Page 44 of Tainted Gifts
If my head wasn't hurting already, it would be aching from the empathetic misery I'm enduring. My heightened senses have always left me vulnerable to pain those around me experience. Their misery becomes mine. I hate it.
I love touching Jase because my empathy switch gets turned way down, turning into insight rather than a true feeling, and sparing me the emotions of others. Maybe it's because he has some special link to the mind.
Right now, between the foreign infection intruding upon my mind and the suffering trauma of the children, my head feels like there are needles and knives in it.
The heat is suffocating, though it doesn't seem to be bothering the others as much. Tears fall as the pain becomes unbearable, and suddenly cool arms are wrapping around me, saving me from my misery.
"You never answered me earlier," Jase murmurs softly as I fall into him without meaning to. "When's the last time you slept?"
He steadies me, filling me with such glorious relief. I shake my head, shrugging after.
"It's not easy to sleep when you feel like I feel."
He frowns and then helps me up.
"Let's go lay down. You can go to sleep, and I'll make sure it's a painless, peaceful sleep."
I stare at him, unsure of what to say. I can't lie down with him, not knowing how much I still... stop thinking. Stop thinking.
"It's not negotiable. I'm the commander," he says sweetly, kissing my forehead and chilling me with his incredible breath.
It all feels so good.
"My sister will be here in a minute. Kellan and Simone can handle the children."
Crap. Kellan's never going to stand by and let me climb in bed beside Jase. He won't understand. Gah, this is so frustrating.
"If he's really your counter, and if he really cares, he'll keep his mouth shut. You're hurting. You're hurting enough to cry, and I know that takes a lot. I've seen you a bloody mess and cracking jokes. This is bad.
"Simone's going to experiment with my blood and yours when we get back. Let's hope she finds a cure, otherwise you'll just have to start staying with me all the time."
His beautiful grin shines free and butterflies ruffle through my stomach in response.
"Come on," he murmurs, when my mouth refuses to release a word.
Kellan is feeding the kids when we emerge. Simone is close by, helping disperse the food to the starving orphans.
Jase motions to the bed, and he holds my hand, keeping the pain away, as I climb in first. Kellan narrows his eyes and then stalks toward us as Jase climbs in next, ducking low to keep from slapping his head on the top bunk.
"What the-"
"She's hurting bad enough to cry. You really want to make her endure that just so you can try to stake your claim?" Jase says in interruption.
I can't look up. I don't want to see the scrutiny in Kellan's eyes.
"You just want to get inside her mind with your twisted little gift you shouldn't have. You're probably the reason her fucking head hurts like that," Kellan barks.
"Stop," I mumble, pushing my head into a pillow as I turn away from them, letting my head rest on Jase's arm. "Please. I just want some sleep."
Kellan grumbles under his breath, but I can't deal with him right now. I'm sweating, miserable from the heat caused by so many young hybrids in here.
"Why is she sweating like that?" Kellan asks.
My stomach churns when I hear Simone answer, her voice still sounding like nails on a chalkboard to me after seeing her with Jase.
"I don't know, but I don't like it. If her temperature gets too high, it'll force her body to shut down. Hybrids aren't usually fragile. We overheat often, but we usually cool down just as quickly. However, Aria's system has been screwed up for almost two weeks. I can't find anything wrong with her blood either."
"What happens if she shuts down?" Jase asks, sounding worried.
