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I’m about to make a scathing retort when Cia winces and clutches her stomach.
Feeling awkward, I ask, “Do you want something to eat before we talk to Abel?”
She immediately shakes her head. “No. I can’t even stomach the thought of food right now so let’s just get it over with.”
As if summoned by her words Kai comes back, and as soon as he sees Cia he all but rips her from Liam and lifts her into his arms, holding her against his chest. Cia’s legs wrap around his middle as she rests her cheek on his shoulder.
“How are you feeling, Nereid?”
Letting out a content sigh, she reiterates that she’s fine.
“Are you sure? It’s not like you to faint,” Kai states.
Cia wiggles around until Kai puts her down. Then she walks over to me and takes my hand, sagging against my side. Bending down, I softly kiss the top of her head, letting the scent of her coconut shampoo invade my nostrils.
“He’s right,” I agree. “I’ve never seen you faint before, no matter what you’ve been through.”
She laughs self-consciously. “I probably just forgot to eat or something. I promise you, I’m fine with everything.” I’m not the only one doubting her words, and Cia must be able to sense it, because she continues. “You already knew I didn’t know how to feel about Alexander being back. I can’t even begin to explain how I feel about his second death.”
Kai clears his throat. “As long as you promise to let us know if—”
Cia cuts him off with a wave of her hand. “Yeah, yeah. You’ll be the first to know if something… ouch.” Pinching her eyes closed, Cia curses under her breath while squeezing my hand tighter.
“What’s wrong?” I ask, panicked.
She rubs her stomach while slowly making her way to the bed.
“Agápi!”
“Nereid!”
Liam and Kai shout her name as I sweep her up and carry her the rest of the way to the bed.
“I-I…”
Suddenly, Cia throws herself to the side, and I lose my grip on her. She barely lands on the floor before she begins to violently throw up.
For a second, myself, Liam, and Kai freeze, rooted in place by the sight of our woman spilling the contents of her stomach onto the floor. It’s not the icky factor, it’s the fucking terror of seeing her so weak. So… mortal.
Cia’s retching spurs us into movement, and Liam quickly scoops her up, ignoring her weak protests and not bothered at all by the vomit in her hair or on her clothes. Kai jogs to the bathroom, immediately running the shower, and I trail behind feeling like a fucking useless fuck.
Chapter 15
Cia
Mystomachfeelslikeit’s on fire. Not just in that way that comes with overeating where it feels as though your skin is expanding, but rather like someone is slicing my skin with a dull knife only to rub salt into the wound. Even though I’m sitting in the bathtub that’s filled with hot water, I’m freezing to the bone.
“I-I’m o-okay,” I force out, ignoring the obvious signs contradicting that statement. Such as my chattering teeth, and the fact I can’t stop shaking.
Droplets of sweat bead on my forehead while I feel cold to the marrow. What the hell is happening to me?
As I look down I forget my plan to downplay my symptoms so my guys can relax and stop hovering. “Fuck!” I scream, shocked to see the water has turned red.
Black dots swim across my vision, like small bubbles I want to burst. My men are all shouting, but I can’t make sense of the words. All my focus is on staying in place without giving into the blackness that’s as alluring as a Siren’s song to a sailor. I grit my teeth and dig my nails into the tub, but it doesn’t do much. The darkness is almost all-consuming.
As my consciousness wavers, I hear the flaps of wings that come so easily to me while I’m dreaming. I try to ignore it, knowing it’s not real, but it’s becoming harder and harder to fight.
The fire is back, and I try my best to embrace it like an old friend. If I can feel the pain, I’m still conscious, and I don’t want to pass out again. I don’t want to upset Liam, Kai, and Gus more than I already have. I know they’re at my side. I don’t need to feel or hear them for that knowledge to be cemented. It’s who they are, mine—unwavering in their love for me and…
