His skin was so hot it scared me, and his breathing seemed shallower than it had before.
“You should go.” He forced out between dry lips.
I shook my head and reached for the water bottle. “It’s not happening.”
“If I turn, you need to kill me.” He took a sip from the water bottle I held to his mouth. “I mean it.”
“You’re not going to turn. How many damn times do I have to say that? I forbid it.” I raised my chin, “Are you going to defy your queen?”
He smirked, “Not if I can help it.” The smile dropped. “You’ll get trapped here, and I don’t want you anywhere near Nash without me.”
“Stain is here.” I grabbed the bowl of noodles and made him take a bite.
He swallowed with difficulty but managed to eat a little more before shaking his head feebly. “That’s all I can stomach.”
I set the bowl back on the nightstand and gave him a few more sips of water and the ibuprofen.
“You can trust Stain.” He coughed violently, “If all of this turns to shit, he’ll get you out.”
Maximus chose that moment to walk over and lay his big square head on my leg.
Beck’s eyes widened, “What the hell is that?”
“Thatis, Maximus.” I smiled down at him and ran a hand over his dirty head.
“Maximus?” He turned his head to study my dog more closely. “That looks like one of the Prez’s fighting dogs.”
“Itwasone of his dogs, but not any longer. He belongs to me now.” I scratched behind his torn ear, “And when you get well, I’m going to burn this clubhouse to the ground before we leave for the way he’s been treated.”
“Weleave?” He raised a brow, but a coughing fit ruined the look.
I made him lie back down, and he was out again before I could respond.
“Yes,we.” I leaned over and placed a gentle kiss on his forehead.
The dog whined as a tear rolled down my cheek. I stood and sat on the floor, leaning back against the bed. He put his head on my lap, and I stroked his back.
“What am I going to do, Max?”
I was so tired.
I heard loud coughing from down the hall. That must be the room they’d locked all the sick people in. I had to get Beck out of here fast. When those people turned, and I knew they would, it was going to be hell on earth in here.
“Fox?” Beck rolled over, and I felt his warm breath in my hair.
“Yes?”
“Thank you,” he whispered quietly, then fell back into a restless sleep.
“You’re welcome,” I whispered back.
I grabbed the necklace tucked into my shirt that I never removed. It was a single letter.
T.
Small, perfectly set stones that caught the light in quiet flashes instead of blinding ones. The metal—white gold, maybe platinum—sat cool against my skin, the weight familiar and comforting.
A gift from Adrian for my sixteenth birthday.
