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

I

I croak, "have you

He shakes his head.

course he hasn't. He

of hope is dashed, leaving me

me curled on my side,

here any minute, Marcus says, taking a

professes he can't get sick, he sure

she

room, her arms full of supplies. Magister Orion follows close behind, his

feeling, child?" His booming voice seems

my arms shake with the effort. "Like I've been hit by a truck.

heads?"

says cheerfully, taking my

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."

Marcus steps out of the room. I snort with laughter. "He's worried he's going

to fear germs. But she looks at the door with a frown. "I'll check on him when I'm done with you." "Oh,

"Yes, more doctoring. Sit back, Ava. I'm just going to make sure you don't have any festering wounds we've

a fun word," I muse, following her commands

C

247 Ava. Pre-Heating

and she ends up rolling me around in different directions until she's satisfied she's checked over every millimeter of

is sky

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. Ava, do you

are?"

"Of course."

"Where are we?"

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

feel like home,

you know what day

I guess. "Maybe Wednesday.

and gentle, like she's talking to a child. "Where

you mean? We went to the beach. You were with me. My

was.

delighted at her praise, even as she shoves a thermometer in

"Whaff diff fo?"

to check your temperature. I already checked with the forehead thermometer, but I

a guttural sound of assent, I wiggle a

beeps, she yanks it out of my mouth, squinting at the numbers. "Well, that's not good. Ava, do you like

from hell, I

it is before I wake

and Vanessa's sitting in a chair

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

question around my mind for a moment, reconnecting

if I've been thrown to the mat a thousand times.