Page 23

Chapter Twenty-One

O ne minute they were having the best morning sex known to warlock and witchy wolf and the next, Marric was burning up with a fever.

It didn’t take long before Marric was unconscious, and Iven was frantic.

He pulled on his underwear and pants and ran down the hall, searching for Zinnie. She was the only one who could help Marric.

What he didn’t understand was what had happened.

Marric shouldn’t have gotten sick. The curse should have dissipated at least a little without Regan building it up all the time.

After last night, there was no way Regan would have.

That boy loved and trusted Marric way too much to continue building up the curse.

Iven found everyone in the kitchen. Maggie was cooking and pushing Kinnison out of her way, scolding him about being in her kitchen. Everyone else talked and laughed with each other.

Iven focused on Emery for a moment, noticing how she seemed healthy and happy. She even laughed at something Riley said and then bumped shoulders with him.

Iven got Zinnie’s attention at the same time Kinnison noticed him. Kinnison tensed and closed the distance as if he were a man on a mission. “What happened?”

“Marric has a fever.” Iven grabbed Zinnie’s hand when she came within touching distance, and he pulled her out of the room.

Kinnison followed them. “What the fuck did you do to him?”

Iven gritted his teeth. He wanted to protest the claim, but Emery had been laughing and talking as if she hadn’t been sick at all.

And Marric had fallen ill in minutes. Iven’s gut told him the illness had come on so strongly because they’d bonded.

He didn’t have evidence to support it, and he hoped it wasn’t true, but he had a feeling it was.

Zinnie went to the bed and sat beside Marric.

“By the gods.” Kinnison wrinkled his nose and stepped out of the room.

The smell of sex, along with their combined scents, permeated the air.

While Zinnie didn’t seem to mind, or if she did, it took a backseat to her helping Marric, Kinnison was a different story.

He’d use them bonding and then Marric falling ill, to prove his point about Iven not being right for Marric.

Iven crawled in the bed beside Marric, kissing his forehead. “Can you help him?”

“I’m going to do everything I can, but you have to break the curse. He’s fading fast, Iven.” Zinnie didn’t stop looking Marric over. “I need my herbs.”

“I’ve got them, Mom,” Griffin came in, carrying Zinnie’s bag of herbal tricks. Or that was what Griffin normally called it. Griffin met Iven’s gaze. “Riley’s protecting the room. It’s pissing Kinnison off. Him and Cass are nose to nose.”

Iven sighed. He kissed Marric’s feverish forehead. “Hang on, honey. And remember, I love you.”

Zinnie smiled. “I’ll call if he wakes up. Go. Find the cure.”

“Tell him what I said about loving him.” Iven tried to push the emotion out of his chest, but it gathered anyway and spilled from his eyes. He wiped away the tear that slid down his cheek. “Make sure he knows. Please.”

“I will. Just find out who’s doing this to him.” Zinnie didn’t take her focus off Marric. Knowing she was so diligent in saving Marric’s life, eased some of Iven’s panic.

“Thanks, Zin.” Iven dressed as quickly as he could, strapping his gun belt on was the last thing he needed to do.

He grabbed the archival book before he left the room. Riley sat in a chair right outside the door. The doorway itself appeared as if it were a black cavern. Iven could see nothing but emptiness inside, which was the point, but not being able to see Marric made his panic return.

Riley held out his hand, wanting the book. “I’ll look for the curse and call you when I find it.”

Iven nodded and hand it over. “Don’t let anyone inside but Zinnie and Griffin. Not even Emery and Regan.”

“I won’t. I promise.” If Kinnison and Cass bothered Riley with their wolfish stand-off of growling and showing teeth, he didn’t show it.

Iven headed down the hall, which was what broke the stand-off, because Cass followed behind him. Kinnison was on their heels.

“You did that to my boy, and now you’re going to fix it.” Getting accused of hurting Marric made Iven want to lash out, but instead of reacting to the goading, Iven thought about how to respond.

“I’m no more responsible than you are, Kinnison. But you’re right. I will find out who’s been hurting my mate, and I’ll make sure they never do it again.” By the time Iven said all that, he was down the stairs and in the foyer.

Maggie stood near the kitchen entrance, with Emery under one arm and Regan under another.

“Hold down the fort here. Don’t let anyone but us inside or out.” He had his shoes on already because they’d been in the bedroom when he took them off, but he had to wait for Kinnison and Cass to put on their shoes.

“Find out who did this and eliminate them.” For a little old lady, Maggie was fierce.

Iven nodded, but focused on Kinnison. “If you’re going to come, then you’re going to follow my lead.” Iven wanted Kinnison to know who was in charge.

But Maggie continued giving orders, so before Kinnison could speak, she met Cass’s gaze. “Take care of him.” She nodded in Iven’s direction. “That’s his mate.”

Cass nodded. “You know I will, Gran.”

Kinnison shook his head. “You all just come in here and take over like you have a right. That mark on your neck means I’ll kick your ass before all this is over. It doesn’t mean anything else to me.”

Iven shook his head and sighed. “Follow my orders or get out of my way.”

“I don’t follow your orders, but we’re on the same side for now. That’s as good as it’s going to get.” Kinnison growled every word.

Iven didn’t have the time to argue, so he walked out the door without a word.

Cass had other ideas. “Are you angry because Marric is sick or because they bonded?”

“Yes.” The simple answer said it all. Kinnison didn’t like any of it and he’d make Iven pay before it was over.

That was fine with Iven. As long as Marric lived. Nothing else mattered. Not even Kinnison, kicking his ass all over the farm later.