Page 53 of Haze

This has to do with what she does in the lab?

If I push her now, it could make our relationship more strained. I’ll nurse her along a bit, and if her condition gets worse, I’ll call for backup. Lena, thankfully, does as she’s told and sips her water. I run my hand up and down her spine, trying to make her feel my love for her.

“Why don’t you rest? I’ll stay. Help you get better. You have things for that?” I offer as her eyes close for a moment.

What do I do?

My faolan struggles to stay still, clearly unwell. I expected her to fight me more about staying, but it doesn’t seem like she has the energy for it. Lena gives up and curls on her side in the bed.

* * *

Lena is fast asleep within an hour. I begrudgingly pull myself away from her side. My wolf doesn’t want to leave her, but instinct tells me that the vomiting and exhaustion aren’t good. I don’t want to disobey her wishes, but my finger hesitates over the screen, and I hit the connect button anyway.

It rings only once before Cade’s voice comes on the line. “Hello?”

“Cade, it’s Finn.” I wait for a response, but it doesn’t come. “I don’t know how to say this politely, but we have some things to work out regarding Kathleen and me.”

“She couldn’t fucking listen to me. I should have assumed she was lying about painting before I sent you there.” Cade sighs. He draws a deep breath. “I texted you both without answer and assumed you were together. Well, it was either that or she killed you. Though, I suspect after a few days post-heat, you may be wishing one of us will.” There’s the slightest laugh at the end.

How can he laugh? Our mate is sick, my wolf growls. He knew she had done something bad and didn’t stop it.

I give Cade the benefit of the doubt. How could he know the extent of what this would do to her?

“About that.” I glance back at the bedroom door. Despite how sick she is, part of me expects my little whirlwind to come and rip the phone out of my hand. “I’m not sure that’s what it is. Something isn’t right. I’ve never seen anything like this. Whatever it is, it’s not sitting well with her. It’s like she’s going through heat all over again. She has the chills but feels warm to the touch.”

“She got approval to test run the drug or something she’s been working on.” Cade loses the lighthearted tone. "Fuck. Okay. There is someone I trust in Maine that can help. I’ll fly her in. Finn, we need to keep this quiet.”

“Agreed,” I answer firmly.

Cade moving quickly to problem-solving eases some of the distrust I had toward his behavior.

He doesn’t answer me and the line disconnects.

A few moments later, my phone pings with a message from a new number.

Unknown:

Hey Finn, this is Dinah Alloway. I’m leaving home now. I’ve a flight out of Boston shortly, but I have to start driving. I’ll be there in about five hours. I’ll catch a car. Cade gave me her address. Can you do me a favor?

Me:

I can, yes.

I need to monitor her condition. It sounds like she has a fever. If you don’t have a thermometer, go to the corner store and get one.

I’ll notify you once I know the number.

Wolves, out of respect for The Pricolici, don’t use last names beginning with A unless they’re blood to the Ardelean Bloodline. Assuming Dinah is wolf, she’s related to Lena.

The idea of leaving Lena doesn’t sit right with me. But Dinah’s request sounds important, too important to put off. Using Lena’s shower, I rinse off and put on my clothes from a few days ago. Wearing dirty clothes isn’t ideal, but with no other option, it’s good enough to get to the pharmacy down the street.

I dart down the block, and my wolf fights me the entire way, wanting to go back to her. Unfamiliar with the aisles, I wander, weaving in and out of them until I find my way to the one I need.

My wolf doesn’t like the distance either. He rushes me, reminding me he’d be a faster runner on the way back. But he lacks thumbs for doors, keys, and elevator buttons, and this is my only set of clothes. Nothing in Lena’s closet will fit me.

Lena hasn’t moved at all since I’ve been gone. I check her temperature. Her fever is 106. I double-check; it’s been so long since I’ve heard of a wolf running a fever outside of heat. My temperature is 103.5. I feel fine, and hers is significantly higher.

Pulling out my phone, I text Dinah again.

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