Page 11

Chapter Ten

H ours had gone by, and Iven had been working on little sleep. Still, he stayed until the coroner came and the body was on the way to the morgue. Morning had come and with it the full light of day. He’d helped process the crime scene along with Cass.

But he’d told Cass to go home a couple of hours ago.

Iven trudged over to his vehicle. He didn’t see Marric, but he hadn’t expected him to follow orders.

Iven told himself it was a good thing Marric hadn’t stayed.

If Cass had seen Marric in his vehicle, there would have been questions.

He wanted to get through processing the scene before Cass started in on him.

Iven wasn’t sure what he was going to do with Marric yet. All he knew was he wouldn’t tell anyone Marric was the one who called it in. He would erase the call and talk to Danny later. After he got a little sleep. And then he would find Marric because they needed to have a little chat.

By the gods. He had a mate. After all these years and endless relationship failures. His mate turned out to be a Ransome. Holy shit.

There was a good possibility of their mating failing and it would be epic when it did.

And Iven had given up the ghost of having a relationship a long time ago.

He hadn’t been expecting Marric to come into his life.

Finding out his mate was a little criminal who broke into people’s houses was something he didn’t know what to do with yet.

When Iven opened the door to his car, the first thing he saw was Marric curled up on the seat, fast asleep. Iven sucked in a breath. He hadn’t left.

His long, dark hair covered part of his face. Iven pushed it aside and then ran his fingers along the crease of Marric’s forehead. He seemed a little warm, so Iven touched his head to make sure. But no, his mate definitely had a fever.

Well, that told Iven a lot about what Marric had been looking for. Marric was ill and needed a healing spell.

Marric didn’t even stir when Iven got in the car or when he started the engine and drove for home. It wasn’t until Iven shut off the car engine that Marric moaned.

Iven ran a hand along his shoulder. “You’re okay, mate.”

Marric didn’t respond. Instead, he shivered so hard it was almost violent.

Iven scrambled out of his vehicle and went around to the passenger’s side. He grabbed a blanket from the back seat and wrapped Marric in it before he lifted him in his arms.

Thankfully, Riley was home and opened the door for them. Iven wouldn’t have been able to unlock the door and even turn the knob while holding Marric, too.

“What’s wrong with him?” Riley jogged ahead of them. “Also, where do you want him?”

Iven’s first instinct was to put Marric in the spare bedroom. Fated mates or not, they didn’t know each other. And the fact was, Iven was the sheriff and Marric committed a crime in his town. He’d already covered up Marric’s presence at the murder scene without really knowing him.

Even as all that went through Iven’s head, he still said, “My room.”

Riley’s gaze snapped to Iven and then to Marric.

“He has a fever.” Iven carried Marric into his bedroom and laid him on the bed. Marric didn’t wake up. He just curled onto his side again as he had in the car.

“Is he your mate?” Riley asked, but he already knew the answer because Iven’s glowing hand was unmistakable.

Iven answered anyway. “Yes.”

“How old is he?” Riley asked.

“Twenty-Eight.” Iven had done his homework. He’d known the basics about Marric and even some things that went beyond that. “Can you call Zinnie and Maggie? Ask them to come over.”

“What should I tell them about him?” Riley’s eyebrows drew together. “He looks a lot younger.”

Indeed, Marric did appear a few years younger than his age.

When he was sleeping, he almost seemed innocent too.

Instead of commenting on the way Riley clearly wanted him to, Iven ignored the age argument Riley wanted to have.

Or rather, the ribbing Riley wanted to give Iven for having a younger mate when Iven had given Cass and Riley a hard time when they had first bonded.

“Tell them I need their healing abilities.”

“I didn’t know Zinnie and Maggie had those types of abilities.” Riley pulled out his phone.

“They aren’t healers in the traditional sense, but they know more than most about herbal magic.” Iven didn’t take his gaze off Marric.

When Marric shivered even more, Iven began taking off Marric’s shoes and the gloves he wore to keep his fingerprints off everything. He started on his clothing next, but left his underwear on.

He lifted Marric again, taking the blankets with him, and went over to the armchair in the corner of the room and sat with him in his lap. He hoped the closeness would help the shivers. Body heat went a long way when someone had a fever.

Riley had left the room to make phone calls but came back, sitting on the edge of the bed, taking them in as though he’d never seen Iven before. “Who is he?”

“His name is Marric Ransome.”

“Ransome.” Riley’s eyebrows drew together. “Why do I know that name?”

“Because Kinnison Ransome is Marric’s father. He’s the alpha of Timeston’s pack.” Iven rubbed a hand up and down Marric’s arm. He met Riley’s gaze. “Can you ask Cass to come here too?”

Riley nodded. He pulled out his phone, focusing on it before setting it down. Riley nodded to Marric. “Is he in trouble?”

“You can call it that.” Marric was in way over his head, but Iven might just be able to get him out of the shitshow he created for himself.

No one knew he’d been at the crime scene and Iven wanted to keep it that way.

But he wouldn’t keep secrets from either one of his family.

“I think his illness is tied to the break-ins.”

Riley sucked in a breath. His eyes went wide. “He’s that guy?”

The front door opened and then closed. He expected Zinnie or Maggie, but Griffin walked through the door.

Riley blushed. “I texted him too.”

Iven nodded, letting him know he didn’t mind.

Griffin’s eyes widened when he saw Iven holding Marric. “What is happening? Riley said you need our support, and you have it, obviously, but I need way more context.”

Iven would have filled him in, but Riley was already on it. “You know those series of break-ins people are gossiping about?”

Griffin nodded. “It’s the talk of the town. Cindy Collins said it was ghosts haunting the town. Something about dead lumber barons.”

Riley gestured to Marric. “Not ghosts. He’s dad’s mate, and he’s really sick.”

Griffin drew his eyebrows together and came closer. He moved the lock of hair off Marric’s face. “Did you call mom?”

“She should be here anytime now. Maggie too.”

Griffin nodded. “Looks young. Did Riley give you a hard time about that yet? Because you deserve it.”

Iven smiled. “Not yet.”

“I got sidetracked.” Riley shrugged.

Griffin sat on the bed next to Riley.

The door opened and closed again. The next person who entered was Cass, with Maggie on his heels.

Cass kissed the top of Riley’s head. “Are you skipping class, baby?”

“Looks like it. Just for today, though.” Riley smiled at Cass. The love between them had grown in the months since they’d mated.

Cass scanned the room. When his gaze landed on Iven, his eyes narrowed.

“What about me? Don’t I get a kiss on the head too? How rude.” Griffin grinned. He thought it was his job to lighten the mood.

Maggie kissed him before kissing Riley. “There. Now shut up and let me see the patient.”

Maggie walked right over to him and put a hand to Marric’s forehead. “When did the fever start?”

“I don’t know. I think he might get them off and on and he doesn’t know why.” Iven met Cass’s gaze. “It explains the break-ins and the stolen book on healing spells.”

Cass sighed. “He was at the crime scene. And you covered for him.”

It sounded like an accusation. And Iven took offense. “I wouldn’t have if the evidence would have pointed to him. He was in the wrong place at the wrong time.”

“This could fucking ruin you, man.” Cass was right. Iven could lose his career if he didn’t play his cards right. But Marric felt right in Iven’s arms. He also needed help. Mate or not, he couldn’t just leave him to suffer without at least trying to help.

Iven held up his hand, showing Cass the glowing spiral on his palm. “The same way mating with Riley could have ruined you.”

Cass cursed and left the room.

Maggie met Iven’s gaze. “He’s not just a wolf.”

Iven shook his head. “It’s a suspicion, but I think he has witch magic, too.”

Cass came back into the room and met Iven’s gaze. He must have been standing right outside. “What did he tell you about Hattie’s murder?”

Iven shrugged. “Not much. He went into the house through a basement window and saw her. He called me right away. I didn’t get to talk to him for very long.

I wanted him away from the crime scene, so I told him to wait in my car.

I didn’t expect him to comply, but he was curled up on the seat, feverish and shivering, when I finished at the crime scene. ”

Maggie tsked. “He’s probably cursed. It’s important to know which curse though.”

“Cursed?” Iven scowled. He’d never encountered someone with a curse before. At least, not that he was aware of.

“It happens. Dark magic users curse the most, but all magic users can create a curse.” Maggie pushed the hair off Marric’s forehead. “There’s no other reason for him to be sick. Not with a fever. Not a wolf shifter. But with him having magic too, I can’t be sure.”

Zinnie came into the room carrying a bag. No doubt she brought a bag full of remedies. She didn’t ask questions the same way everyone else did. She got right down to business. “Lay him on the bed.”

Iven sighed in relief. With Zinnie there, Marric had a chance of getting better.

Iven did as she directed. As soon as he laid Marric down, he started shivering again.

“Everyone out but Iven and Maggie.” Zinnie waved them away.

Zinnie sat on the bed next to Marric. When she uncovered him, Iven swore, but he didn’t stop her.

Marric’s shivering became violent.

Iven couldn’t watch Marric in so much discomfort and pain. He pulled his shirt off before climbing onto the bed. He sat, leaning against the headboard with Marric’s back to his front. “Does this leave you room to see to him?”

Zinnie smiled. “It’s fine.”

Maggie stood behind Zinnie, peering over her shoulder. “He’s flush with fever.”

“Witches can get some illnesses. Wolves can’t. And I smell both on him.” Zinnie said the same thing Maggie had.

“That’s rare,” Maggie said.

“It’s not usual.” Zinnie had a small flashlight that seemed to be one of those blue lights. She shined it on every part of Marric that was exposed. She frowned. “Can I see his back?”

Marric groaned when Zinnie moved him.

“Just for a moment, honey. I know you’re cold. I know.” She shined the light on Marric’s back.

Iven saw the mark even before Zinnie shut off the light. It was a single dot. No bigger than a pinprick, but the surrounding area was an iridescent white.

“Maggie’s right. It is a curse.”

Zinnie pulled out some herbs and handed them to Iven. “Chew on these, but don’t swallow them. We’re just making a paste with your saliva. It might heal him faster coming from you.” Coming from his mate.

Healing him as soon as possible would be great. He wanted his mate to feel better. Once he did, he’d have a million questions for him, starting with who might have cursed him.