Page 35 of The Bull's Head

Fine, Teddy had never had a visceral reaction to anyone before. Unlike Ivan, Teddy wasn’t a walking hormone. Sure, he’d gone on dates, but he never clicked with anyone. They were never right for a litany of reasons. Too loud. Too quiet. Too eager. Too shy. Ivan had told him, once he had sex, it would all make sense, but Teddy never connected on a level where he even considered getting intimate with anyone.

Byk? Teddy wanted to strip down and roll around in the clover with him. He wanted to lay in a field of dandelions, then pluck a handful and give them to Byk, because he knew, without a doubt, Byk would find it the most romantic thing in the world. Everything about Byk called to Teddy. His smile, his laugh, his happy face, his shy face. The way his cheeks reddened. The smell of him as they snuggled.

And now the man lay in the clinic, and Teddy didn’t know how to help.

When Mal asked again about what happened, Teddy gave him a full report, but it was automatic. There wasn’t any emotion involved, because all of Teddy’s focus was on his Byk, lying on that damned bed. When Mal said he had enough to work with, he excused himself to call the Council. Teddy slipped into the room and asked Dr. Hamilton if he could sit with Byk.

“Sure. He’s going to be out for a while.” She took Teddy’s hand and peered into his eyes. “I have him on intravenous sedatives, because we don’t know what’s wrong. It’s not ideal, though. I have to use a larger dose just to keep him in a twilight sleep because shifters burn things off so quickly. I don’t want him waking up and having a panic attack.”

He wanted to argue, to say that Byk wasn’t a threat, but even though he and his bear were certain of it, how could anyone else be?

“Thank you, Doctor.”

“Lydia, please. And don’t hesitate to ask me something. I don’t know human anatomy, but Gwyneth has been helping me figure out the important things. I still don’t know enough to treat Callum, but I promise we’re doing everything we can for him.”

The words barely filtered through Teddy’s mind. He couldn’t take his eyes off Byk. It was as though he was a corpse, lying there so still, barely breathing. When Lydia put a hand on his shoulder, Teddy didn’t even flinch.

“I have to go home now,” she said. “I can stay if you want, I’ll just need to let my daughter know.”

He shook his head, but said nothing.

“There will be people on duty throughout the night, so Callum won’t be alone.”

“He wouldn’t be. I’ll stay here until he wakes.”

“Teddy, it won’t be?—”

“I’ll be here,” he assured her.

The soft treads of her tennis shoes on the floor faded away, but then she asked if he wanted the lights turned down, and he nodded. He didn’t want Byk to wake up under the bright lights. The room faded to a soft glow before she left the room. As soon as the door closed, he put his head down on the thin mattress, wishing they could be in Teddy’s bed.

He closed his eyes, but he knew sleep wouldn’t come. Instead he sat up and took Byk’s hand and brought it to his lips, then placed a soft kiss on the palm.

“This is not how I would have wanted to spend time with you, you know. I would much prefer to chase each other through the woods again. That was the most fun I’ve had in far too long.” He gazed at Byk’s face, noting how fake it looked. Far too placid for someone whose emotions could be easily read just by looking at him. This wasn’t his Byk, but a shell of the man.

“I don’t know how to help you. There’s nothing that my muscles can fight, no enemy I can vanquish.” He turned his gaze toward the ceiling. “Maker, I have never once in my life asked you for anything. Even when they left Ivan and I on that mountain to die, I accepted my fate. I am asking you now, please spare my Byk from this sickness. He’s a good man, Maker. I know it in my heart. Don’t let him suffer like this, please. I would gladly trade my life for his, if only you would grace him with your healing touch.”

Of course there was no reply. He hadn’t really expected one, but Teddy lived with hope in his heart. Except now his heart was broken. Shattered into tiny fragments, and he didn’t know if it could be repaired. He reached into his pocket for his phone and called the only number he knew by heart.

“Little brother, is good to hear your voice,” Ivan boomed. “I am sorry I did not make the trip last time, but I met this woman and we?—”

Teddy sobbed, and Ivan was instantly alert.

“What is wrong?”

“It’s Byk.”

“Byk? Like bull?” He gasped. “Something is wrong with your bull?” Teddy told him the story, and Ivan remained unusually quiet. When it was done, Ivan whispered softly, “Oh, Teddy. I am so sorry. I will be there as soon as I am able. I shall wake Damon and tell him I need the jet.”

“No, it’s okay. I just wanted to hear your voice.”

“You will shut up now,” Ivan barked, but with no real heat. “You will always and forever be my brother. My true family. If you need me, I will make it happen, do you understand me?”

Tears welled up in Teddy’s eyes and his throat closed up, because it was sinking in he might lose Byk.

“Theodore!” Ivan shouted. “You will stop these thoughts that race through your head, now. I will be there soon.”

Then he disconnected.

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