23. SICKNESS

23

SICKNESS

T he walk through the courtyard from the dorm to the main building did nothing to relax Aiden. The scent of daylilies and magnolias filled the air with their pleasant aroma, carried on the midday breeze that made the rising humidity of early July bearable. On a better day, he might stop and sit on the edge of the marble fountain and drink in the sounds and smells that came with the peak of summer, but today wasn't a better day.

Charlotte left a week ago to see her grandmother Rina in Atlanta, and now he felt like he was dying.

His skin itched, and his chest ached. His head felt fuzzy and throbbed with an ever-present headache he couldn't shake. The urge to vomit tightened his throat. His healing did nothing to ease how his body seemed to revolt against him.

Stepping from the bright sunshine of the day, he entered the main building to make his way to the cafeteria on the second floor.

He kept his head down, avoiding eye contact with anyone he passed. His eyes were bloodshot, and he probably looked like something the cat dragged in half dead. He didn't want to draw attention to himself.

In the cafeteria, he slunk to the buffet bar to grab a tray. The large buffet tables that wrapped around the center of the cafeteria held the spread of the day. Each meal they served had something new. With feeding all the students living on campus and catering to a variety of different cultures from all parts of the world, the amount of food that passed through the cafeteria was considerable, yet with minimal waste.

He grabbed the first things he saw. A small bowl of garden salad and a packet of the closest dressing, a small bowl of cantaloupe, and a serving of lasagna. Stopping at the beverage bar, he grabbed a cup and filled it with iced sweet tea before getting a blood packet from the refrigerators on the back wall. He would not neglect his health like before, not when he felt like this.

"Wow. You look like death warmed over," Seth said when Aiden approached the round table in the corner where his friends always sat at.

Riley sat between him and Blaire, who sat on the other side of Lukas. Dominic was on the other side of Lukas. Layla sat on the other side of Dominic. Three empty seats separated Seth and Layla. With Mera and Kai already gone to California, the vacancy at their table looked odd.

He placed his tray down and sat beside Seth. "Thanks, man, but death doesn't—" He cut himself short when awareness hit him.

The entire table fell silent. The conversation between Blaire, Lukas, and Dominic paused as they turned their heads to him.

He cursed under his breath. "Forget what I was going to say. It was a bad joke. I wasn't thinking." He slumped into his seat and ran a hand over his face. "I don't know why I said that. "

"What's going on?" Lukas said, placing his fork on his tray.

He wouldn't lie. His physical appearance made it obvious something was off.

"I think I'm sick," he said. He opened the blood packet, making sure he had that first in case he couldn't stomach his food.

Riley put down her sub sandwich and turned in her seat. "Sick?"

"Something like that."

Layla's face screwed up, and with her doll-like appearance, it made her look more like a child. "But you can't be sick."

"Technically, he can," Dominic said, looking at Layla. "Long term he can't be, but for a brief period, if the sickness is strong enough—like cancer—he would fall victim to it for several weeks before his natural healing could conquer it." A frown lined his lips, and he put his elbows on the table, lacing his fingers and pressing them to his mouth as he studied Aiden. His empty tray sat pushed forward in front of him.

Blaire asked, "What do you mean by sick?"

"Sick. Like, headaches, the sweats, poor sleep, fatigue, my chest hurts… Should I go on?" Aiden gave her a half-hearted smile, so she understood he meant his sarcasm to be harmless. He wasn't sure he could competently convey his emotions today.

"You had enough blood?" Lukas asked, giving him a pointed look that made it clear he still wasn't happy with what transpired the week before.

Aiden didn't blame him. He wouldn't have been happy either to hear his best friend neglected himself to the point of becoming feral and possibly losing himself to mania.

He held up his blood packet. "Yeah, this is my second today. Had one at breakfast."

Lukas nodded, saying nothing more on the subject. Aiden trusted he would keep their secret.

"Have you been to the health wing?" Seth asked.

Aiden gave a brief shake of his head. "Nah. Not yet."

He knew the culprit behind the gradual buildup of sickness in his body. He needed his Korrena. Needed Charlotte.

Sara came back to pick her up before they transferred Rina to a care facility. While she was in hospital care for her broken hip, they discovered the accident was related to a neurological condition. The hospital said they couldn't in good faith send Rina home without round-the-clock care, and Charlotte's family lacked the necessary resources for the care Rina needed, so a long-term care facility became the only option.

Sara wanted Rina closer to Rosebrook Valley so she could see her often, but there weren't any vacancies, and the waiting lists were too long. They brought Charlotte to see Rina in case her cognitive functions diminished too far before they could make a trip again to see her while running two businesses.

"You need to see someone," Blaire said, breaching his thoughts. She scooped up a bite of lasagna. "If this isn't normal for you guys, you should at least see if you're okay." She took a bite.

He couldn't tell them the reason he felt like he was dying was because his Korrena was halfway across the state. The temptation to borrow his mother's car again and drive to Atlanta made his skin itch and tingle.

"Yeah, maybe."

"Maybe he just needs to get laid," Seth said, leaning back in his seat, popping a grape into his mouth. "Always makes me feel better." He winked at Riley, and her cheeks flamed in response.

"You're an idiot," she said.

"Well, you chose me, so what does that make you? "

"Also an idiot."

Dominic snorted, and Seth gave him a shrewd look. Even if Dominic no longer showed any attraction to Riley, Seth still acted like he was a mild threat. His attitude lessened the more time passed with Dominic making no moves to pursue Riley.

"So what are we doing for Lukas's birthday this year? It's the end of next week." Riley looked between the two guys. "Dom, you weren't here when we went to Tybee Island for spring break, but it was sort of this big celebration for everyone's birthday because with all the mess around here last summer through the last semester, no one got to celebrate."

Aiden wiped the sweat from his brow and took a long drink of his iced tea. Lukas gave him a look of concern, but he gave a brief shake of his head. He might talk to Lukas—and maybe Seth—about it, but later. Away from the rest of them.

Lukas's jaw muscle shifted, and he looked at Blaire, who was talking to Riley about his birthday. It was the only sign he understood. His best friend knew him. He knew when to wait.

His fingers dug into his eyes, and he forced down another bite of salad. The lasagna sat heavy in his gut, like the cheese had curdled in the stomach acid churning there. This could not all be from being away from her. He never heard of separation bringing this level of physical torment.

"I think we can save the birthday talk for later," Seth said, leaning in to get a better look at Aiden's face. "You need to see someone. You're sweating bullets."

Riley jerked her head around to look at Aiden, and the way her eyes softened and filled with worry hurt him. He didn't want to upset his little sister.

Blaire's hand rested on Riley's shoulder in a comforting gesture. " He's gonna go see someone. Don't worry." She gave him a sharp look.

Sighing, he stood. "I'll take care of it."

He couldn't go to the health department. If he went and told them the truth, the domino effect would rock the school, throwing everyone's life into disarray. They were only now coming down from the chaos Blaire's arrival brought, and even then, they still faced issues because of a human Korrena. Charlotte also awakening as one, without the magical blood Blaire possessed, would be another situation where others would want to experiment.

He would be damned if he let anyone put their hands on Charlotte.

Suppressing the growl that rose in his chest, he picked up his tray. "I'll talk to you later," he said, looking at Lukas.

"Sure, man. I'll come by your room later and check on you."

"Me too," Riley said.

Seth shook his head. "I think he needs rest."

Lines settled between Riley's eyebrows, and she frowned at her Korrena. "Lukas is stopping by. Why can't I?"

"You can do whatever you want, but if you go, you'll hang out forever yapping your brother's ear off. If Lukas goes, he'll check on him and leave."

"Okay. Yeah. That's fair."

Layla laughed, and Dominic smoothed a hand over his mouth to hide his amusement.

"Let me know if it gets worse or you need anything," his sister said, looking up at him with a serious look on her face that looked out of place there. She must really be worried.

He didn't answer. He couldn't lie to her.

Stalking across the cafeteria, he disposed of his trash.

It felt wrong to be the weak one. He always supported the group. Always ensured everyone was okay and well. When something went wrong, he stepped up to either figure out the problem or solve the problem if it was known. It threw him off balance to not be in control of the situation.

The darkness of his dorm helped ease the prickly feeling skittering over his skin like insects.

He collapsed on his bed and reached beneath his pillow, pulling out the baggy T-shirt he'd stolen from Charlotte. She wore it the night he noticed his mark on her. When she threw it into the hamper the next morning, he snatched it out and hid it.

If he had to go back to the academy without her, he would take a piece of her with him. A piece that held her natural scent. It also held the sweet pineapple upside down cake scent that made his mouth water. He now knew the smell to be the pheromone unique to her, that only he could smell as her Korrena. No wonder he became addicted to the smell while living with her in Athens.

He lifted the shirt to his face and breathed her in.

The potent scent of her arousal still clung to the fabric, and it made his cock stir in his jeans.

He eased his shirt up over his abs and worked open the button and zipper on his jeans, freeing his thick length. He gripped it tight in his hand. The relief he felt when the sourness in his stomach receded was startling. The combination of her scent and the pleasure he derived from it made him feel better.

Lifting his hand to his mouth, he spit into his palm before grasping his shaft again and working himself in slow, long strokes. He twisted his hand at the head, making his toes curl in his boots.

His other hand held her shirt close to his nose as he took another hit of her scent. His cock jerked in his hand, balls tightening in response.

He wondered if she was thinking of him. If she touched herself thinking of him while they were apart.

Squeezing his eyes shut, he arched his neck as he let the mental image wash over him of Charlotte lying in bed naked, toying with her ample breasts, working her hand between her legs, bringing herself pleasure while thinking of him. He shuddered.

Did she play with her nipples and take her time? Or did she go straight for it and work herself into a frenzy without preamble?

His grip on his shaft tightened as he jerked himself in quick, short strokes to the mental image. He groaned his pleasure into the silence of the room. What was she doing to him?

He wondered if she slid her fingers inside, or only worked over her clit. Did she use toys? He recalled seeing a little purple device inside her nightstand. That thing had no purpose other than self-pleasure.

Leaving the shirt lying over his face, he pushed his jeans down farther, allowing his balls to be free. He cupped them in one hand, massaging as he worked his other hand over his length, slick with his natural lubricant and spit.

"Fuck, Charlotte."

The image in his mind shifted, and he saw her bent in front of him as he took her from behind, his mark prominent and permanent on her neck. He wanted it so badly. Wanted to claim and seal the bond.

In his mind, he reached for her and pulled her body flush with his, wrapping one arm around her waist and the other over the tops of her breast, giving her no escape from the cage of his arms.

She cried out at his brutal thrusts, his fingers pressing into her arm and waist in a way he knew would leave bruises, and it pleased him to know that because she was human, they would last.

When he sank his fangs into her, making her entire body convulse as her climax overtook her, he filled her with his seed. An anger settled in at her use of birth control .

He gasped, and his eyes flew open as thick, sticky ropes of cum coated his abs. Pulling the shirt from his face, he dropped it at his side, lying there in his mess in shock.

Had he seriously thought that? He didn't want children. Not yet.

It was just a fantasy. Only a fantasy , he told himself, trying to quell the panic seizing his chest that he'd come thinking of filling her and leaving more than a piece of himself behind.

His need to claim and own every part of Charlotte was invading every part of him, twisting his thoughts and revealing desires he never knew he had. So far, she hadn't been against any of it. Even the biting and blood thing. Though, unlike his fantasy, when he bit her and drew blood before, it wasn't with his fangs.

With the high of his orgasm fading, the itchy feeling came back. Sooner than later, something had to give. If a week caused this much internal conflict, how was he going to function long term without her?

Grabbing his phone, he opened their text thread. He needed to know she was okay.

Aiden:

Hey. How are you holding up?

Charlotte:

I'm alright. Grandma doesn't seem sick, but it makes sense. The issues only happen when she has a lapse in memory or focus.

Aiden:

I'm sorry this is happening.

Charlotte:

It's okay. We weren't very close. At least she's not sick. They expect her to be around a long time.

Aiden:

That's good .

He pulled his shirt over his head to clean off the cum drying on his stomach then tossed it into a hamper. He tucked his cock away and got up, going to the closet and getting a clean shirt.

Settling back on the bed, he tucked her shirt beneath his pillow.

Aiden:

So other than that, how are you doing?

Charlotte:

Fine. Why?

He frowned. Did the separation only affect Vasirian? He didn't think so. Blaire mentioned something about suffering while away from Lukas. Maybe it only affected a human if they had a sealed bond.

Aiden:

Just making sure things are okay.

He typed out "I miss you" then deleted it. He didn't want to be clingy, even if he felt that way.

Charlotte:

Okay. I've gotta go. Ma is calling me for dinner.

Aiden:

Have a good night beautiful.

Charlotte:

:-)

He set his phone down on the bed and settled back. He hoped the physical release before texting her would make it easier for him to fall asleep .

After a few minutes of silence, his phone buzzed against his hip and he sighed, picking it up.

Riley:

We were thinking about going to Haven for Lukas's birthday. He doesn't want anything major.

Aiden:

Sounds good.

Riley:

I'm gonna invite Charlotte, so make sure you have a packet before we go.

Aiden:

Sure.

Riley:

I hope you're feeling better. I love you.

Aiden:

I will. Soon. Promise. I love you too.

It was the truth. Soon he would feel okay again. Once Charlotte came home.

He wondered if she would even be back in time for Lukas's birthday. The tightness in his chest at the thought of going another week without her around made him question if he could even survive it.