Page 51 of Twilight of Embers
I made a noncommittal sound and gave him a nod as I pushed into the sea of students. They were blurry around the edges, as if each one was fading in and out. Maybe something was really wrong with me.
My feet were sluggish, tripping over each other as I moved through the halls. One caught on my heel, and I started to stumble.
Strong hands caught me. “Careful, Ms. Parrish.”
My eyes lifted to warm amber ones. The moment our gazes connected, concern filled Maddox’s expression.
“What’s wrong?”
“I don’t feel so good,” I rasped.
That concern morphed into panic as Maddox wrapped an arm around my waist. He guided me down the hall, taking all my weight easily. “Come on.”
I went willingly. I wouldn’t have been able to fight him if I’d tried. It now felt almost like someone had drugged me.
Maddox led me into his office, shutting the door behind us and guiding me to a leather couch. He eased me onto the sofa, slipping off my backpack. “Tell me what’s wrong.”
I blinked a few times, trying to bring him back into focus, but it was no use. “My throat. And my body hurts. I think I have a fever.”
My voice didn’t sound like my own. It was far away and had a gritty rasp.
Maddox cursed, pulling out his phone and tapping the screen before he pressed it to his ear. “You need to get to my office right fucking now.” There was a pause. “Yes, it’s about Hayden. And you’ll be lucky if I don’t skin you myself.”
My mouth pulled down in a frown. Who was he talking to?
The thought passed quickly because everything hurt so badly. I began to list to the side, and Maddox caught me with another muttered curse.
“Easy, Mo Ghràidh. You’ll be okay.”
I leaned into Maddox, his scent wrapping around me. It was a smoky, burnt orange. It had a bite to it just like the man himself.
“What’s wrong with me?”
“Nothing’s wrong with you,” he whispered.
I whimpered. “Hurts.”
Maddox cursed again, but then his hand slipped under my hair, and he began kneading my neck.
The moment his skin touched mine, the pain eased a fraction. It wasn’t gone, but the worst of it faded. That drugged feeling stayed, though. Darkness pulled at me.
“Just breathe, Mo Ghràidh. Just breathe. It will pass.”
“What…will?” My words were slow, sluggish, as if I could barely get them past my lips.
“The pain. I’ll take it away.”
And he did.
26
KNOX
My tires squealed as I flew into a parking spot behind the science building. This lot was supposed to be for faculty only, but I didn’t give a damn. They could ticket me if they wanted to.
All I could think about was getting to Hayden. A million different what-ifs flew through my mind. Each one was worse than before.
I jumped out of the driver’s seat, slammed my door behind me, and took off for the back door. I struggled to keep my inhuman speed under control. If I revealed how fast I could truly move, I’d get locked up in some government facility for sure.
