Why are you interested in my articles? The truth, if you please.”
    “We told you back at the house. You’re bringing attention to yourself that is going to get you killed.”
    “I’ve thought of that. There are contingencies in place for the police to track down my killer – no matter what or who it is.”
    Court pulled the truck onto the dirt road. “Seriously? That’s your answer? You’re a piece of work. We’re trying to help you.”
    “No. You’re stifling the people’s right to know.”
    Court slammed on the brakes, and Skye’s head snapped toward him. He jerked his head to her, tired of playing it nice. It was time she had the hard truth. “If you paid a little more attention to things, you might realize the supernatural extends far past a few sections of the city. They’re inside political offices and every law enforcement agency of the city. So no, Skye, no one would look for your killer. You’d be another statistic in a long line of unsolved murders.”
    She blinked at him.
    Court faced forward, his hands gripping the steering wheel. “You’re up to your ass in a bad situation. Had we not been there tonight, the vamps would’ve taken you. Whether they wanted to feed off you or turn you, I don’t know. Either way, you would no longer be the person you are now.”
    “It happened in college,” she said softly.
    Court swiveled his head toward Skye to find her looking down at her hands. He was silent, waiting for her to continue.
    “I knew my roommate, Jo, was a bit different. I just thought she was goth. I didn’t find out until we had lived in the dorms for almost a year that she was a witch.”
    Skye laughed, the sound forced as she rubbed her hands up and down her arms. “Jo didn’t hide it exactly, but she didn’t announce it either. I kept to myself most times, so I didn’t pay attention to her much. We ran in different social circles too, but she was nice, and we got along.”
    “Until,” Court urged when she stopped talking.
    Skye looked at him. “It was during Christmas break. I had nowhere to go, and she chose to take an extra course during that time. It was late. She was up studying, and I had just gotten back from a date.