Bitter Sweet Love

Chapter Eleven

I was on fire.

It was the only explanation for the searing burn sweeping through my veins, cooking me from the inside, boiling my blood and blistering my skin. I couldn’t move, but I was gliding. Blissful cool air washed over my heated skin, a momentary reprieve, but the fire invaded every cell. Heat surrounded me, cradling me in a hard embrace.

In the rare moments when my brain wasn’t mush, I knew I had to phase. I had to reach the deep level of sleep necessary to heal, but I couldn’t will my muscles to do what I needed. Nothing responded to me. I was trapped in a circle of Hell.

Consciousness slipped in and out, and when I was awake, I wanted to be out—to be far away. My skin was slipping off my bones. Flames crawled up my throat. Unable to escape the pain, I shrank into myself, and a million miles away, I heard someone calling to me. The words made no sense, but I clung to the voice and tried to reach for it. Then the inferno spiked, consuming me until there was only darkness and the distant hum of that voice.

It felt like a stuttered heartbeat later when I became aware of the shift in my surroundings. There were more voices in the distance, but I couldn’t make out what they were saying and I couldn’t force my eyes open. Something was different though. The hard warmth that had surrounded me was gone and in its place was billowy softness. I didn’t understand, but I sank into it for a little while, dragging myself back out when something cool was pressed to my forehead and bitter, tangy liquid coursed down my throat. I tried to turn my head, whimpering as a gentle hand stopped me.

“You have to drink this. It will help you feel better.”

I didn’t recognize the voice. My heart rate skyrocketed. Where was Dez? I didn’t have a chance to spit up the liquid. It kept coming until I was drowning in it,and when it stopped, I dragged in deep breaths that hurt.

“That’s good,” said the stranger. He was moving away from me. “She’ll sleep now.”

The silence that followed was as frightening as the fire. Summoning every ounce of energy in me, I lifted my hand, searching for something—anything—to hold on to.

A strong hand folded around mine, and the softness shifted. A damp cloth caressed my forehead. My lips formed his name, but there was no sound.

“I’m here with you.” The coolness slid over my blazing cheeks. “I’m not going anywhere, Jas. I’m not going to leave you again.”

The fire was gone the next time my brain churned awake. A dull throbbing remained in every part of my body and my eyes felt sewn shut. My body came back on at the speed of a three-legged turtle. I moved, maybe shifted about an inch on the bed, and I felt as if I’d accomplished something major.

“Jas?”

I turned my head toward the sound of Dez’s deep voice. A hand curved around my cheek, and I sighed at the contact. It didn’t burn. Oh, no, it felt grounding and wonderful.

Finally, after an eternity, I pried my eyes open. I squinted at the low light in the room, surprised by the sensitivity of my eyes. As my vision cleared, I saw Dez sitting beside me.

I’d never seen him look so tired. Dark shadows bloomed under his pale eyes. His features were pinched with weariness, but the hand around mine was full of strength.

“Hey,” he said, scooting closer. “You’re finally awake.”

I opened my mouth, but what came out was no more than a hoarse, pathetic croak. Dez dropped my hand as he leaned back in his chair, reaching for the pitcher of water on the nightstand.

As Dez helped me sit up enough to drink, my gaze flitted around my surroundings. Beige walls, minimal furniture and heavy white curtains. It wasn’t a room in my clan’s home.

I felt as if I’d climbed a hundred stairs by the time I rested my head on the soft pillow again. “Thank you.”

Dez picked up my hand again, threading his fingers through mine. “How are you feeling?”

“Tired.” I turned toward him. My head was full of cobwebs. “What happened?”

“You don’t remember?”

I searched through my hazy thoughts, slowly picking up the important stuff. “Herbert bit me.”

He nodded. “A pukwudgie’s bite is poisonous. I didn’t know it would be. If I had—”

“It’s not your fault.” I cleared my throat, wishing I could sit up. “You didn’t know. And if it’s anyone’s fault, it’s mine. God, I feel dumb.”

He smiled slightly. “Why?”

“Why?” I repeated dully. “You told me not to touch the stupid thing and I should’ve known better.”

He smoothed my damp hair back from my face with his free hand. “Well, trusting anything named Herbert is a bad idea.”

I croaked out a laugh. “That’s true.” Wetting my lips, I then let out a long breath. “Where are we?”

“We were too far from home to take you back.” He slid his hand to my cheek and then he sat back, still holding my hand in his other one. “I brought you to DC. We’re in Abbot’s home.”

My eyes widened. “We’re here? How? Did you drive?”

“Driving would’ve taken too long, and I didn’t know how dangerous the bite was. It was quicker to fly. And I’m glad I did. Turns out a pukwudgie’s bite isn’t something to mess with. Abbot sent one of his clansmen to get our car. All your stuff is here.”

I stared at him. He’d flown here? Carrying me? No wonder he looked as if he was about to fall over. “Dez, I... a thank-you isn’t enough.”

“You waking up and being okay is enough.” He squeezed my hand. “There were a couple of minutes I didn’t think you would. And I...” He swallowed hard as he closed his eyes. When they reopened, they shone the color of the sky before dusk as he brought my hand to his mouth and placed a kiss against my palm. “I was really worried.”

An ache pierced my chest at the agony in his voice. “I’m okay, though. Right?”

“Yes, but...” He lowered my hand back to the bed. “Jas, you’ve been asleep for a day and a half.”

“What?” I breathed. That couldn’t be true. I felt as though I hadn’t slept in days. “Oh, my God, I’m going to find Herbert and strangle him.”

Dez coughed out a laugh. “You need to get behind me in line for that.” His grin faded into a wince. “I had to tell your father.”

I cringed. “Oh, no.”

“He almost came down here, I think, to kill me. Abbot got on the phone and calmed him down, told him that you were going to be okay.” He smiled again, the twist of his lips tired. “Abbot said you’d feel better very soon, but he’s offered his house to us as long as we need to stay.”

“That’s really nice of him,” I murmured. My brain was stuck elsewhere, slowly turning everything over.

Dez let out a heavy breath. “Can I...?” He shook his head, starting again. “I’m exhausted and I need to lie down, but I’m not leaving you. Can I lie here with you? That’s all I want—to just lie here with you for a little while.”

My heart did a little dance in my chest at his request. Unable to speak because the words building in my throat were best left unsaid for the time being, I nodded.

“Thank you.” Dez dropped his head, and his large shoulders relaxed. Up until that moment, I hadn’t realized how tense he was sitting beside me.

Wordlessly, he made me finish off the rest of the water before climbing into the bed and stretching out next to me. I lay there for a moment, staring at him, and I forced my body to move. It took everything I had, but I rolled onto my side and wiggled closer, placing my head on his shoulder.

Dez was still for a moment and then he wrapped his arm around my waist, fitting me close to his side. For some reason, even though we’d shared the same bed in New York, there was something more special about this, a heaviness that had my overworked heart pounding. And as I relaxed into Dez’s embrace, I closed my eyes and could think of only one thing.

Our seven days were up.