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“Jesus,” I said. “Why didn’t you wake someone?”

“Good morning to you, too.”

I crouched beside him, elbows resting on my knees. “Do I even need to ask how you’re feeling?”

“Apparently not.”

He coughed again, only this time the rasp sounded painful.

Varesh stirred, his arm tightening around Tim before he blinked himself awake. When he found me hovering beside their bed, he frowned and scrubbed a hand over his face. “What’s happening?”

When neither of us answered, he rose on one elbow. The moment he noticed Tim’s condition, his body turned rigid, and he pressed his hand against Tim’s forehead.

“You have a fever.”

“I know.” Tim closed his eyes for a moment and worked through a couple of steadying breaths. “I need you to help me sit up.”

Varesh pushed himself up fully and slid his glasses on. “Is your shoulder worse?”

“Just help me up, love.”

Varesh slipped an arm behind Tim’s back and eased him upright, supporting him while he settled against the wall. Tim sucked in a sharp breath and closed his eyes briefly.

Ava joined us, wrapped from shoulders to ankles in a blanket, and knelt beside me. If Tim’s appearance shocked her, her expression gave nothing away. “How are you feeling this morning?”

“Oh, you know.” He compressed his lips. “Worse.”

“Is it more than the fever?” Varesh asked.

Tim swallowed and winced. “It’s my throat, too. I’m hot and cold. Something’s not right.”

“Your shoulder might be infected.” Varesh pulled back the neckline of his henley again, only this time his hand shook.

Tim’s jaw clenched as the blanket dropped to his lap. He held still while Varesh removed the dressing and examined the wound.

Ava and I leaned in together, and I could have sworn we all held our breath.

The skin at the edges had turned red and swollen, and a half-circle of deeper marks were now visible beneath the injury from the fence, darker and more inflamed than the surrounding damage.

I rubbed a hand over my mouth, unable to look him in the eyes at first.

“What? What is it?” Tim twisted his head, but the wound was too high on his shoulder for him to see.

Varesh inhaled a strangled breath, and for a moment, all he could do was stare. His hand hovered over the injury without touching, his gaze seeking Tim’s.

“That—” His voice broke, and he paused before trying again. “That wasn’t there yesterday. It didn’t look like that.”

“What wasn’t there?” Tim dragged in a breath.

When he shivered, Varesh pulled the blanket higher and tucked it under his arms.

Something clanged against steel outside, and a moan echoed in the morning air.

Ava let out a hoarse sound, shutting it down as soon as it escaped. Her hand found my thigh, her fingers digging into muscle.

I couldn’t breathe. Couldn’t think.

“Dammit.” Tim’s entire body deflated. “It’s a bite,” he said. “You don’t have to tell me. It has its own heartbeat.”