Ashes (Dark in You 3)

He crouched in front of her. “What is it, baby?”

“I’m just hot.”

Anxiety skittered down Knox’s spine. Heat seemed to be literally radiating from her. Knox touched her cheek with the back of his hand and almost snatched it back with a wince. “You’re dangerously hot. Feverish.” Alarmed, his demon snapped to full alertness.

She shifted restlessly. “My blood feels hot. Isn’t that weird?”

Knox blinked. “Your blood feels hot?”

“Is it a pregnancy thing?”

“Not that I’m aware of.” He’d never heard of such a thing in his life. Meg rushed inside with a glass of cold water, and Knox took it from her gratefully and handed it to Harper. “Baby, drink this.”

Harper took it, but her hand was shaking so badly that he had to help her guide it to her mouth. She was thirsty, but it was hard to drink because it felt like the water was curdling in her stomach like sour milk. Still, her demon urged her to swallow more.

Knox took the glass from her when she gagged. “Are you going to be sick?”

She shook her head and leaned back, taking deep breaths. “I’m okay.”

No, she damn well wasn’t. “I need to call Rodgers.” Knox stood and pulled out his cell phone just as Tanner entered the room and headed straight for Harper. The moment Rodgers picked up the phone, Knox said, “Harper’s running a fever. She says her blood feels hot.”

A pause. “Her blood feels hot?” The doctor’s words rung with confusion and disbelief.

“Yes. What’s wrong with her?” The question came out through gritted teeth.

“I can’t say without examining her. Put me on speakerphone so I can talk to her.”

Knox did as he requested, and then crouched again in front of Harper as the doctor addressed her – asking her various questions that she drowsily answered. The whole time, Knox rubbed her thigh. He could feel the feverish heat of her skin even through the denim of her jeans. Insane with a worry it wasn’t used to feeling, his demon snarled and roared.

A moan slipped out of Harper as she began to tremble. “It’s like my blood’s sizzling.”

“Sizzling?” Rodgers echoed. “That doesn’t sound good.”

She scratched at her skin, eyes wide. “Shit, I feel like my veins are going to explode.”

“That’s not good either,” said Rodgers.

Knox’s hand tightened around the phone. “We’re fucking well aware that it’s not good. I’m going to send a teleporter to collect you. Are you home or in your office?”

“Home.”

“They’ll be there in a minute. Be ready.” Ending the call, Knox spoke to Tanner. “Send Armand to collect Dr. Rodgers and bring him to the mansion.”

Levi jogged into the room, expression hard. Watching as Harper reluctantly sipped more water, he asked, “What’s wrong with her?”

“I don’t know.” Knox urged her to drink more. “Does the water help, baby?”

“Yes, I’m okay.” Harper handed him back the glass. “I’m cooler now.”

Knox looked at her, dismayed. “No, baby, you’re not. I swear, I feel like I’m sitting next to a damn radiator.”

Shaking her head, she pulled her knees to her chest and wrapped her arms around herself. “I’m cold. Ice-cold. But my blood still feels hot.”

Knox’s jaw clenched. “Your skin is still burning. You’re not cold.”

There was a knock at the front door, and Dan left the room only to swiftly return with Rodgers. The doctor pushed his way past the people gathering around and spoke to Knox, “Armand says he will come back when you need him.”

Standing, Knox nodded. “Find out what’s happening to her so we can fix it and make her better.”

Harper looked at Rodgers through squinted eyes. “Something’s wrong, Doc,” she said, teeth chattering.

Rodgers put his hand to her clammy forehead and grimaced. “You say your blood feels like it’s hot?”

Harper nodded. “But I’m freezing. Where’s the damn blanket?”

“As you’ve seen for yourself, she’s roasting hot to touch,” Knox said to Rodgers. “Tell me you know what kind of fever this is.”

Levi’s brow creased. “Give me a second.” At that, he fished his cell from his pocket and backed out of the room.

Knox stood there, arms folded, as Rodgers used a penlight to check her eyes and pottered around, checking her temperature and other things. Knox fisted his hands, impatient for an answer. Harper seemed to have drifted off, which only increased his worry. “Rodgers…”

The doctor sighed. “I truly have no idea what’s the matter with her.” And he was now panicking.

Knox’s demon growled and shoved its way to the surface. “How can you not know?” it demanded of Rodgers. “You are a doctor. Do something. Make her better.”

Rodgers paled. “Th-there’s nothing physically wr-wrong with her,” he stammered. “I’m a gynecologist. This sort of thing isn’t my specialty, but I know enough to be sure that this isn’t pregnancy related.”

Knox forced his demon to retreat before it scared the doctor away. “What would normally cause a fever this intense?”

Rodgers seemed relieved to be once again dealing with Knox. “Honestly? Nothing I’ve ever come across.”

“Could it be some kind of allergic reaction?” asked Meg, hovering close enough to stroke Harper’s hair. “Some demons develop allergies when they’re pregnant.”

Rodgers shook his head. “It’s too extreme to be an allergy.”

Levi dashed into the room. “Knox, you need to get her in a cold bath fast.”

Knox’s muscles went rigid. “Why? What is it?”

“She’s been hexed.”

A shocked silence hit the room, and everyone froze. The word “hex” could instill fear in just about any demon, because there was no way to counteract it. Knox knew that a hex was no small, simple, common thing. It was nothing like in books or movies. Hexes were rarely used and extremely serious, which was why Knox shook his head. “She can’t have been hexed.”

“Want to bet her life on it? Because that’s what you could be doing if you ignore this.” Levi turned to Meg. “Could you run her a bath?”

With a nod, the housekeeper hurried away.

“You spoke to Mia,” Knox guessed. She was Levi’s friend and an incantor.

“Yes,” said Levi, a manic glint in his eyes. “I’ll tell you everything she said once we get Harper in the bath, I swear. Mia said you need to do it now… unless of course you are willing to bet Harper’s life on it.”

He wasn’t. Knox wasted no time in scooping Harper up and carrying her through the house and into their bathroom upstairs. Knox held a limp Harper in his arms as, with Meg’s help, he whipped off her shirt, jeans, and socks before lowering her into the shallow bath. Her eyes snapped open and she tried literally throwing herself out of the tub, splashing cold water everywhere. It took Knox, Meg, and Tanner to hold her there.

Knox kissed her, hoping to soothe her. “No, baby, you have to stay in the bath. We need to cool your skin.”

Breathing hard and fast, she struggled to be free, tears in her eyes. “It’s hot!” she said through chattering teeth.

Guilt tightened his chest. “It’s not hot, it just feels that way to you because you feel cold.” Knox swiped her tears away with his thumbs. “Ah, baby, you’re breaking my heart here.”

“I need to get out,” she sobbed, still struggling against their hold. “It’s burning!”

“I swear to you, it’s not. If I could let you out, I would.” It was literally killing Knox to keep her there, knowing she was hurting. The plea in her teary eyes made his stomach churn. “As soon as —” He cut off as she abruptly hunched over, pressing down on her stomach as if it were cramping.

Tanner glared at Levi. “What did Mia say? Tell us what’s happening.”