Emma’s eyebrows rose. “Huh?” She cut a look at Hope.
Karma tried to concentrate. “Sometimes spirits talk to me. Did that make sense?”
Emma slowly nodded. “Yeah. Jayleen’s mate, Franco, died a century ago, and she’s been thinking about taking the virus but has been struggling.”
That made sense. Karma’s heartbeat felt slow still. “Well, Franco came to me and said to tell Jayleen that it’s okay. She has his blessing.”
“That’s nice, but let’s concentrate on the living right now.” Benjamin felt her forehead quickly. “The fever is gone.” Then he put his hand back on her head. “Let’s see what else is gone.”
Emma slapped his shoulder. “Give it a day, for goodness’ sake. We don’t know that it’s all out of her system.”
“I felt it unravel,” Benjamin said, his eyes intense. “Can’t explain it, but I felt it. There’s no mating bond left.”
Karma held perfectly still. No pain emanated from his touch. No rash. Relief filled her a few seconds before dread and fear slammed hard. Tears filled her eyes.
Alarm flashed in Benjamin’s gaze, and he removed his hand. “What’s wrong? Did that hurt? Is the allergy back?”
“No.” A couple of tears slid down Karma’s face.
He looked at Emma over his shoulder, but she seemed confused as well.
Emma’s brow furrowed. “Are you sad the mating bond is gone? I’d thought you didn’t really know or like your ex-mate. I didn’t expect that you’d be sad.”
“I did not truly know or like him,” Karma affirmed, feeling small and vulnerable. And naked.
Benjamin patted her shoulder and studied her eyes, obviously trying to dig deep. His expression cleared. “Oh. I get it.”
Karma tried to breathe again. Having him close was disrupting her system. “Excuse me?”
Wisdom darkened his eyes. “Even though you didn’t want to be mated, that bond was still a protection for you. A shield of sorts—no other male could mess with you. Touch you. There’s safety in that.”
Her mouth gaped open. She hadn’t even figured out the source of her tears yet. “Are you psychic?”
“No.” His lips firmed. “I don’t tell many folks because it’s kind of wimpy, but I’m a mite empathic. I feel everything. Usually I shield well, but I think I’ve got you.”
Now the fear took a different form. Hopefully, he could not read her that well. God knew what he’d do if he discovered she was working for the Kurjans, that they could see and hear him right now.
Benjamin smiled. “You’re a free female. Congrats.”
Oh, she was nowhere near free. “Thank you,” she whispered, the lie cutting her deep.
* * * *
Hope Kayrs-Kyllwood left the infirmary after passing on the weird news from the lady in her dream and walked through the lodge to the playroom, dodging outside to a small alcove containing chairs and a fireplace. She flicked the switch to ignite the fire, letting the heat take the chill out of the rainy afternoon. The lake spread out before her, a dark gray beneath autumn clouds.
She sat and kicked her legs out, putting her feet near the fire. Then she looked at the clock on her phone for the zillionth time that day.
Where was he? He should be back by now.
A couple of guards strolled by, and both smiled at her before continuing along the cement path beside the lake. She reached for a blanket from the cupboard next to her and settled it over her lap. Then she snuggled into the furry plushness of it and waited for her best friend.
She didn’t hear him arrive. One second the path was clear, and the next Paxton stood there. Giving a happy cry, she launched herself out of the chair and into his arms. “Pax!”
He chuckled and easily caught her, feeling even bigger than he had last time they’d hugged. “You didn’t get any taller these last six months.”
She smacked his chest and stepped away, taking inventory of him. “You did. Again.” He’d been tall for years, and now, at six and a half feet, he was probably as tall as her dad. But her dad was all muscle, and Pax was still gangly, although his chest had filled out with some muscle. His green eyes sizzled, and his black hair had grown to his shoulders. She grinned. “You need a haircut.”
He laughed and took her hand, leading them back into the alcove. “It’s chilly. Let’s sit by the fire.”
She rolled her eyes but followed suit, retaking her seat and settling the blanket over her lap. “Not you, too.”
He sat to the side of the fire. “You had a bad cold, Hope.”
She should never have Zoom called with him while she’d been sick last week. “It was probably allergies.”
He shrugged. “Even if it was allergies, you shouldn’t have gotten sick. Vampires and demons and whatever else you are don’t get sick. It’s worrisome.”
Had her goofy best friend just used the word ‘worrisome’? “Dude. Did you get a new vocabulary or what?”
Pax grinned, flashing twin dimples. At sixteen, he was even cuter than he’d been as a chubby toddler. “Sorry. For the last month, it was only Uncle Santino and me in the wilderness watching the ecosystem of lizards. I’ve started to talk like him. It won’t last long.”
Who cared? It was amazing to see Pax happy and safe with his uncle, although his Uncle Santino was more of an absent-minded professor than a soldier. Pax’s mom had died years ago, and his dad had been a jerk who’d hit him. “I’m glad you two had fun, although six months is a long time.” She’d missed Pax so much, especially since their friend Libby had moved away three years ago.
“I know. I missed you.” There was a new intensity to Pax’s eyes, and it did funny things to her stomach.
This was her best friend. He’d always been good-looking but a little chubby, and now he was filling out with muscle, so it made sense that he’d be attractive. But they were just friends. She fiddled with the silver butterfly ring that he’d given her for her birthday years ago. She’d finally grown into it.
He caught the movement and took her right hand. “You’re still wearing it.”
“Of course,” she whispered, her throat suddenly dry. “You’re my best friend. Well, you and Libby.”
He kept her hand and looked up, his gaze searching. “What about Drake?”
Hope had never lied to Pax, and she wasn’t going to start now. “I don’t know. I feel like we’re good friends, and I’d love to see him again in a dream.” It had been three years since she’d seen Drake, and she didn’t know why it had been so long since she’d been able to create a dream world where they could meet when they were both asleep.