“Not enough.” He glanced down at her cup. “What’s that?”
“Green tea.” She sighed and eyed his tumbler. “I already miss red wine.”
He faltered. “Ah, maybe I should give up alcohol, too. Just to be fair.”
She turned her head and a saucy smile lifted her pink lips. “Drink all you want. You can make it up to me later.”
He smiled through the worry. “Now that’s a deal.” God, he had to save her. The idea of Janie being taken from him poked the beast inside him to action. To fight any danger.
The king stood near the fireplace and cleared his throat. “Let’s have a quick meeting. Does anybody think the Kurjans have a cure for the virus?”
“No,” Janie said softly. “I think Kalin was telling the truth.” She frowned. “At least some of the truth. He seemed cagey.”
Dage nodded. “Agreed. I don’t think he has the actual cure, but I believe he knows something. Perhaps his scientists are on the right path.” The king turned toward his mate. “What’s the status in our labs?”
The queen pushed black hair from her pale face with trembling hands. “The virus is definitely attacking faster, but the witches are holding their own. Unlike mates. We don’t know why yet, but I think it might be the key to curing the bastard.” She sighed and stood, looking thinner suddenly. “The virus comes with a blinding headache, and my vision has come and gone several times all day. The thing spread unbelievably quickly. At least fifty percent of mates are infected across the globe, and we believe about seventy-five percent of witches are as well.”
“Any difference between male and female witches?” Zane asked.
“No. Males are infected at the same rate as females, and so far, they appear to get a bad cold and then recuperate somewhat,” Emma answered.
Janie nodded. “But even so, they’re still infected?”
“Yes, and the virus keeps unraveling their chromosomes, so although they feel better, they’re still under attack,” Emma said, swaying. Dage grasped her arm and settled her back on the couch with a worried growl.
Zane clawed a hand through his thick hair. Frustration welled up inside him, and he tried to calm himself. Kalin’s words kept rolling around in his head, taunting him with the raw truth. “Any news on Suri?”
“He seems to be consolidating power in Idaho,” Dage said slowly. “Our first focus here is the virus, and then we need to discuss Suri and a possible attack.”
Zane shook his head. “No vampire attack on demons. This is between Suri and me. That outcome will determine the future relationship between our peoples.” He kept Dage’s gaze until the king nodded.
“Your choice. We’ll back you,” Dage said.
Zane didn’t smile, but relief filled him.
Janie pushed off the stool, her gaze on her mother. “Mom? You don’t look so good.” She moved to cross the room and stopped in the middle. “Oh.” She wavered and put a hand to her head. “Zane?”
Shit. Her vision. Zane reached her in one stride and slid an arm around her. “It’s okay, Belle.”
Janie shook her head, a sob rising from her throat. Her knees buckled.
Zane swore and caught her, so much fury bombarding through him, his ears rang.If you were a true ruler, you could save your woman.Kalin’s taunt ripped through Zane’s head. “Enough of this shit.” Losing her was not a fucking option. He laid her down and pressed both hands to her chest. Drawing on the universe, drawing on every ounce of stubborn strength he owned, he pulled on the pain inside her. On the fucking parasite trying to hurt her.
Nothing would hurt her. Ever.
His stomach lurched, and his liver pulsed. His spleen might have exploded. Yet he pulled harder, his eyes closing so he could concentrate. Something gave inside her.
His eyes flipped open. Pressing against her chest, his fingers went rigid. He could do this. Picturing her strands of DNA, of her very essence, he searched for what didn’t belong.
Finding the anomaly, he wrapped himself mentally around the intruder. His fangs dropped low and nicked his lip. The muscles in his arms and chest undulated, tensing with strain as if he tried to pull a truck by himself. An oily sense of wrongness fought him. With a hoarse shout, he tore the intruder from her body and into his own. The effort threw him onto his back, and his head smashed into the floor.
His breath panted out, and his vision went gray.
Sam reached him first. “Zane?”
Zane shook his head and slowly sat up with his brother’s help.
Janie sat up, wiping her eyes. Her very clear eyes. “It’s gone,” she whispered.
