Talen turned, confusion wrinkling his brow. He swayed.
“Whoa.” Garrett helped him back to the table just as Dage slowly sat up.
“What the hell?” Dage asked, focusing on Emma as she peered into a microscope.
“Just a second,” Emma said, her voice high and tight.
Janie gave her brother a look. “I need to check on Zane. I’ll be back.” God. If every mate had been affected, there was really only one possible reason. She bustled into room B, where Zane already sat on a table flanked by Sam.
Conn perched on an adjacent table with Moira all but sitting in his lap.
“Any news?” Moira asked, green fire dancing on her skin.
“Not yet,” Janie croaked out, reaching Zane in quick strides. “I heard you passed out.”
“We all did,” Zane said. “I have Logan and Nick locked down with my mom until we figure out what’s happening.”
“It’s obvious what’s happening.” Janie slid her hand into his, needing to touch him. For once, his palm was cold and clammy. “When you took the virus from me, you didn’t destroy it.”
“Impossible,” Conn muttered. “Vampires don’t become ill.”
Emma strode into the examination room, her tennis shoes squeaking on the bleached tiles. “Janie’s right. Virus-27 is thriving in all of your bodies, slowly attacking your chromosomal pairs.”
“Oh God.” Janie swayed, and Zane drew her between his legs. “Vampires don’t get sick. The only way a virus could infect you would be if youpurposefullydrew the illness into your own body.”
“We can get rid of pain and illness,” Zane said, running a hand down her back as if trying to comfort her.
Janie turned to face him, still bracketed by his long legs. “So maybe you just need to try harder. Can you sense the virus inside you?”
He closed his eyes. “Yes.”
She put her hands on his chest, trying to get inside his body. “Now try to trap the virus and send it away like you did my headache.” Closing her eyes, she tried to send every ounce of strength she possessed into him.
His chest lifted beneath her palms, and he breathed out evenly. “I’ve got him.”
Thank God. “Now wrap him up and away from your chromosomal pairs.”
Zane shuddered.
Janie kept her eyes closed, but she could sense Sam drawing near, giving his brother support.
“You’ve got this,” Sam murmured.
Janie nodded. “You’re stronger than this bug, Zane. Kick it the hell out of your body.”
He coughed and pitched back suddenly.
Sam caught him before he could drop to the floor and quickly shoved him around. Janie jumped back and out of the way of Zane’s legs before grabbing them and lifting.
Zane lay on his back, convulsing, his eyes rolling back.
“Zane!” Sam pushed down on Zane’s shoulders, holding him against the table, his eyes wide and his jaw determined. “Hold on.”
Janie ran to the counter and clutched a tongue depressor, hurrying to slip the small disk into Zane’s mouth so he wouldn’t bite off his tongue.
Emma ran toward them. “Keep him settled so he doesn’t fall.” She felt for the pulse in his wrist and counted silently. Her concerned gaze fastened on Janie. “Make him stop. Tell him to relax for a moment.”
Janie’s breath caught, and she squared her shoulders. “Zane?” She caressed his whiskered chin. “Please let the virus alone for a minute. Just let go and come back to me.”
