I couldn’t say anything to Clay, since I held everyone’s attention, but I looked at him anyway with worry on my face. He studied me for a moment and then looked around. I felt safer because of it and wished I could reach out to take his hand.
Instead, I apologized to the men in front of me. “I’m sorry. Like I said, I’m not feeling well. My headache just took me by surprise.” Taking a steadying breath, I continued my slow progress. The werewolves I passed looked at me with concern. I probably looked even worse than I had just a moment ago.
More than halfway down the line, I came across a face I knew. He studied me, his playful smile from our last meeting absent. I used him as an excuse to stop and rest for a minute. I’d started shivering again.
“A f-face I know. I’m here as p-promised.”
His eyes turned slightly remorseful at my words.
“I see that little one. Although, it looks like you should be in bed instead.”
“I would b-be if people would j-just leave me alone.” I felt bad for saying it as soon as it left my mouth. How many times have these men stood in line hoping to meet some faceless girl? “B-but it’s not meant t-to be. So, you know my name, but I d-don’t know yours.” I made conversation to make up for my harsh comment.
“Luke Taylor, love.” He offered his hand, politely. A human custom, not a werewolf one. With my pull gone, could I safely touch him without causing some type of obsession? I hesitated studying his face. He’d been desperate at the club, but now he looked resigned. He knew I wasn’t the one for him.
Feeling sorry for him, I accepted his hand and a mild shock went through me to him.
Time stopped as my vision tunneled. The world around me disappeared swallowed by darkness until only a pinprick of light remained. Then the darkness exploded to a spark filled view the world in its entirety. The tiny lights dazzled me. The yellow green of humanity almost consumed the world. However, diversity persisted, though small.
Slowly, the sparks of each human, werewolf, and the yet unexplained blue-grey winked out of existence until a single faint spark tinted with a violet halo remained on the east coast. My focus changed, honing in on that light. Like reading a map, I saw its exact location. My eyes swam in the yellow-violet light for a moment. Then, with a snap like an elastic band breaking, I returned to myself.
My lungs sucked in a breath with a loud whoosh and my heart hammered in my chest. I ached all over and felt like vomiting. Luke’s steady warm hand desperately clutched in my own, anchored me, the only thing keeping me from falling apart.
Clay paced right behind me. I vaguely imagined he didn’t like me holding another man’s hand for so long, but leaned closer to Luke anyway.
Luke eyed me warily.
I swallowed down my bile before attempting to speak. “I need to talk to you. Don’t leave until I do.”
His brow rose in surprise at my heavily slurred words.
“Clay,” my head lolled to the side as I tried to catch his eye. “Catch me,” I whispered letting go of Luke’s hand. The world disappeared.
My pounding head woke me. I couldn’t tell if I lay in a dark room or just had my eyes closed. I didn’t really matter. My skull would certainly shatter if I had to deal with light too. Mouth dry, I tried to whisper for water, but only managed a faint croak. I attempted to clear my throat, but the pain in my head brought tears to my eyes. I was dying. I had to be to feel this way.
An arm gently slid under my neck and lifted my head a bit. A cool glass pressed to my lips and I slowly sipped the contents, stopping when the darkness began to pull me down again.
I woke several more times, only drinking a bit of water before passing out again. Each time the pain in my head decreased a little until, finally, I woke with more clarity.
“Water,” I whispered into the darkness.
Again, an arm snaked under me, lifting me for a cool drink. I drained the cup. The arm lowered me and settled back onto the pillow. My ears rang in the silence.
“How long have I been sleeping?” I asked just to hear something.
Instead of an answer, I got a tight hug. “I really hope you’re Clay,” I whispered breathlessly.
His gruff laugh wrapped around me just as comforting as his hug.
“Can we turn on a light?”
He moved away from me, and I took the opportunity to sit up a bit, leaning against the headboard. A tangle of my hair got in my way. I brushed it aside feeling the knots in it.
The bedside lamp clicked on and I squinted against the light, regretting my request. My head still ached slightly. My legs still felt shaky. I rubbed a hand over my face as my eyes watered. Blinking several times, I finally focused on Clay. Dressed in the same clothes he’d worn outside, he stood near the bed looking down at me with a tender, relieved expression. Maybe I hadn’t been out that long after all.
“Clay, I think I know what’s going on. Can you help me up? I really need a shower.” And a toothbrush.