Page 23 of These Deadly Dreams

“Yeah, I’m fine.” I take a bite of chicken and chew quickly. I’m still so hungry, even after eating my piece and all the sides.

Kai groans next to me and clutches his stomach. “I’m not okay. Why aren’t you asking me?”

“Because, you're being dramatic, and you’ll be fine in a few hours.” Cade turns back his laptop. “When do you think your friend will be able to do this?” he asks Sterling.

“Give him a few days to scope the place and see if there are any guards or security he’ll have to deal with. I’ll talk to him later today about it.”

“Perfect. Next, we nee?—”

Kai groans, louder and longer, cutting Cade off.

“Really, Kai?” Cade asks, exasperated.

“Yes, really. My dad just texted me.”

This time, it’s Cade who groans. “Damnit. What does he want?”

“Fucking hell,” Kai mutters. “There’s a party tonight. He wants the three of us there.”

9. Ellis

“A party?” Sterling asks. “One of us needs to stay with Ellis. This is too good of an opportunity for him to grab her.”

“Agreed,” Kai says. “And my guess is he is going to announce my engagement to Guilia.”

I stiffen, all the food I just ate threatening to come back up. How did I forget about the engagement? We never really talked about what was going to happen with that. Is he still going to marry her?

“Relax, baby girl. I’m not going to marry her. But I’ll have to play by his rules for a little longer. I don’t want to mention anything about you until I know for sure you’re safe and all of this shit with Sam has been settled.”

I turn to look at him, but grunt as the muscles in my neck protest the movement.

“Okay, Ellis,” Cade says, setting his laptop on the coffee table, and kneeling on the floor in front of me. “What’s going on? You’re shivering and wincing everytime you move. And don’t tell me you’re fine.”

“I think I’m just sore from the accident. Really, I’m fi?—”

He cuts me off with a look. “Can I make sure there is nothing going on?” he asks as he lifts his hand, purple light sparking to life on his fingertips.

I nod and hand Kai the plate in my lap. Cade gently grabs my face in both of his hands and his eyes widen.

“Ellis! You’re burning up. What the hell? Why didn’t you say anything?”

I notice Kai and Sterling sitting forward, all their focus on me, and I try to shrink back into the cushions, but Cade’s grasp on my face stops me.

“I don’t know. It didn’t seem like a big deal,” I say, looking down at my lap.

Cade scoffs, but the gentle warmth of his magic seeps under my skin and I moan. I don’t realize just how cold I was until that warmth surrounds me. Suddenly, I need more of it. I crave it, the way I crave these guys. Before I can wrap my arms around Cade’s neck to pull him closer, he frowns and worry lights his violet eyes. Just like that, I’m freezing again.

“There’s nothing wrong,” he mutters. “No injuries, no illness, nothing. Everything is exactly how it should be.”

“So why the fever?” Kai asks.

Cade shakes his head. “I have no idea.”

“It’s probably nothing, you guys,” I say. “Stop fussing over me.”

Kai barks out a harsh laugh, and Cade and Sterling both shake their heads.

“You might as well get used to it, baby girl. We will never not fuss over you.”

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