Page 103 of Hunters and Hydrangeas

Sophia goes pale. “Is this an emergency, then?”

“We don’t know what it is.”

He’s trying to hide it, but Cassian looks pretty freaked out, too.

“I’ll call a car.” Noah’s already heading for the door. “Let’s go.”

I don’t knowif it’s because Cassian is a vampire prince with mighty connections, or if it’s because his situation is highly concerning, but this isn’t like any trip to the ER that I’ve ever experienced. Cassian is ushered into the back almost immediately.

Sophia goes with him, leaving Noah and me in the waiting room.

“Should we grab some coffee?” Noah asks.

“We probably should. It might be a long night.”

The main cafeteria is closed, but there’s a twenty-four hour beverage station stocked with multiple silver carafes. Three contain coffee, and one is filled with hot water. Tea bags and hot cocoa packets are lined up in a basket next to the cups and stir sticks.

We pay the bored attendant and head back. We’re almost to the waiting room when Noah receives a text from Cassian.

“They’ve moved him to a room.”

We quicken our pace, leaving the emergency wing.

Cassian’s door is open when we arrive, so we go in. They’ve had him change into a hospital gown, and he’s on the bed with his arm flung over his eyes. There’s a bright yellow stretchy bandage wrapped around his elbow.

They must have drawn blood.

“They’re running several tests,” Sophia tells us. “They said we should have some of the results soon.”

Noah and I wait in the two chairs by the window, and Sophia sits on a padded chair by Cassian’s side.

Nurses flit in and out of the room, checking on Cassian and noting his stats. Every time someone comes in, they assure him a doctor will be with him shortly.

Shortly must mean a couple hours, because that’s how long it’s been when a man in a white coat knocks on the door. He’s in his mid-forties, fit, with short graying hair.

“Hello, Mr. Chevalier,” he says. “I’m Dr. Anderson.”

“Lord,” Cassian corrects listlessly, arm still over his eyes.

The doctor looks flummoxed. “I’m sorry?”

“Lord Chevalier,” Cassian says with a sigh. “I’m a member of the nobility.”

“Uh, yes.” The man glances at his paperwork. “Sorry about that.”

“Don’t feel bad. We don’t have very many lords residing in the States,” Sophia says absently, her attention on his clipboard.

“Yes…” the doctor says, moderately uncomfortable. Then he clears his throat. “We have the results from a few of your tests.”

Cassian lowers his arm to look at the man.

“You’ve tested positive for influenza.” He looks just as flummoxed as the rest of us, though it’s obvious he’s trying to hide it. “Your blood test came back normal, except your levels of Vampiria B are unusually low, and your white blood count is high.”

“What does that mean?” Sophia prods.

“It means Mr.—LordChevalier has…the flu.”

“How can a vampire catch the flu?” Noah demands.

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