My father frowned, looking conflicted. “From what you’ve described, it certainly sounds like it. As much as it pains me to see you locked up like this, perhaps this is the best place for you until we get to the bottom of it.”
“I... I’ll be fine. I can walk in the daylight. I’m not at risk. What does it matter if I have it?”
“You could infect others. It’s a blood-borne virus. Not to mention the madness and uncontrollable strength that comes with it. I watched my mother and brother succumb to this illness, Noah. It isn’t pretty. They lost themselves to it.”
I sat down hard on the edge of my bed, my breath leaving me in a heavy whoosh. I ran a shaking hand through my hair, not ready to contemplate just what such a diagnosis would mean for me... or my mate.
Fuck. Sunday.
“What do we do? How do we confirm this?”
He sighed and dragged his palm over the back of his neck. “Your aunt Callie has a lab back at Blackthorne Manor. We’ll take a sample of your blood and test it.”
“Aunt Callie is a ghost.”
“She’s still brilliant, even if she doesn’t have a body any longer. It might surprise you to know even I can follow directions.”
Something loosened in my chest, a lightness that eased some of the pressure as I thought of my father, the Blackthorne king, taking orders from a ghost. “Take my blood now. I need to know if I put Sunday at risk.”
My father nodded and pulled a syringe out of his pocket.
“Carry one of those with you everywhere you go?” I asked, needing to make light of the situation.
“Never know when someone will need a little prick.”
A low chuckle rolled through the hall as Lucas approached. “Oh, brother, how right you are. I prefer to bring the big one.”
Father’s gaze snapped to his younger brother. “Why didn’t you tell me he was sick?”
Lucas’s brows drew together. “He’s not sick.”
“Look at him. He’s gone feral.”
“Wouldn’t you if you’d been kept from your mate while she needed you?”
My uncle’s words settled in my chest, quieting the maelstrom raging in my mind.
“What are you talking about? I’m mated and can still control myself when Olivia and I have to be apart.”
“Cash, you poor pathetic soul. I don’t envy that you mated a human. You’re really missing out on what it’s like to be with your mate when she’s in heat.”
“In heat?” my father and I repeated at the same time.
Lucas’s grin was wicked. “Oh, yes. It’s one of the perks of being with a shifter. Briar is wild in the sack normally, but when she’s inneed... Let’s just say I have to hydrate frequently so she doesn’t drain me dry.”
Sunday was inneedof me. She was the one feeling this way, not me. I was tapped into her emotions because of our bond.
“I have to go to her.”
My father shook his head. “You can’t. Not if you want to protect her from the Council. The Donoghue family is out for blood. If not yours, then hers. You being here is the only thing easing their anger.”
I deflated as I let those words sink in. I was here to protect her—and us. If I left, it would only be because she was at risk of death.
“She’ll get through it, nephew, I promise. But oh, the fun you’ll have next time.” Lucas winked. “You could always drop your shields and visit her in her dreams. If she’s anything like Briar, those will be just as... colorful.”
For the first time, I was truly thankful Sunday had Kingston to look out for her. As her wolf’s mate, he would know exactly what she needed and see her through it. I, on the other hand, would be left here to suffer alongside her in the meantime.
“Come on, Cash, we should leave him be. I’ve got a fresh bottle of grenache blended with the blood of a dastardly politician in the wine cellar. And it looks like our Noah could use a... nap.”
I watched my father and uncle leave together, relief radiating from both of them. I hadn’t seen my father this worked up about something since Mother was in labor with my youngest brother eighteen years ago. The fear that I was infected with sun sickness had been written in every line of his face.
My own relief that these symptoms were related to my mate rather than a deadly illness was equally palpable. Not that I was happy Sunday was suffering so acutely, but at least it was a temporary situation with a specific cure. I only wished I could be the one to provide it.
Settling back onto my bed, I tried to get comfortable among the various books and fragments that had landed there. Perhaps my uncle was onto something. If I couldn’t be with her in the flesh, maybe a visit to her dreams would be the next best thing.