We passed a meadow, clusters of wildflowers surrounding a formation of mossy stones in the center. My interest was piqued, which was a pleasant surprise, since I’d felt my motivation for anything even remotely stimulating dwindle bit by bit each day. But I couldn’t follow its lure. I already felt guilty for wasting time, particularly when I’d waved off many of Cair’s suggestions to rest. If I couldn’t indulge my mate’s genuine concerns for my well-being, then I couldn’t indulge my own fancies either.

“Would you like to get closer?” Cair said, obviously having noticed my longing glance at the crumbled stone, wondering about its origins.

I chewed my lip, hesitating.

“Yeah, but we’re almost at Rosewood Creek. I’m so close to possibly getting answers I’ve waited a lifetime for, so I don’t want to delay us anymore.”

His fingers grazed my cheek, the touch feather-light. “We can be quick.”

I nodded, and veered off the path in the direction of the stones, feeling a burst of the elation I’d mourned since the pools. However, there was a sudden stinging pain in my side, and I couldn’t catch my breath. I tried to push through, to reach the center of the rock creation, but it was persistent. There was a fallen tree on the periphery, so I headed toward it instead, intending on sitting a while and admiring the scenery from afar.

“I need to stop,” I murmured, my head swimming and my legs weak. It felt as though every ounce of color was draining from me. There was a brief swoop of nausea, and then nothing. My heart was beating too fast, my eyes losing focus, and I couldn’t figure out how to lift one foot in front of the other. Was I stumbling?

Was I falling?

Slowly, I blinked. My mate had me cradled in his arms as he knelt beside me in the tall, tickling grass. There was a concerned furrow to his brow, and I tried to smile, to assure him that everything was fine—I just needed to rest for a moment in the pretty glade—but I didn’t know if the words were coming out.

“Luca…” His voice was muffled and distant, but he sounded frightened. Sad. Why was he sad? “Talk to me.”

A scent drifted past my nose, woodsy and comforting—the scent of home—and I burrowed closer to it, into its familiar warmth. The pain in my side was a dull throb, barely there, and quickly fading with the deep swell of peace settling in my chest.

Sleepy.

Wet droplets hit my cheek. Was it raining? I liked the rain. It was calm.

Cold.

“Luca, sweetheart, please say something…”

There was a soft gasp, a caress of air on my lips. “I love you.”

Dark.

Chapter Nine

CAIR