Page 71 of His Atonement

Henrich sighs. "I can, but not everything—something you are very aware of. I can smell things like cancer, heart disease, abnormalities in the major organs, but if it isn't something as cut and dry as things of that nature, I can't diagnose it."

"Which is why you should just go hug her for a really long time!" Grace snaps.

"I have hugged her, Gracie. Hugged her, high-fived her, patted her on the back. I've picked up no illness from the contact.” Henrichhmmms,then clears his throat. "There is something though, something I can't quite pinpoint."

"Right?! See? I knew something was wrong with her. And since she isn't telling us what, you have to figure it out."

"Gracie… " Henrich's tone softens. "I understand you want to help your friend, but she has to be willing to take what is offered. If Frankie was reluctant to even admit it to you, knowing you sensed something is wrong with her, then why would she offer it to me?"

I blink, and step even closer but then what he just said sinks in.

They're talking about Frankie.

MyFrankie.

Grace thinks there is something wrong with her, that she is sick and keeping it a secret from those around her.

Which only confirms the feeling in the pit of my stomach, the dread that I so frequently experience when Frankie disappears.

"Maybe she would because you are a healer. You're a healer and you're easy to talk to, maybe if you just sort of led the conversation, offered to do an overall check up. I mean, she needs a primary doctor in Ashland anyway. You could show her your human credentials as well as your abilities, and maybe Frankie will let you do some routine stuff."

Henrich sighs. "I can try, my sweet, but if Frankie doesn't want to be helped then she won't be."

"I know.” Grace sniffles and my heart drops to my goddamn balls. "I just feel like it's something serious, something important and... and I just worry because she is a human. Allie will be crushed if something happens to Frankie… "

"I know, sweetheart, I know. Perhaps we can try to encourage her to make an appointment with me, try to get her to tell someone what is going on, but even if she does…"

Grace sighs, though it is very shaky. "I know. Even some things can't be healed by shifter magic."

Then I'm off.

Running like a madman down the tunnel, my heart hammering against my chest as more emotions than I can handle swirl inside of me.

If Frankie is in fact ill, has some sort of sickness that we can sense but cannot pinpoint, then it is not one that directly affects her body.

Or does it?

Christ, of course it does.

The lack of strength and coordination at times, those tremors I felt when I was pressed up against her. Even her mood swings and the rage she experienced over simple things. Not to mention she smokes far more than I do and I'm at risk for exploding into a mess of unstable power if I don't do it as often as I do.

Gods, Grace might actually be right.

Oh my darling girl, my Frankie.

Mating her may be the only way to save her.

I know nothing about what happens when demons mate, nothing at all since I have never known one that found its mate, let alone was able to do so, but when shifters or vampires, fae or banshees, when any creature of mysticism mates a human, they take on traits of their fated one.

Long life and enhanced healing ability being two of the most prominent among all species and I can only hope that applies to demons as well.

Given that Frankie's illness isn't too far progressed and she actually agrees to mate me.

Really I could just convince her we should have sex and not tell her about the whole mating bit, but that is wrong, even I know that.

And gods, if her illness is too far along, if she's hit a point where even magic won't work?

I can't even stomach that thought.