“The way that dagger healed Stefan wasamazing,” Ethan said. His voice was filled with excitement as he said, “Maybe we can use it to heal Emma!”
There was a long, dramatic pause that was full of tension. Panic crossed the faces of my friends. In a small voice, Odette uttered, “Heal... Emma?”
Ethan’s face fell when he realized what he’d let slip. He glanced at me in a panic, but I shook my head to let him know it was all right. It was time. My friends needed to know.
I gestured toward the tree. “I should probably talk to you guys about something.”
“Oh my gosh! Emma, are you sick? Are you dying?” Odette gushed. Her eyes welled with tears. “I shouldn’t have been so mean to you! I’m so sorry!”
“It’s not like that. Please, sit down,” I said.
The six of us sat at the base of the Willow Maiden. The Companions took their place next to the Marked as they watched me expectantly, waiting anxiously.
Ethan was at my side. His cheeks were tinged with embarrassment. “I’m sorry, Emma. I didn’t mean to tell them.”
“Tell us what?” Delmare said. Her tone was pissed, but she looked more upset than anything.
I took a deep breath. Ethan extended his hand, and I took it, squeezing it tight. This was so hard to tell people about. I almost lost the courage. Ethan’s warm hand in mine was the only thing that made me feel strong enough to forge on. I’d kept my condition a secret for so long, but now, I was bringing it into the light.
“The truth is, I am sick. I’ve been sick since I was born, before I came to Arcanea University,” I said. “I just didn’t tell anyone.”
“What do you have?” Out of everyone, Kiara was remaining calm, her eyes wide with curiosity instead of fear.
“It’s called common variable immune deficiency disorder. It’s a genetic disease, and very rare, part of a group of primary immune conditions,” I explained. “Basically, my immune system doesn’t make antibodies the way it should, so I have a hard time fighting off illnesses.”
My eyes went to Stefan. “I’ve been seeing your mom about it. She’s been helpful.”
Stefan nodded thoughtfully. Odette’s eyes watered with tears. “Does that mean you’re going to die?” she peeped.
I sighed. “Well... not really. It’s not like cancer. It’s chronic. People with CVID can have short lives, but they can have long ones, too. I’m working hard to take care of myself. I take treatments every Friday. I put plasma into a medicine pump, and that pump delivers me antibodies through needles in my stomach. That way, I can have a normal life... well, kind of normal, anyway.”
“It’s why you’ve been sick all semester,” Delmare said, and her eyes narrowed. “Iknewthere was something going on with you.”
“And why you’re so tired all the time,” Kiara added.
“Yes. I told Ethan, but only because he’s my mate. I’ve been afraid to tell the rest of you.” I dropped my head. “I didn’t want you to treat me differently. Or think I was weak. I know the Arcanea world is all about strength, and this disease makes me more fragile than a lot of people.”
Theo made apshingsound. “None of us have mistaken you for weak, Emma. We don’t want to get punched in the nose.”
A couple of people laughed, including me. It relieved some of the tension.
“So what are some of the complications?” Kiara asked. It helped that she was asking questions, instead of freaking out or being weird about it.
“Hmm... for starters, I get a lot of viruses and infections, because I can’t fight them off as easily. And I’m more susceptible with problems in my lungs. People with CVID have a lot of gastrointestinal issues, too,” I said.
“So that’s the reason for you going gluten-free. I thought it was some fad thing you were doing for skating,” Delmare said.
I scoffed. “I wish. I’ve had to cut a lot out of my diet because of this thing.”
“Not chocolate, though,” Odette peeped. “Youlovechocolate. Chocolate is very good.”
Ethan nudged me. “We all know Emma’s not giving up her sweets.”
I giggled. “Well, not yet.”
Alexei raised a hand. All of us looked at him— Stefan said, “Dude, you don’t gotta do that. This isn’t class.”
He blushed. “I was just trying to be polite.”
