Tangled

Unshift 247

Unshift 247

247 Ava: Pre-Heating

Vanessa shakes her head. "You might have a fever from overworking yourself, but I doubt it. At this point you're more shifter than human, I think-you shouldn't be getting sick. You don't even need your glasses anymore."

"It's probably fine-"

"Better to check, she interrupts. "I'll get my supplies and check with Magister Orion to see if this is normal after an extended time in that magic room of his."

"You're making a big deal out of nothing. I'm fi-" The room tilts as I take a step, and suddenly the floor rushes up to meet me. Vanessa's quick reflexes save me from an ignoble face-planting.

"You were saying?" Her tone is gentle but firm, her fingers digging into my arms as she sets me straight again.

My nose wrinkles. My sense of smell still isn't as acute as theirs, but I swear I can scent her satisfaction. Maybe it's my imagination. "Okay, maybe I'm a little wobbly."

Vanessa guides me to the bathroom, her arm a constant support. "Take your time. I'll be right outside if you need me."

When I emerge, she tucks me back into bed like I'm a child. The mattress feels too soft and too hard all at once. I want to protest, to tell her I can go downstairs and speak to Magister Orion myself, but exhaustion weighs me down.

I'm definitely not feeling right.

Marcus appears in the doorway, his hulking frame filling the space. He nods at Vanessa. "I've got this. Go talk to the wizard."

As Vanessa leaves, I shift restlessly. One moment I'm burning up, the next I'm shivering. Blanket on, then off. A deep ache settles into my bones, making it impossible to get comfortable. Marcus is here now, in the corner. The tension in his shoulders is obvious. Guess he doesn't like

germs.

I drift in and out of consciousness, fragments of my earlier nightmare flashing through my mind. The murky stream, the bizarre presence.

Odd how I didn't remember it when I woke, because now I'm cold from my hair to my toes at the memory of it. Something insidious lurks there.

My lungs burn, I take shallow breaths, because it's impossible to fill my lungs with air.

I toss and turn. Even my fingertips hurt.

A cough builds in my chest, and I try to avoid letting it out.

When it finally escapes, it feels like my entire torso rips apart, leaving me sore and bruised in my ribs.

Marcus shifts from foot to foot. He's clearly uncomfortable. He's usually a statue when he's on

247 Ava Pro-Heating

"Don't worry." I rasp, trying for a weak smile. "You can't catch whatever this is."

He grunts. "I don't get sick."

I sigh, sinking further into the pillows. "Must be nice."

The silence stretches between us, broken only by my occasional coughs and the rustle of sheets

toss

thoughts keep circling back to Lucas. I

you heard anything from

He shakes his head.

course he hasn't. He would have

tiny flicker of hope is dashed, leaving

body, leaving me curled on

any minute, Marcus says, taking a

can't get sick,

she

my words, Vanessa bustles into the room, her arms full of supplies. Magister Orion

feeling, child?" His booming voice seems softer

with the effort. "Like I've been hit by a truck. Do you have

heads?"

three," he says cheerfully, taking my fever-blathering

presses a cool hand to my forehead. Her mouth is pinched with worry. "She's burning up. She shouldn't be this sick with her body's rate of rapid healing." "I've never seen a sick Lycan," Magister Orion agrees, scratching at his head. "The training room has never had any side effect outside of exhaustion, but I suppose there's a first time

out of the room. I snort with laughter. "He's

she looks at the door with

going to make sure you don't

following her

C

247 Ava. Pre-Heating

ends up rolling me around in different directions until she's satisfied she's checked over

is sky

infected wounds. I don't have a lab to run your bloodwork, but your blood pressure high. You're tachycardic. Clammy to the touch. A little delirious.

are?"

"Of course."

"Where are we?"

That's odd. I know where we are, so why isn't it coming

doesn't feel

what day

"Maybe Wednesday. I

Magister Orion before sitting on my bed, her words slow and gentle, like she's talking to a child.

went to the beach. You were with me. My brows draw together.

was. Good

delighted at her praise, even as she shoves a thermometer

"Whaff diff fo?"

temperature. I already checked with the forehead thermometer, but I just want

guttural sound of assent, I wiggle a little deeper into my

mouth, squinting at the numbers. "Well, that's

ice bath from hell,

how long it is before I

dark, and Vanessa's sitting in a chair next to

you feeling?" she asks in a whisper, leaning over to touch

her question around my mind for a moment, reconnecting with

focus on Vanessa's face. Every part of my body aches, as if I've been thrown to the mat a thousand