Page 28 of These Deadly Dreams

His brow furrows. “You were so mad, though. The expression on your face was nothing I’d ever seen before.”

“I wasn’t mad at you. I trust you, Kai. Completely. It was her I was pissed at.”

“You were going to use Cade’s magic on her. Which, by the way, you used without him using it first. In the past, he’s always had to already have gathered his magic to him in order for you to use it. That wasn’t the case this time.”

“Really?” I hadn’t noticed where Cade was during that confrontation. My focus was solely on Guilia touching my man.

“I think your abilities are growing. We really should start training you in all of this.”

I nod. “That would probably be a good idea.” I raise my arm and touch his cheek, just under his eye. “Do you need to feed? Your eyes are red.”

He tucks my head against his shoulder again. “I’m fine. It’s the adrenaline. But, I wouldn’t say no once we get to where we’re going.”

I huff a laugh. “Where are we going anyway?”

“Pack lands,” Sterling says from the driver’s seat.

“Is that safe?” Kai asks.

“Noah will never know she’s there. My dad had a secret cabin in the mountains. He would take my mom there on the weekends to get away from everything. Only my family knows about it.”

“I’ll throw some wards up, too. It’s the last place Sam will think of looking. He’ll assume we’re too smart to take her into the crosshairs of the guy who wants her dead.”

Nervous butterflies flit through my stomach, but I trust these guys to keep me safe. If they think this is the best option, then we’ll do it. I just hope I don’t run into my real dad while we’re there.

10. Malakai

Ellis is asleep with her head in my lap. It’s the only thing that’s making this drive to the mountains bearable. I hate riding in the backseat. I’ll never say so out loud, but it makes me carsick. I can’t let people know the big, bad vampire gets sick when he rides in the backseat. It would ruin my street cred.

I focus on Ellis, instead. I trace her curls with my gaze and the line of jaw. Her lips are slightly parted, and they are too tempting not to touch. I rub my thumb along her lower lip, gently so I don’t wake her. My palm and fingers graze her cheek, and I frown. She’s warm. Warmer than she usually is to my slightly cooler skin. Placing my hand on her forehead, I curse.

“Cade, she’s feverish again,” I say to the mage in the front seat.

Cade turns around and frowns. He reaches back with a hand, purple light flowing over his skin as he places it on her arm. “Nothing. She’s completely healthy. Just like last time.”

“Think it’s some kind of bug?” Sterling asks as he glances in the rearview mirror.

“If it were a bug, I think I’d pick up on that,” Cade answers.

He looks about ready to climb into the back seat with us, although, I’m not sure what good that will do.

“Well, let's think about it,” I say. “The first time it happened was after the accident. You said you checked her over at the scene, and besides some cuts and bruises, she was fine. Correct?”

“Yeah.”

“Did anything else happen? I know Sam confronted you guys. Did he manage to do something? Something maybe you didn’t notice or wouldn’t be able to pick up on with your magic?”

“No,” he says slowly, “but she used my magic to defend you and Sterling.” His brow furrows. “She used it tonight, too. And not just my magic, but your strength. She pushed me halfway down the hall.”

“You think that’s it? Whenever she uses our abilities she gets a fever? Why would that happen?”

He shakes his head. “I have no idea, but it’s the only thing I can think of. Maybe it’s her body’s way of adjusting to the sudden change?”

“What can we do about it?” Sterling asks.

Cade bites his lower lip. “I think we have to let it ride its course. We need to keep an eye on her, but I don’t think there’s much we can do.”

I don’t like the thought of not being able to help her when she needs it, but I think Cade is right. If he can’t heal her, there isn’t anything we can do except keep her comfortable when it happens.

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