Chapter 9
Nick pried his eyes open. His lids felt heavy and hurt. Pushing onto his elbows and forearms and off the bed, he looked around, trying to figure out where he was and what had happened.
The skin across his back itched, and when he reached over his shoulder to scratch, something flaked off.
“You all right?” Todd’s voice, thick, gravelly, odd in a way Nick had never heard before, came from the far end of the room, making him forget about whatever covered his back.
Turning his head far enough Todd came into view, Nick resisted the urge to gasp and move away. His master looked horrible. Obviously, Todd hadn’t slept, or not much, at any rate. His eyes were red and raw, with deep, dark purple streaks underneath. Overnight, his cheeks seemed to have hollowed out. Nick’s gaze was draw
