Tears stung Sasha’s eyes as she realized this utter stranger had more compassion and caring for her than her own mother.
Dave continued. “She’s had doctors here to examine you, but they can’t help you. Do you know what’s wrong?”
“The Preor,” Sasha whispered, fearful her mother would overhear her answer. “I need my mate.”
His eyes hardened, just a hint. “I’m afraid I can’t get him.” He sounded truly regretful. “Your mother recruited us at a meeting for people against the Preor. If you’ve been infected with their poison, you’ll have to work through it.” He stroked her hair, his touch gentle but not the one she needed. “I’ll be here for you.”
Across the room, her mother slammed the phone down with a hard slap. “Get away from my daughter! You are far too touchy feely, asshole.”
Dave raised his hands and backed away slowly, doing as her mother demanded. Meanwhile Sasha stared at the ceiling, idly wondering if this was what dying felt like. She was disconnected from most of the sensations racking her body, but when she dared move, all she experienced was pain.
She blinked slowly and behind her eyes, she found a flawless sky. Clouds tinted all colors of the spectrum swept by in a flurry of gossamer puffs. In the shifting vapor she spied massive, dark wings cutting through the various shades. Against their depth, every color split and reflected back in prisms, and she gasped at the beauty.
“My love,” she whispered, her heart thudding hard.
From those endless skies she turned her gaze down and found mighty towers reaching toward them. Other Preor were in the sky, so many occupying the space and dancing in the air. She knew this was an ancestral memory—part of the Knowing.
She could feel it, smell it, taste it… As she breathed in, she sensed the history of the years flowing through her. She could recall great battles and tragedies. Could experience the joy at every midsummer festival. And among it all came a very clear memory of Whelon standing on the edge of his aerie as his father gave him the confidence to jump and… fly.
She released a moan that was half pain, half longing. Her throat hurt and her lips were split and cracked, the expression of torment only creating more pain within her.
“I’ve had enough!” Her mother’s voice cracked above her and Sasha’s eyes snapped open, focusing on her only parent. “Get up, Sasha! Get up right now!”
Sasha didn’t bother to respond. She couldn’t get up—couldn’t move—and that should be obvious to anyone.
When her mother grabbed her arm, Sasha didn’t react, the pain from the touch like a dull bruise. She was too weak and helpless to resist.
Then her mother tugged, attempting to drag her out of bed, and Sasha released a loud scream. The sound rang around the room, so filled with agony she barely associated it with herself. Pain flooded her body, and for a few precious seconds, welcomed unconsciousness overtook her.
When she managed to open her eyes once more, she heard her mother arguing with Dave.
“She needs to rest, Jenna! We don’t know how powerful this venom is. If you want her to have any chance of recovery—”
“I’ve had three doctors here already,” Jenna hissed. “None of them can help her! They can’t even tell me if she’s infected with anything. The tests are all clear.”
Sasha moaned. She could hear them, but their words made no sense to her. She could see nothing but the glorious skies of Preor. Could hear nothing save the crooning of her missing mate.
“Whelon,” she murmured, her voice thick with tears. “My love. Shaa kouvi…”
Her mother had fallen utterly silent, standing over the bed and staring down at Sasha, but Sasha was barely aware of her. When there was a knock at the door, the dull thuds rocketing through the room, and Sasha tried to turn away. She was sick of this horrible, painful world. She wanted to return to her dreams where she was with Whelon and all was well.
Vaguely, she heard the door open and thump closed. Her mother’s voice cracked against the quiet air, and Dave murmured in concerned tones.
Soft footsteps approached Sasha and then gentle fingers were on her wrist. “It’s the Knowing sickness,” a voice murmured. “How extraordinary. I’ve never had a chance to witness it before.”
“I don’t care what it is,” Jenna snapped. “I have a TV spot this evening and you better get her up and looking good by then or I swear to any God you prefer, I will see to it that you never work in this town again!”
Sasha had opened her eyes during her mother’s tirade enough to see the doctor’s smile as he rolled his eyes at Jenna. Empty threats were her mother’s stock and trade.
He touched Sasha’s forehead with a gentle hand. “When did the Knowing commence, dear girl?”
“Yesterday? Last Night?” She forced the words through her ragged throat. “I don’t know. It happened so fast.”
The doctor turned to speak with Jenna again. “She needs her mate. She’s bonded now and it can’t be broken. They could both die.”
Her mother’s sharp intake of breath meant the woman was about to let fly a tirade of fury on the doctor. “You are even more useless than the others!” Jenna spat. “I need real help, not this ‘Knowing’ bullshit. This is exactly why we need to fight the Preor. Look what they’ve done to my daughter!”
“No one did anything,” the doctor explained patiently. “It’s genetic. The Preor have no control over its occurrence.”
“I don’t care!” Jenna ground out. “Get the fuck out.”
The doctor hovered over Sasha a moment more and that stretched Jenna’s patience further. “I said get the fuck out!”
With a regretful look at Sasha, he collected his things and left
