“I don’t feel—”
Just as Denver turned to look, Maizy collapsed. I hadn’t even put my fork down before Denver swung his leg over the bench and rushed to her side. His plate shattered on the floor, and the rest of his juice tipped over on the table.
He dropped to his knees and cradled her head. Denver touched her cheeks and then looked at Lexi over his shoulder. “Jesus, she’s burning up. Get the truck!”
“Maizy?” Lexi ran around the table to her. “What’s wrong with her?”
Denver lifted her in his arms and turned around. “Someone start the goddamn truck! She needs to get to a hospital!”
Shifter children were prone to accidents, and we only sought help from Relics. But not all Relics were schooled in human diseases and had access to their treatments.
Denver swiftly moved out the door—still barefoot—with Austin and Lexi right behind him.
“Holy smokes, I hope she’s okay,” April said in a low voice. “I don’t remember her complaining she was sick, but sometimes that stuff just sneaks up on you all of a sudden.”
“Maybe we should quit taking her out to human places where she can catch all that shit,” Wheeler suggested, his jaw tightening.
“Don’t blame this on us.” Jericho rose from his chair, his long hair falling in front of his face. “We take the kids to the movies and the park because that’s what you do in a family.”
“She’s human,” Wheeler reminded him. “Maizy’s vulnerable in ways your kids aren’t.”
“Okay, let’s calm down,” I said. “There’s nothing we can do about it now. The doctors will know the right medicine to give her. This isn’t the dark ages. Children don’t die anymore from the flu like they used to.”
“Yes they do,” April said. “Well, I hear about it on the news. Probably just sick kids or the young ones. That’s why they get vaccinated. Maybe I should talk to Lynn about that.”
Jericho tossed down his napkin. “Getting her out in public is what she needs. She has to be exposed to all that shit so she can build up her immunity. We can’t shelter her here in the Breed world thinking just because we don’t carry diseases or viruses, she’ll be safe. Eventually she’s going to live in that world. Dig?”
“No, I don’t fucking dig,” Wheeler enunciated, swinging his leg over the bench and standing up. “I brought a panther into the house, and I’m taking my punishment like a man. But maybe I’m not the only one who should be held accountable for endangering lives.”
“Hold on, wait a minute,” Izzy said, waving her arms. “You are not about to say we intentionally put her in harm’s way.”
“Wheeler has a valid point,” William said calmly, reeling in everyone’s attention. “I’m not saying he’s right or you’re right, but I think we all need to share the responsibility of what it means to keep our pack safe on all different levels.”
William was a slick one, and I could see his influence on the pack.
“Let’s keep a cool head,” he continued, peeling an overripe banana. “Wheeler is on the defense because he helped a family friend by doing what he was told, although it inadvertently put our pack in danger. He did call in advance to give us notice and prepare. Each of us is guilty of irresponsible decisions, and yet we’re not held to the same standard of judgment. How many times have we forgotten to buckle our seatbelts or driven another pack member home after a few drinks at the bar? Sure we can shift and heal, but—”
“No, you can’t,” I interrupted. I pushed my plate away and met the gazes of everyone sitting at the table. “Shifters aren’t immortal. I think sometimes we take for granted that we can heal. Yes, it takes a lot to kill us, but my mama died in a car accident. She hit her head and went into a coma—one she never woke up from. Once the human hospitals took her in, I couldn’t get her out. She spent days on their machines.” I wiped away a tear, my emotions raw. “When they declared her brain-dead, I had to make the decision to take her off life support.” All eyes were downcast. “We’re not immortal, and we shouldn’t live our lives as if we are. Accidents happen, so maybe we shouldn’t take each other for granted.”
The room quieted.
“I’m so sorry,” April said in a soft voice. “I know how you feel. I lost my father in a car accident.”
“Honey, I didn’t mean to stir up bad memories,” I said ruefully. Once again, I’d worn out my welcome, so I stood up from the table. “I’m sure little Maizy will be fine—you all take such good care of her. I’ll call Lynn and make sure she knows what’s going on. It would be nice if someone changed the sheets on Maizy’s bed and fixed up her room for when she gets home. If anyone needs me, I’ll be in the heat house.”
As I left the room, I glanced over my shoulder and noticed Wheeler pouring his second cup of coffee. He took a sip and grimaced, holding it up to me in silent approval.
Chapter 18