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 and

Lucas. I hope

you

He shakes his head.

He would have

the tiny flicker of hope is

coughing fit wracks my body, leaving me curled on

any minute, Marcus says, taking a step

can't get sick, he sure seems worried

she

words, Vanessa bustles into the room, her arms full of supplies. Magister Orion follows close behind, his

feeling, child?" His booming

my arms shake with the effort. "Like I've been

heads?"

have three," he says cheerfully, taking

her body's rate of rapid healing." "I've never

Marcus steps out

that. He has no reason to fear germs. But she looks at the door with a frown. "I'll check on him when I'm

Ava. I'm just going to make sure you don't have

fun word," I muse, following her commands as best

C

247 Ava. Pre-Heating

dizziness gets in the way, and she ends up rolling me around in different directions until she's satisfied she's checked over every

is sky

your bloodwork, but your blood pressure high. You're

are?"

"Of course."

"Where are we?"

know where we are, so why isn't it coming to

doesn't feel

what day

I guess. "Maybe Wednesday. I was on

Orion before sitting on my bed, her words slow and gentle, like she's talking to a child. "Where did you go on

you mean? We went to the beach. You

I was. Good

at her praise, even as she shoves a thermometer

"Whaff diff fo?"

with the forehead thermometer, but I just want to see it again.

sound of assent, I wiggle a little

my mouth, squinting at the numbers. "Well, that's not good. Ava, do you

bath from

not sure how long it is

dark, and Vanessa's sitting in a chair next to my bed. It wasn't

in a whisper, leaning over to touch

her question around my mind for a

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