Page 63 of Packed in the Fire house

The guys chatted among themselves while Luka and I ate our breakfast, but I wasn’t paying attention. My eyelids were heavy and my head felt light—it was really a perplexing combination. Still, there was nothing I could do but give myself a good mental shake and continue.

As soon as Luka was full and happy, I was going to shove one of those breakfast burritos into my mouth because my stomach was starting to gurgle with hunger.

“I’m sorry you had to get up early for the shower repair. It was the only time the guy could make it this week,” Walker said as he rinsed his coffee cup in the sink.

“You can’t help that.” I shrugged. I didn't have the energy to be too perky in my response, but I also didn't want him to blame himself. Exhaustion was just part and parcel of being a mother.

“Still, if we aren't on a call this evening, I'll watch over Luka, and you can get an early night.”

“Rune’s already volunteered to do that, thank you.” I smiled warmly.

I didn't want to get my hopes up, though. The wildfires weren’t out yet. In my current state of exhaustion, nothing would have set me off more than the promise of rest to be cruelly taken from me by a fire.

A squeal escaped Luka as he finished his eggs, a sound that may have sounded normal, but I knew it to be the grumpy demand for more food from the toddler.

“You want some more?” I giggled as he waved his little fists in the air. “Maybe if you got more in your mouth, instead of all over your face, you wouldn’t need seconds!”

His only response was to squeal as I stood up to go get more food.

The moment I stood, my head started to ache fiercely. Maybe I was coming down with a cold. All I knew was that the next few days were going to suck until Luka got back to a normal sleep schedule.

“He’s got a good appetite,” Walker said as I passed him, only his words sounded like they were under water. “Sunny?” he asked, concern evident in his tone.

“Yeah?” I turned to look at him as my vision swam.

“Are you okay?”

“Of course,” I said, right as my legs gave out and I hit the floor.

Chapter 24

Walker

My heart fell through my stomach to the floor at the sight of Sunny collapsing. One moment she was getting more eggs for Luka, and the next she looked so pale and out of it. When I asked her if she was okay, she looked at me like she couldn't even see me.

Sunny was exhausted. I could feel it through our bond, only I didn't know if all the exhaustion I was feeling was hers or mine or both. It had been a pretty brutal week, and I hadn’t been able to spend much time with her.

It was becoming apparent that something really wasn’t right with her. Something I should have noticed.

“Sunny!” I shouted her name as I rushed forward, catching her right as she hit the ground.

“Sunshine!” Blaze shot up from his seat, rushing toward us.

Pulling her into my arms, I brushed her hair out of her face. She was deathly pale, and her eyes were closed, but she was breathing normally.

My mind was running through all the various things that could be wrong. Instinctively, I reached for her neck to try and find a pulse, but she was stirring before I could add any pressure.Now that I was close to her, I could tell just how wrong her scent was, dull, nowhere near as sweet as it had been just a week ago.

A low groan escaped her chest.

“Is she okay?” Blaze asked hurriedly, kneeling beside me.

“I’m fine,” Sunny moaned, but she struggled to open her eyes.

“Sunshine, you fainted,” Blaze said as he helped her to slowly sit up.

Watching her movements, I didn’t take my hands off her. I needed to be touching her, reassuring myself she was here and she was fine.

“I just haven’t been sleeping much,” Sunny said, waving off our concern.

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