Page 64 of Caller of Crows

Sven scrambled out of bed and dressed himself in haste.

Altair watched him, not without sympathy, but without any idea what to say. His mother was the only real reason the mortal was here with him, after all.

"She can't die," Sven said, his voice shaky. "She just… she can't."

"I'm sorry."

"Take me to her," Sven demanded.

Altair hesitated. If Sven was seen with him in public, people would grow suspicious.

"I'll tell everyone that I'm with you because I want to be," Sven insisted. "That's not a crime."

Altair relented. He'd already denied the mortal one thing tonight, he couldn't deny him another.

ChapterEighteen

Sven's heart pounded the entire journey.

Altair had driven him to his mother's hospital in a sleek black car, but Sven didn't even notice the vehicle's interior or the fact that it had probably cost a fortune. All he could think about was his mother and whether or not she was going to survive.

He couldn't lose her.

He couldn't.

She was the only family he had.

If she died, Sven would never forgive himself.

"You cannot blame yourself," Altair said softly.

"Stop reading my mind!"

Sven's temper flared, his anger directed at the only target he had available.

"I'm not reading your thoughts," Altair said. "I just know what it's like."

Sven huffed a laugh.

Yeah, right.

"You don't know anything about what I'm feeling."

"Believe me, I do."

"My mother isn't your mate."

"Perhaps not, but you love her."

Sven didn't have the energy or the will to fight the vampire, so he said nothing and turned his gaze toward the window. He watched the town pass by, his stomach churning.

He hated not knowing.

God.

When had things become so terrible? When had his life spiraled so far out of control?

Altair parked the car and accompanied him to the hospital, which made him uncomfortable, but the truth was, he didn't want to be alone. The vampire was the only person who truly understood what was happening, and no matter how messed up the circumstances between them were, having him around was better than being alone with his thoughts.