Page 1 of His Little Hessonite (Eleadian Mates #10)

Chapter One

Clara

“Aren’t we a bit old for this?” I ask my friends as we stand in line, waiting to get into Club Zoom. I don’t know why I agreed to this.

Misha giggles. “It’s your birthday. We’re celebrating. Thirty-five is not old.”

I draw in a deep breath and press against my temples with my fingers.

“Headache?” Tanya asks gently, stroking my arm.

I try to shake it off. “I’ll be fine.” I want to be fine. I’ve felt pretty good today. That’s why I agreed to go out. That and it’s my birthday. I should be out celebrating with my friends.

Misha wraps her arm around my other elbow. “Did you see the doctor today?”

“No. I have another appointment tomorrow.”

Both my friends stare at me with worried looks on their faces.

“What?” I ask before I swipe at my nose, thinking there’s something on my face.

“You look pretty pale, Clara,” Misha says, her brows furrowed with more concern than I like to see in her expression.

Tanya glances at the entrance to the club. We’re next to go inside.

Suddenly I feel kind of faint. Shit. Why does this keep happening to me? I’ve been on a leave of absence from my job for three weeks, seeing specialists, trying to get to the bottom of my fatigue. I wouldn’t have come out tonight if I hadn’t been feeling better today.

“IDs, ladies,” the bouncer says as we step into the club.

My fingers are shaking as I fumble with the zipper on my purse.

“Ma’am? Are you okay?” the bouncer asks.

“She gets fatigued sometimes,” Tanya tells him. “Is there someplace we can sit down for a minute?”

“Of course.” The man steps closer, sets a hand on my back, and guides me through the entrance and into an office. He shuts the door as soon as we’re inside and helps me to sit on a loveseat. He squats in front of me.

“Thank you,” I murmur. I can feel fatigue taking over. Dammit. I’m going to faint.

Misha and Tanya must recognize the signs because they both rush to my sides and turn me so I end up reclined on the loveseat.

“How about some water?” the bouncer asks.

Tanya responds, I think, but her voice is fading…