CHAPTER 26

Oh, thank God he hadcome. Even with all his overbearing, abrasive personality, she needed him now. Not bothering to reply to his rude remark, she opened the door wider and turned to allow him entrance. The room twirled around her, and the floor seemed to tilt. She grabbed for something to hold on to, swaying on her feet. There was only empty space. She was going to fall...

Strong arms grabbed her, holding her securely against his chest. The door closed with a bang as he walked the few steps to the bed and deposited her in it. She closed her eyes as the ceiling continued spinning. She had never felt so wretched in her entire life.

“I’m going to be sick,” she croaked through her swollen and painful throat.

“You are already sick. What happened to you? You were fine yesterday.” His voice was gruff with concern as he positioned the chamber pot next to the bed and held her face down over the edge, supporting her head. “Go.”

The order was almost amusing. Did he think he could command her to vomit? She would laugh at his high-handedness if she had the strength to do it. But as it was, all she could do was breathe in and out as much as her stuffed nose allowed. Gradually, the urge to throw up passed. Good. It wasn’t a sight she wished for him to see.

“Put me back. The urge passed. I think the dizziness caused it.”

“What other symptoms have you had? When did they start?” His voice, rough and impersonal, was so at odds with the gentleness of his arms as he deposited her back against the pillows. His hand was soft and cool as he touched her forehead. She closed her eyes.

“Sometime yesterday after we returned from the duke’s house. My throat started to itch. I thought it was nothing, that maybe I had inhaled some dust. But by dinnertime my throat was on fire.” She swallowed with difficulty, the rawness of her throat making it a painful process. A glass of water appeared in front of her.

“Here.”

“Thank you.” She took it and drank. Grateful for the coolness of the water that soothed her ravaged throat.

“Why didn’t you call me yesterday?”

“I thought it would pass. And then it was too late.”

“Late, bollocks. You should have sent for me at any time. Have you tested yourself to see what you got? Have you taken any medication?”

She closed her eyes and sank deeper into the pillows. “No. The medical kit is in your room.”

“Damn it, Kalli. You know how important it is to test and attack the pathogens at the first sign of infection. I’ll be right back.”

He marched out of the room, his angry strides proclaiming his frustration. Let him be angry. She didn’t have the energy to care. He was barging back into the room in less time than she thought it would take him to get to his room. Let alone come back.

“Here,” he said, plopping down the briefcase he carried on the corner of the bed and opening it. He retrieved the test and ripped the package open. Then held the device up to her mouth. “Open.”

She wanted to tell him he needn’t issue commands. She knew how the test worked; thank you very much. But she only had time to throw him a dirty look before he shoved the mouthpiece against her lips. She opened her mouth and breathed into it until the thing beeped, signaling it had gathered her sample.

He set it on the nightstand to wait for the results. It shouldn’t take more than a few minutes.

“How do you feel? Can I get you something for the symptoms?”

“Not yet. Let’s wait and see what I have first. Then we can better treat it.”

He nodded, accepting this was the best way to proceed. But it seemed the inaction was grating on his nerves. He put his hands on his hips and stared at her.

“Had you sent for me, we could have done this yesterday. By now, you would be feeling much better.”

It appeared his default response to anxiety was to scold. She snuggled deeper into the blankets as a shiver went through her. She was so cold, despite the balmy temperature of the room. He noticed her shudder.

“You have a fever. Looks like some sort of flu.”

“We w-will know in a few m-moments.”

In response, he walked over to the test device and picked it up. Staring into it.

“S-settle down, Dariux. You are exhausting to watch. The test won’t be ready f-faster because you stare at it.”

“Have you eaten anything today? I was told you ordered breakfast.”

“You are well informed.” The attack of shivers was passing. Thank goodness. “The breakfast tray is on the table.”

Dariux lifted the plate covers and frowned. “This is all untouched, Kalli. Damn it, I can’t believe you didn’t call me.”

“How was I going to call you, Dariux? Should I have sent a text? Maybe a video call?”

He was not amused by her sarcasm. “You could have sent a maid to fetch me.”

“Have seen no maids. Have seen no one.” Was that an aura around Dariux’s head? She squinted.

“Someone must have brought the trays of food. Yesterday and this morning.”

“Outside. They left them outside. Can’t see anyone. Contagious.” Forming sentences was becoming increasingly difficult. Her brain felt like sludge. The colors were swirling around Dariux. They were so pretty.

Too much color. Too much light. A loud beep. Too much sound. She was so tired. Her eyes closed.

Next thing she knew, she was being shaken awake.

“Wake up. Wake up. Don’t you pass out on me. Heavens, you are burning with fever. The test results are in. You have the flu.”

“Vaccinated...”

“Not against this strain, apparently. I’m going to give you the broad-spectrum antiviral. And some medicine for the fever. We need to bring your temperature down.”

“Your eyes are changing color.” It was mesmerizing.

“No, they are not. Fuck, you are delirious.”

He left her side to go rummage in the medicine case. Was she delirious? She must be. But the colors were so real. They kept swirling around the room. Becoming shapes, then transforming into something else. Like the projections of an old cinema...

A sharp prick on her arm yanked her mind back to the brink of reality. “Ouch.”

“That was the antipyretic. For your fever. Your body temperature is over forty degrees. We need to bring it down fast.”

“Hmmm.” She wanted to go to sleep...

“Kalli, stay with me. I’m going to bring you the antiviral pill now. I need you to take it.”

She chuckled. “You are so sexy when you get all domineering.”

“Definitely delirious. Here, let me help you sit, so you can take the pill.”

He put an arm behind her shoulders and boosted her up, but her head felt so heavy. She let it fall against his shoulder.

“Kalli, take the pill.”

The press of his fingers holding the pill to her lips brought her back. She took the pill, and he immediately brought a glass of water to her mouth. She drank, washing down the pill. His arms felt so good, so strong and warm. She couldn’t remember ever feeling this weak. She snuggled against him, hoping he would keep holding her.

Thank goodness he did. Leaning back against the pillows, he brought her back down, gathering her close to his chest. Heavenly. As she was drifting off to sleep, she thought she heard him mutter.

“You can sleep now, little sprite. I’ve got you.”

But maybe she was still hallucinating.