She sat straighter on the bed. He was actually saying what she thought he was saying. “This is my decision.”

“No. It really isn’t.” His expression showed absolutely no give. “It would’ve been your decision if you’d been honest years ago when all this started, when you might have had more options. Right now, there is only one. As a Seven, it’s my duty to make sure the Keys survive until the ritual.”

She tossed her head, anger finally sparking through the fuzziness in her brain. “Oh yeah?”

“Yeah. And as your mate, one you’ve left in the dark for far too long, it’s my duty to make sure you dinnae die. The best way to keep you alive, the only option really, is for us to mate.” He jerked his head at the medical records spread over the counter. “You can go over those for hours, and when you’re finished, you’ll reach the same conclusion.”

Emma cleared her throat. “Maybe. Maybe not. I need to study your blood. Not for nothing, but you look pale for yourself, Adare. How are you feeling?”

“Fine,” he growled.

Was he pale? Grace studied him. Yeah. He did look a mite under the weather. What the heck did that mean?

Faith sighed. “Doing nothing isn’t an option. Obviously, Grace, you are declining, and since you just passed out for three hours, I worry that a coma is next. You don’t have a safe option. Taking the virus or mating completely are both risks, and I have to admit, the risk seems slightly lower with mating for you. Probably. Returning to human form would be worse, I believe.”

Grace let her shirt fall back into place. “I could take the virus, become human, and then mate another immortal.” Then maybe she’d get rid of this torturous attraction to the furious Highlander.

Faith’s eyebrows rose and Emma smothered a cough, both looking toward Adare.

“No,” he said. He spoke so softly she could barely hear him, but she felt his tension along her skin, at the edge of every nerve ending. Her lungs heated and seized, and her breath caught painfully.

Emma held up a hand to stop the explosion Grace wanted to let loose. “Before you do anything, I want to take your blood and make sure all is well with you, Adare. Then I need to study your genes in various combinations. Maybe something will become clear.”

“That’s allowable,” Adare said, moving for the door. “Yet I already know the outcome. If my cells are at war with yours, Grace, it will benefit you to get more of mine by mating. I have no doubt they’ll win any war, overcome any antibodies, and you’ll survive.” He looked over his shoulder, the impact of his gaze harsh. “Then we’ll discuss your future. Mate.”

Chapter 18

Chapter 18