Curling my hands into fists, I tried to control my anger at his use of a pet name.

“I would b-be if people would j-just leave me alone. B-but it’s not meant t-to be. So, you know my name, but I d-don’t know yours.”

“Luke Taylor, love.”

Love? I wondered if I could knock his British accent out along with a few teeth.

Luke-the-Brit held out his hand. Gabby glanced at it and hesitated. I ground my teeth together, jealousy ripping through me when she reached forward and wrapped her hand in his. She paled, exhaled heavily, and swayed on her feet. Luke’s slight smirk disappeared.

I held myself ready. To catch her. To fight for her. To do whatever she needed of me.

Gabby’s heart started to beat loudly as if overtaxed. She made a small sound between a gasp and a moan. I inhaled deeply and noted her scent had changed, too. Mellowed. I started to pace just behind her, my focus on both of them.

Luke frowned at Gabby.

“I need to talk to you,” she said, her words slurred. “Don’t leave until I do.”

Luke looked as surprised as I felt.

“Clay,” she whispered. Her head lolled to the side as she tried to find me. “Catch me.”

She let go of Luke’s hand and fell against me.

“Is she okay?” Sam asked. He stood beside me, his hand extended to touch her forehead.

I couldn’t stop the growl as I lifted her into my arms and settled her against my chest.

“You pushed this.” A tremor ran over my arm. Fur appeared and disappeared. “These women aren’t like us. They’re fragile. You know that. You say you’re protecting them. Who’s protecting them from you?”

The males around us shifted in agitation. They were thinking the same thing. The Elders should have put a stop to this Introduction. They’d all sensed her exhaustion and witnessed her frailty.

Sam looked down at Gabby, her pale cheek resting against me, and I had the satisfaction of seeing guilt pass over his features.

I stepped around him and carried her inside, hurrying to get to her room. Anyone I passed moved out of our way. Word of what had happened had already spread.

Charlene stood by the apartment door and opened it for me. She followed me in as I strode across the small space to Gabby’s bedroom.

“Do you need anything, Clay?”

I paused and looked back at Charlene. In the door, a man stood behind her. He looked like her and Thomas. His gaze was locked on Gabby, reflecting a sad worry. I clenched my jaw against a new wave of anger. Damn the Elders.

“Just tell them to stay away.”

She nodded slightly, looking concerned. “I’ll do my best.”

She turned, shooed the man away, and closed the door. I could still hear them, though.

“Will she be all right?”

“I don’t know, Jim.”

“She’s like you and Michelle, right?”

“Let’s talk about this later.”

Their voices faded as I set Gabby on her bed. I removed the jacket, tucked her under the covers, and turned off the light. Her pale skin seemed to glow in the soft light from the main room. No discernable rise and fall of her chest moved beneath the covers. She was too still, and it scared me.

Frustrated and angry at my helplessness, I went to the kitchenette to get a glass of water. Please let this be like last time, I thought, carrying the glass back to her. I closed the door, set the glass beside the bed, then lay on the covers next to her.

I laid my hand on her chest to measure her shallow breathing. She’d obviously used her power again. And this was the worst she’d ever been. What if—? I wouldn’t let the thought finish.

“Please wake up from this,” I whispered in the dark. “I can’t live without you.”

Chapter 19

Hours passed. Worry ate at me. Twice I heard Sam moving in the living room, but he didn’t disturb us. I lingered in the dark, listening for any sign that Gabby was improving.

When she finally moved slightly, my throat tightened with emotion. She tried to speak, but she could only make a dry, raspy noise. I gently slid an arm under her and lifted her enough to give her a drink. She sipped slowly, each swallow sounding loud and painful, until she tilted her head to show she’d had enough.

She’d barely drunk anything. Before I could encourage more, I saw she’d left again. Was it sleep or had she fainted?

The worry returned. Why had she touched Luke? I’d kill the Brit next time I saw him.

It was several hours again before she woke to sip more water. Again, she barely managed anything. The wait until the next time she moved wasn’t as long, and I began to hope. Was it a sign of improvement?

For two days, we existed in darkness. I only left the bedroom once to get more water. Charlene came once more to ask if I thought Gabby needed to go to the hospital. I wasn’t sure. Could Gabby survive on so little water? Charlene had left before I’d decided on an answer.

I was about to leave and call Charlene back when Gabby shifted again.

“Water,” she whispered.

Sliding an arm under her, I lifted the glass to her lips. She didn’t sip. She gulped. My eyes watered. I lowered her back to the bed, set the cup aside, and waited, listening to her breathing. It sounded stronger. Would she stay awake this time?

“How long have I been sleeping?” she asked.

I wrapped my arms around her and hugged her close. Relief coursed through me.

“I really hope you’re Clay,” she said.

A laugh escaped me. As if I’d let anyone else near her.

“Can we turn on a light?”

As soon as I left the bed, she tried sitting up. I watched her struggle in the dark. Every move looked strained. Turning on the light probably wasn’t a good idea. She needed more rest. But I wanted to see her. Really see her. I waited to click the lamp on until she leaned against the headboard. She squinted, and her eyes watered. She reached up to rub her eyes and brush a tangle of hair from her sallow face.

After blinking for a minute, her gaze met mine.

“Clay, I think I know what’s going on. Can you help me up? I need a shower.”

She wanted me to help her move around again? Not happening. I shook my head.

“Clay, now’s not the time to put your foot down. This is really important.”

It was exactly the time to put my foot down. She’d been out for two damn days. I felt aged from how much I’d worried over her.

She tried to sit up further but couldn’t. She winced as if her head hurt.

“Okay. Maybe you’re right.” She rubbed her forehead. “Can you get me something for my head, please? It feels like it’s going to explode all over the walls.”

A request I could easily fulfill. I leaned over, smoothed back her hair, and kissed her forehead. She smiled tiredly at me. It was hard to leave the room, even for medicine for her. But, I did.

The living room was empty. I let myself out of the apartment and closed the door softly behind me. I’d need to be quick. I didn’t want anyone to see I’d left Gabby’s side. They’d know she was awake, and I wasn’t about to let anyone near her just yet. She needed rest. A lot of it.

When I returned, the shower was running in the bathroom. I growled. Stubborn woman.

Moving toward the door, I listened. The water splashed slightly so I knew she was already safely in the tub. I sighed and set my hand on the door. She’d better be careful in there.

I returned to the kitchenette, set the pills down, then went to the bedroom. If she was set on cleaning herself, I might as well clean up her room, too. I stripped the bed. It smelled like Gabby, which I liked; but it smelled of sickness, too. I wanted no memory of the last two days.

The water turned off as I remade the bed with clean sheets. I hurried to find what else I thought she might need. Socks, slippers, and her hairbrush waited on the quilt when I finished.

I listened to the sounds of her moving in the bathroom. Every slight noise was spaced apart as if she moved very slowly. She had to be exhausted again.