I knew what he meant. Was I sure about bringing more people inside, for all intents and purposes trapping them with us? I nodded. “I’m not letting him die, Luther. I can’t. We have to at least try.”

I glanced down at the floor. Theo met my gaze as he was checking Felix’s pulse, shaking his head. No pulse. My Felix, our Felix, was dying. Our last chance was the paramedics. Tears were streaming unbidden down my face. Would this have happened if I hadn’t pushed him to show me his secret room, and share it with Theo and Luther? Was all of this my fault?

The paramedics raced up the stairs. Brynn gave me one last glance through the window as if to ask me if I was sure.

I was sure. The two burly men kicked open the door, rushing to where we huddled around Felix. One immediately began taking over compressions from Theo, while the other set up a portable defibrillator. “She said it was a spider bite.”

I nodded, wrapping my arms around my body. When would the guilt set in, that I had traded these innocent men’s lives for Felix’s? “We think a black widow, but it’s the infection that’s...”

I couldn’t say it. I couldn’t say killing him.

Pads were placed on Felix’s chest, and the machine charged up. One of the paramedics called, “Clear!”

The other felt Felix’s wrist. “Got a pulse! It’s there, but weak. Let’s get some anti-venom in him, and get him loaded up.” Weak was better than nothing. Weak was still alive. They stuck a large needle in his leg, and I crossed my fingers and toes.

“I think he’s stable.” The paramedic looked up at me. “Your boyfriend is very weak. We need to get him to the emergency room as quickly as possible. But you and your friends did the right thing, the CPR probably saved his life.”

I smiled, tears still rushing down my face. I couldn’t speak. Had they really saved him? Felix still looked pale as they lifted him onto the stretcher, but they had said he was weak. Weak, but not dead anymore. Because as much as I wanted to pretend otherwise, he had been dead, and the three of us had kept him alive artificially. But it had been enough, and for that I’d be eternally grateful.

Now we just had to deal with the fallout.

I caught Luther’s eye. I knew what he was wondering. When would I tell the paramedics they couldn’t leave? I opened my mouth to warn them, to say anything, but nothing came out. They carried Felix towards the door, and still I was silent. I waited for the magic of the house to throw them back, to prevent them from leaving, but instead something crazy happened.