Kreed
* * *
Hudson didn’t make an appearance the next morning. In fact, by the time midday had rolled around, I still hadn’t seen him, which was abnormal. I’d been walking around on eggshells all fucking day, anxious about us crossing paths, but all those nerves had apparently been for nothing.
Had he left after last night? Had I gotten through to him? I’d never wanted him to feel as if this wasn’t his home, that he couldn’t be here, even if I was angry and upset with him and his actions. No matter what, I’d never take this sanctuary from him, even if I was the one being made uncomfortable.
I drummed my fingers on my desk, glancing in the direction of the front door, though I couldn’t see it. Gritting my teeth, I pushed back from my desk and walked out of my office, heading for the entryway. I stopped when I saw Corvus coming inside, the ends of his hair damp. He was shirtless, his white tee draped over the back of his neck. He smiled and gave a small wave when he spotted me.
“Oh, hey, Kreed.” He jabbed his thumb over his shoulder. “Just got back from a run. Everything okay?”
If Corvus was still here, then so was Hudson. So, where the fuck was he? It wasn’t like him to remain cooped up in his room. He never had before—not even when he and Bonnie were at each other’s throats like two lions trying to establish dominance. Unless…
I glanced toward the staircase. Hudson had been a little forgetful last night at dinner. No spoon. Didn’t take as much chili as he normally would. And when I’d looked in the fridge this morning, the chili had barely been touched, which was weird for Hudson, who usually ate two to three bowls of the stuff in one sitting.
Fuck.
I looked at Corvus. “Is he sick?”
Corvus’s eyes widened the tiniest bit. If I hadn’t been studying him, I would’ve missed it. He quickly shook his head. “Who, Hudson? No. He’s probably just tired. He studies too much and doesn’t sleep nearly enough. You know how he is.”
He was right. I did know how Hudson was, which meant I also knew the only time he ever holed himself up in his room and slept this much was when he was under the weather. And Hudson’s track record with illnesses was absolute dogshit. He had a weak immune system from Bonnie not taking proper care of him when he was younger. I used to keep him on vitamins, but he’d probably stopped taking them once he went to college. He’d always hated taking medication, even if it was something as simple as a multivitamin.
“Goddammit,” I growled then hurried upstairs. I heard Corvus sigh, but I ignored him. Twisting the handle to Hudson’s room, I was thankful to find it unlocked. When I walked in, the heavy scent of sweat hung in the air. The room was warm, and a glance at the air vent showed it’d been closed.
Yet, despite the warm temperature of the room, Hudson was buried beneath his blankets, shaking like a leaf during a hurricane as he slept.
So much was wrong between us. And I knew taking care of him while he was so fucking ill might just make this entire situation worse. Once he was better, he’d more than likely double-down on his efforts to destroy my fucked-up marriage and make me his. I didn’t care how attracted to Hudson I was. We couldn’t happen.
But I also couldn’t leave him like this. He would only get worse.
I moved closer to the bed then eased onto the edge of it. Reaching out, I peeled his black comforter from his face, a frown tugging at my lips when I saw how pale and clammy he appeared. Pressing the backs of my fingers against his forehead, I hissed.
He was burning up.
I quickly covered him back up then headed into his attached bathroom to grab a thermometer and medication. Once I was back in his room and had everything on the nightstand, I sat down once more and gently shook him, not uncovering him this time.
He groaned then slowly pushed the blankets from his face. His eyes opened to slits then widened when he saw me sitting on the edge of his bed.
“Fuck,” he croaked. “Corvus is such a bastard—” He fell into a coughing fit. His chest rattled so badly, I actually feared for his health. He groaned after it passed, his breaths wheezing from his lungs. “Christ, that hurts.”
“I need to take your temperature,” I told him, grabbing the thermometer. I slipped the clear, plastic cover on the end. He opened his mouth without a fight then closed it once I placed the thermometer under his tongue. His eyes slid shut, and when the thermometer beeped, he merely opened his mouth long enough for me to pull it out.
One hundred and three point seven. Fuck.
“Hudson, you need a hospital,” I told him quietly, gentling my voice. He hated doctors’ offices. And hospitals. He’d fight me tooth and nail on it.
“No.” He shook his head. “I’m not going.”
I combed my fingers through his sweat-damp hair, and he shuddered then moved so he pressed his body against my side. My heart tripped in my chest. Why did he have to be so manipulative? Why couldn’t he be this sweet all the fucking time?
“I know you hate them,” I soothed. “But your fever is too high, Hudson.”
He shook his head then fell into another coughing fit. His body trembled against mine, his shaking growing worse. More sweat beaded along his scalp.
“Kreed, please,” he begged, sounding so fucking weak he tore at my fragile control. He never begged me for anything. Not even when he was sick previously. “Please don’t make me go.”
I swallowed thickly, my fingers trembling along his scalp. I hoped he couldn’t feel it. His begging was doing me in.
