Page 20 of Risking Immortality

“Oh, thanks. I picked it up last month.”

“And yours too, Mack.” Maria adds belatedly.

“Thanks.”

My ears are buzzing, and my stomach is cramping. This can’t be right. Turning to the pool wall, I haul myself out of the water and frantically scour the deck for my mother. She’s inside, talking to a member of the crew. Racing in, I forgo a towel. Who gives a shit about water pooling inside when my body feels like it’s going to explode?

“Mom,” I say with as much urgency as I can muster. She takes one look at me and scoops me by the arm towards the master bedroom.

“Amelia, what’s wrong?”

“Something… isn’t… right,” I gasp. The tightness in my stomach is getting worse. My hands claw at my skin.

“Harlan!” she screams through the door. Only seconds pass before my father enters the room. His eyes grow wide when he sees me doubled over.

“Get a bottle of red now.” My father doesn’t question my mother’s order. He rushes out the door. “Tell me what’s happening,” Mom asks calmly.

I try to describe the pain in my stomach and when it began to hurt. Dad barges in, thrusting a matte black bottle at my mom. “Drink this, honey.” The blood soothes my stomach momentarily, but the ache is returning.

“What’s wrong with me?”

My parents share a worried look. “We need to get you to a doctor.” That’s all my father says before leaving again. The boat makes an audible groan as the captain changes course. We are heading back to land. Thoughts of Erin flicker across my eyelids. The sudden increase in pain makes me scream out loud. I feel my mother’s hand trying to soothe me. The gentle caress across my forehead does nothing to rid me of this pain.

What feels like hours pass. Lucas and Marcus lift me from the bed. We must be back at the harbor. “It’s okay, Amelia,” Lucas whispers in my ear. Nothing feels okay. We pass my family and then I see Erin. Her face is pale, and I wish I could comfort her, but then I see Mack put her hand on Erin’s waist and the fire that burns in my abdomen becomes too much to handle. Everything turns black.

The smell of lavender infiltrates my senses. Crinkling my nose, I try to pull myself away from the disgusting scent. “Wake up, Amelia,” a voice I don’t recognize says. Light seeps through my eyelids. Opening them, I wince at the throbbing in my head. My stomach aches horrendously.

“What…”

“It’s okay, baby,” my mother coos.

I take a few minutes to fully come around. I’m in my bedroom at my parents’ house. “What happened?”

“Sit up and we’ll try to explain.” Lucille says. Her tone is far too kind. Maybe I should be worried.

Sitting up, I take a sip of red. My entire family is in the room looking at me. It’s unnerving. “Tell me,” I croak. My mind is already forming conclusions that scare the shit out of me.

“This is Doctor Mendhi,” my father says, gesturing to a kind-looking gentleman who is smiling at me.

“Hello,” I say stupidly.

“Good afternoon, Amelia. How are you feeling now?”

“My stomach still hurts, and I have a headache.”

“To be expected.”

“Am I turning?” I blurt out because that is the singular worry whizzing around my mind.

“No Amelia, you’re not. You are experiencing some side effects, though.”

“Side effects of what?”

“Your bond to Erin,” mother explains. None of this is making sense.

“I don’t understand.” I want to scream at them to hurry the hell up and explain what is going on.

“Oh, for fuck sakes,” Lucille sighs. “Stop pussyfooting around her. Amelia, the fact that you have found your mate but haven’t bonded is causing physical side effects. The closer you get to Erin, without sealing your souls, the worse you’re going to feel.”

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