Grace shook her head. “We know that mated couples both change, or there wouldn’t be a mating allergy for both. There must be something about being a Key that takes over.” It was getting more difficult to deny the supernatural element of fate in her life, but she’d figure that out later. “And whatever that is, it’s gotten stronger in the last five years, developing antibodies to Adare. I can’t save myself and kill him.”

“The hell you can’t,” came a low voice from the hallway.

Grace sighed and turned to see Adare taking up all the available space in the doorway. “You saved me once, and now I’m going to save you.” It totally sucked, but maybe somehow Faith or Emma would find a cure before the coma killed her. “If I do die, then you could eventually take the virus and mate again.” It was the least she could do for him. Plus, Jacqueline was free now, and she had to admit, the shifter wasn’t so bad.

Adare looked at Emma. “You said my cells were demolished when mine and Grace’s combine, but in the other tests, Grace’s cells were just changed.”

Emma nodded.

“Perhaps mine changed as well and combined with hers, thus appearing demolished,” Adare said quietly. “You don’t know that mating would kill me.”

Faith stepped forward, her eyes earnest. “That’s true. We truly don’t know. Mating would change your genetics, too. Her cells are stronger than yours right now, and you could very well die.”

Emma cleared her throat. “You haven’t been feeling well, have you? And you’ve told no one, just like a typical male. Why didn’t you call me?”

Adare’s frown darkened. “I’m fine. We’ve been on mission after mission, many bloody, and I figured I just needed a break. My cells are perfect.”

“Your cells are deteriorating,” Emma countered. “The mating mark has faded, and your blood is changing. You’ll survive if the mating completely disengages, but if you mate Grace again, you might not. You probably wouldn’t, actually. We’ve never seen anything like this. You do understand that, right?”

“I do,” Adare said, focusing on Emma. “Mercy is a Key, and she and Logan successfully mated. Have you tested their blood?”

Emma nodded. “Of course, but after they mated. Their results were like those of every other mated pair.”

“As ours will be.” He focused on Grace. “We will mate tonight. Wrap your head around that, because the discussion is over.”

Fury zapped through Grace so quickly she could barely breathe. “You’d sacrifice your life for me, but I can’t do the same for you, you arrogant ass?”

“No.” He turned on his heel and strode away.

“Well,” Faith said, pressing her lips together.

Emma chewed on her lip. “That’s that, then.”

The hell it was.

* * * *