Page 74 of These Deadly Dreams

I huff a sigh, and pull my hand away, only so I can tuck his hair behind his ear. “I’m fine. But, we’re not talking about me right now. Answer my question.”

“Bossy,” he mutters, eyes falling shut. “Sam gave me some kind of injection.” He talks slowly, pulling each word through layers of exhaustion and fever.

“An injection?” Cade repeats.

Sterling nods. “Everytime he sent me back to the cell. It made it impossible to reach my wolf.”

Cade frowns and thinks through what Sterling said. “So, it sounds like we just have to wait for whatever that injection was to wear off. Then your wolf should be able to take care of the fever.”

Sterling mumbles something that sounds like an agreement. His eyes peel open again and land on me. “Kitten, we need to talk.”

My heart almost bursts from my chest at the use of his nickname for me. “We can talk later,” I say. “You need to rest.”

“So do you,” Kai says, gently pushing on my shoulder to get me to lie down.

I glare at him, but I let him cover me up. Turning to Sterling, I cuddle against him. He grunts as he slides his arm around my lower back and tugs me closer. Tears burn the back of my eyes. I have wanted this for so long now, I just wasn’t ready to admit it to myself. I place my hand on his chest, right over his heart beating steadily behind his ribcage.

My eyelids fall closed, and I’m distantly aware of Kai kissing my forehead and tucking me and Sterling under the blanket. Then sleep claims me.

32. Ellis

The tickle of something in my hair wakes me. On instinct, I scoot closer to the body next to me and inhale. Pine and night air fill my nose and I jolt all the way awake. It’s not Kai or Cade sleeping next to me, it’s Sterling. And by the fingers twirling through my curls, he’s awake. He’s awake and not pulling away. Is this progress?

“Sterling?” I ask tentatively, afraid he’ll bolt.

“Hmm?”

I shift so I can look at him, but still keep my head on his shoulder. “How are you feeling?”

His arm tightens around me as he says, “Better. When I woke up my wolf was back.” He sighs heavily, as if being able to sense his wolf again takes away some of his stress. “How are you feeling?” He places his free hand on my forehead. “You’re still hot.”

My lips twitch. “Thank you.”

A small laugh rumbles in his chest under my palm. “Don’t be a smart ass. How are you feeling?” he asks again.

Emotion bubbles up inside of me. This entire interaction seems so … normal. Like something I would have with Cade or Kai. I’m scared of the hope that flutters to life in my belly. I’m not sure how I would handle his rejection again, especially after this.

I shrug my shoulder. “I feel okay. Just a little cold and achy.” It’s not the worst I’ve felt during one of these weird fevers, but it does seem to have lasted the longest.

“Are you feeling up to talking?” His heart pounds under my palm, harder than it was just a few moments ago.

“Yes.” I sit up, holding back my wince as my sore muscles protest the movement. I scoot to the head of the bed and lean against it carefully. It doesn’t hurt my back, so I relax and tug the blanket up. The chills are still making me cold.

Sterling pushes himself to a sitting position so he’s facing me, and he pulls the other half the blanket over his naked lap. I catch myself frowning, and quickly wipe it away. Now is not the time for that.

“Ellis—”

I shake my head. “No,” I say. “Let me go first. Please?”

He studies me for a minute with his icy blue eyes, before running a hand through his hair, wincing as it gets caught in a bloody mat. He sighs and nods.

I take a breath, clearing my head and trying to think through what I want to say. I have no clue how to make him believe me. What words do I need to convince him? I look into his eyes, and just go with what’s in my heart. “I know you think I changed my mind after meeting your family. And in a way I did.” He stiffens and I quickly shake my head. “Not for the reasons you’re thinking. I mean, yes, I want to help your family and your pack, but that’s not the reason I changed my mind.

“It was something your mom said. She said ‘Fate will always find a way.’ And it really made me think. You didn’t choose to be there that night.” I swallow thickly and blink back the tears that build on my lashes. I don’t think I’ll ever be able to talk about that night without crying. “But fate put you in that position to meet me. Your mate. And it wasn’t the right time. I would have never gone with you. I was only sixteen and my life would have just crumbled down around me.”

Sterling reaches out as if to wipe away the tear that escaped, but he stops himself.

“Then, fate put you back into my life ten years later. I know if I walk away from you right now, sometime down the road, fate would try again. I don’t think she’ll give up.”

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