“Aric?” Martin’s deep baritone said in greeting.

“No, it’s Celia Wird.”

I wasn’t sure why I threw in my last name. It wasn’t like Aric’s Alpha didn’t know who I was.

“Soon to be Celia Connor,” he added gently. When I didn’t say anything more, concern dripped into his tone. “You’re not well, are you?”

“Not really,” I answered, unable to keep my voice from shaking.

“Gemini filled me in on your condition. Perhaps Makawee could aid you in your healing.”

“It’s not that,” I said. “I need to talk to you about Aric.” I paused, suddenly uncomfortable with what I had to say. It was only because of my desperation to help my wolf that I finally spoke. “Things have been different between us since he proposed. They’re strained—his anger, mine, and our insecurities seem to be eating us alive.” My gaze dropped to my opposite hand. My nail beds were practically bleached from my blood loss. “We share a certain warmth between us,” I said, trying to keep my focus. “I’m sorry, it’s a good thing, but hard to describe.”

“I understand this heat you’re referring to.” His voice faded. “I shared it with my mate; it’s something fairly common among weres.” He waited when I said nothing more. “Is it fading?” he finally asked.

I bit my bottom lip before answering. “It’s gone,” I admitted.

The silence was so pronounced on the other line, it was clear that I hadn’t blessed him with good news.

“It was still there when Aric arrived at the hospital last night,” I continued. “But when we went to bed, I didn’t feel it anymore. Nor did I feel it when I woke up beside him. Do you think it could be related to his prior moon sickness infection?”

“I don’t know,” Martin answered. “There’s not much we know about the infection because no were aside from Aric has ever survived it. The combination of your bond, your rare magic, and Aric’s strength is the only plausible explanation for his recovery.”

“And what if he hasn’t fully recovered?” My heart clenched the more I thought about it. Moon sickness drove weres to murder anything in their path while slowly and painfully deteriorating their nervous system. “Could he be getting sick again?”

Wherever Martin was, he was pacing. I could hear his feet crossing a large room. “If he is, I’m confident you can see him through it, as you did before. But if you can’t, you need to inform me at once.”

My jaw involuntarily clenched. “So you can kill him and put him out of his misery?”

I wasn’t being overly dramatic. That was the order the Elders had given when Aric was cursed with the disease.

Martin’s tone softened. “No, Celia. Aric has proven his strength. And now, with young Daniel’s power being revealed, I have faith we can save him. Whether it’s moon sickness that plagues him or something else we’ve yet to unearth.”

I dropped my forehead into my hand as a wave of nausea caused me to sway. “Then if it’s not moon sickness, what could be happening?” I managed.

“I’m not sure. However, the effect Aric’s condition is having on your connection concerns me. Celia, it should be impossible to weaken or sever a bond without your consent. Try to reestablish it, any way you can.”

—
For a long time, I lay on the worn leather couch beside the bar, thinking about what Martin had said and trying to make sense of what was happening. But every time I had even a small inkling, my head would spin and muddle my thoughts.

The front door opened and closed upstairs before several pairs of feet padded into the kitchen. “Fried chicken or ribs?” Shayna asked.

“Chicken for dinner,” Koda answered. “Ribs for tomorrow, and you for dessert.”

Shayna squealed like she always did when he lifted her for a kiss. She giggled when they broke their kiss. “Puppy, Emme’s watching.”

Koda laughed. “No she’s not, she’s got her eyes closed.”

“Don’t mind me,” Emme said, likely blushing.

I forced myself to sit, waiting for a moment until my vision cleared enough to stand. With feet that felt way too heavy, I trudged up the stairs and into the kitchen where my sisters were putting away groceries.

Everyone stilled when they saw me. “Hey,” I said.

Koda rushed to my side and clasped my shoulders. He probably thought I was going to keel over. He was probably right.

“Damn, you look like shit.”

“And a good afternoon to you, too,” I answered, trying to force a smile.

Koda glanced over my shoulder then turned back to me, frowning. “Where’s Aric?”

“Upstairs.”

“And where were you?”

“Downstairs,” I answered like a dork.

Aside from demons and their offspring, Koda was hands down the most intimidating individual I’d ever met, and that was when he was in a good mood. He narrowed his eyes. “What were you doing in the basement without him?”

“Ah, nothing.”

“Nothing?” he asked, clearly annoyed that I was lying. His stare demanded an explanation. I wasn’t a wimp, but I definitely pitied Koda and Shayna’s future children then. God forbid they’d miss curfew without a good excuse.

“I’m going to go and check on Aric.” Koda wouldn’t release me. “You know, and make sure he’s all right?” said the freakishly pale girl who hung out in the basement. “So, I’m guessing you should let go of me.” I groaned when he wouldn’t. “Come on, Koda. Don’t give me a hard time.”

Shayna edged her way to us and pried his hands from me. “She’s not feeling well, puppy. Let my sister be with her mate.”

The term stung me. Koda must have felt it, because the tension eased in his stance and he acknowledged me with as much kindness as his scary beast could muster. His gaze and that of my sisters burned hot against my back as I made my way to the stairs. I tried to move as normally as possible. For the most part I managed not to stagger or pitch backward down the steps. Except my body was pissed at having to walk up from the basement and buckled as I opened the door to our bedroom.

“Aric,” I called, just before a swirl of spots clouded my vision.