Their dad shook his head slightly, thanking me when I came back with the requested glass of water and then immediately sending me off again for a bowl of warm water with salt dissolved in it and a cloth. I knew enough to put the kettle on instead of getting the water from the tap.
“Dad” Stryker muttered, eyes slipping shut and shivers wracking his body “‘s cold.”
“That’s just the fever, Mischief. And it’s a bad one, too. Here. Small sips.”
“I knowthat.” Stryker muttered, attempting to push himself up with shaking arms. His dad put an arm around his back to keep him steady, using the other to feel along Stryker’s activated lymph node chain.
"I've got you, Mischief. Try to slow down your breathing."
“Dad.” Stryker breathed “I’m scared, it-“
“I know” his dad said softly “I know, just hang in there- thank you, son.” He murmured to me.
I stepped back to stand beside Matthew, who was anxiously chewing his lip. I wouldn’t mind one of his kisses to ease the tension I felt in my every muscle right now.
“Okay, Stryker, this’ll-“
“Hurt” he whispered “yeah, I- I know”
I shifted uneasily, shooting an agitated look at the door “you think they’ll get here soon?”
“It’s theirjob” Armelle pointed out, an edge to her voice “they bett-“
She was cut off by Stryker’s sharp hiss of pain, “dad,” he seethed.
“Not my fault. Kid, can you get some honey?” He was looking at Matthew this time.
I swallowed hard as his comforting presence left my side.
The healers arrived ten minutes later, just as Armelle had gotten herself worked up enough to storm out to go and fetch them herself; they immediately crowded around Stryker, and Johnathan took that as a sign to send me and Matthew home.
For once, I didn’t complain.
CHAPTER 14
Theo
When we got back, Jack looked about ready to start a fight, and I didn’t feel like dealing with himat all, so I left Matthew to face him- even though, on reflection, that wasn’t very fair on him since he was the one who’d been visibly exhausted since this morning- and headed straight to my room, completely ignoring Nico and Alex asking what had happened.
It was only just starting to sink in.Sepsis. Death.He wouldn’t die, right? Stryker couldn’t be taken down that easily.
Armelle’s expression had told me otherwise. I flinched just thinking about it.
Matthew creaked the door open half an hour later, whilst I was lying on my back on my bed, staring at the ceiling, a joint in one hand whilst my other arm was folded behind my head.
“Can I sleep here tonight?” He asked timidly.
My head snapped round, the request unexpected, “why?”
“Because Jack’s…I don’t want to deal with him.” Matthew mumbled, sinking down onto Stryker’s bed “he- he worries a lot. Since…” he trailed off, staring down at his hands.
I didn’t comment, didn’t ask questions, inhaling the smoke and puffing it out.
Matthew didn’t even call me out on it.
“You okay?”
The question caught me off guard. My brows furrowed “I’m not the dying one.” I pointed out flatly.
