“Janie Belle!” His bellow shook the dream beach.
A small smile warmed her face. How fitting the last words she’d hear would be Zane’s nickname for her.
The world tilted. Something warm and bubbly slid into her mouth. Fire licked down her throat. Her blood bubbled and veins pounded. Healing and hot, the liquid surrounded her brain. Awareness drifted in just as pain exploded behind her eyeballs.
Zane had given her blood.
Janie sat up in the hospital bed with a sharp gasp. Her father instantly enveloped her in a strong hug before her mother pushed him aside to frame her face. “Janie?”
She sucked in air. The pain in her head ebbed. “Hi, Mom.”
Chapter 24
Katie stared in shock at the queen, forcing her sharp canines to stay up. “That’s impossible.”
Worry filled Emma’s eyes along with an apology. “I can’t explain it.” She tapped her clipboard on her hand, leaning against the orange counter in the small third-level lab. Various machines buzzed near two microscopes behind her. “Your chromosomal pairs have already reached a normal twenty-eight for a shifter. So quickly, too.” A frown marred the queen’s pale skin. “But there’s no change whatsoever in Jordan’s blood.”
The lion lounged against the door frame, no expression on his battered face, a bandage wrapped around his wounded hand. “I don’t feel any different.”
Katie jumped off the examination table, crinkling the protective paper. “This doesn’t make any sense.” She yanked the neck of her shirt away to reveal the marking. Her tennis shoes slapped the tile, and she shoved the scent of bleach and cleanser away. “We mated.”
“Yes. Apparently that mating worked for you.” Emma frowned. “But not for Jordan. The virus impacts males differently than females, which we all knew.”
Anger and fear spiraled up from Katie’s stomach, almost choking her. The virus screwed everything up, even matings. “What are we going to do?” she whispered.
Jordan scrubbed both hands down his face. “I’ve set up a room where I can lock myself in—it’s the best chance I have.” He dropped his arms, eyes glowing an odd topaz. “Dage insisted the room be on the top floor—if my head begins to implode, I can hustle outside to the moon.”
His tone guaranteed he wouldn’t follow suit.
“Turning into a werewolf might be your only chance, Jordan.” Katie straightened her shoulders.
He shook his head. “No. There’s no way I’ll let myself become a beast determined to destroy.” His gaze cut hard. “I’ll destroy everything I once loved, Kate. That means you and our entire pride. You know how werewolves think.”
Unfortunately, she did know. They’d lived in her head for a decade. “I’ll stay with you.”
“No.” With a nod at Emma, he grabbed Katie’s arm and tugged her from the room. “You just became the leader of the feline nation. That calling comes before me.”
She halted, jerking him to a stop. “You’re okay with my leading?” Determination had her already planning to lead the nation should Jordan not make it through the full moon. But she hadn’t thought he’d agree.
“Yes.” Pride settled on his angled face. “You’re smart and you’re strong.”
“I’ll be challenged.”
“I taught you to fight.” His hands rubbed down her arms. “For so long I’ve worried about you—wanting to keep you safe. You can keep both you and my baby safe. Besides, there’s something ... different about you. I can sense it.”
Yeah. The werewolf virus and Jordan’s mark had set something to motion within her. Battle forces clashed in her brain, even now. She may be a bit on the crazy side, but she’d lead well. Warmth settled around her heart. “You trust me.” He no longer saw the little cub or the sickly woman. He actually saw her.
“I do.” His gaze gentled. “Though, I’m not really happy about Lance getting past all of us.”
Sadness wandered through Katie. The tiger had been a friend. One she trusted. “I won’t make the same mistake twice.”
Jordan cupped her cheek with his good hand. “I know. Make sure you don’t isolate yourself from people who care about you—don’t make my mistakes. Never be alone, sweetheart.”
“I won’t.” She pressed into his palm, seeking reassurance.
Jordan dropped a kiss on her nose and then released her. “I need to talk to Dage for a few minutes—why don’t you check on Janie and meet me in our quarters?”
“Okay.” Leaning up to brush a kiss along his lips, her mind scrambled for a way to save him. There had to be something she could do—if nothing else, she’d throw the damn man to the moon to keep him alive.
Her mind continued to make plans as she meandered down to the infirmary. Janie sat in the bed, munching on a taco. Garrett flanked her side, his gaze on his big sister.
Katie forced a smile. “Aren’t you supposed to eat Jell-O while in a hospital bed?”
Janie grinned. “Garrett snuck me one of Max’s tacos—they’re the best.”
Garrett nodded, lumbering to stand. “I’ll go find a soda for you while Mom and Dad are in the main lab with Aunt Emma.” His metallic gray gaze landed on Katie. “You’ll stay with her until I get back.”
He’d almost phrased the sentence as a request. Katie lifted an eyebrow.
The boy shuffled his feet, a blush winding over his high cheekbones. “Please, Aunt Katie?”
There was the kid she adored. She was so not ready for him to turn into a Kayrs male. “Of course, sweetie pie.”
Rolling his eyes at the endearment, he loped from the room.
Katie dragged a chair next to the bed. Her injuries had almost healed, even the slashes that had needed stitches. But her limbs felt heavy. “How are you?”
“Good.” The terrible bruise along Janie’s face had faded to a light purple. Chalk one up for vampire blood. “I saw Zane in my dream.”
Great. Just freakin’ great. Katie sighed.
Janie finished her taco, licking sauce off her fingers. “He gave me blood so I’d live.” A satisfied smile lifted her lips. “In fact, he got in a big fight with that Kurjan soldier, Kalin. Though the dream world almost collapsed.” A frown made her wince.
Katie shook her head. “Garrett gave you blood, sweetie. Garrett’s blood saved you.”
“Okay.” Janie smiled, clearly unwilling to debate the issue. “Garrett’s being so nice. I wonder how long it will last.”
“Probably a couple of days.” Katie smoothed the bedcovers. She glanced at the wall clock. Night would fall shortly. The bite mark in her neck started to pound as if trying to tell her something.
Janie eyed the clock. She cleared her throat, adjusting the pillows behind her back. Sadness filled her incredible blue eyes. “I heard Aunt Emma tell Mom Jordan hasn’t changed from marking you.”
“Yeah. But I think there’s still time.” If she kept saying the words, they’d come true.
“Me, too.” Janie plucked at a thread from her blanket. “I’m sorry I didn’t see any of this happening. The visions can’t be forced.”
“I know.” Katie tilted her head. “You can’t feel guilty about that, sweetie.”
The girl blinked. “Maybe if I tried harder to understand the visions, and to control them, I’d be better at it. What if all of this is my fault?”
Katie slid her hand over Janie’s. “None of this is your fault.” Her mind reeled with a way to reassure her friend. “Dage gets visions, right?”
“Sure. He’s the king.”
“Can he control his visions?” Katie smoothed her other hand over the blanket.