He held up a glass of water and I gulped it down.

“Better?” he asked.

“My stomach feels okay.” But my heartbeat was still going crazy. I’d never felt anything like it. My vision blurred again and I felt a spike of fear. “Ro, something’s wrong.” I grabbed his palm and pressed it to my chest.

His eyes widened.

“Ro…” My voice was a scared whisper.

“Hang on, Tessa.” He lifted me into his arms, a worried look on his face.

My heartbeat picked up speed, like my heart was going to burst out of my chest. I whimpered and my vision went blurry again.

“Tessa?”

I vaguely registered him calling my name, but then blackness edged into my vision in giant splotches. Then everything went dark.

22. Ro

Chapter 22

Ro

“Tessa!” I scooped her against my chest. She’d lost consciousness. My heart felt like a damn jackhammer. Juggling her, I quickly checked her pulse.

Fast. Too fast.

Dammit. Panic riding me hard, I charged into the living area and sat on the arm of a chair. Holding her close, I fumbled for my cellphone.

“Ro?” Caden’s voice. “Is everything⁠—?”

“Something’s wrong with Tessa. She’s unconscious. She felt sick and vomited, and she has a racing heart rate.”

Caden cursed.

“Get a car and meet me out front. She needs the hospital. Now.”

“On it.”

I found my shoes, but didn’t bother with a shirt. There wasn’t time. I raced out of the penthouse and stabbed the elevator button, holding her tightly.

Come on. Fuck.

Finally, the elevator arrived. When I burst into the lobby, it was late, but there were two receptionists at the front desk. They stared at me wide-eyed. Tessa was only wearing my shirt and was unconscious, and I was shirtless. I knew it looked bad.

“She needs the hospital.”

One of the women jolted, and lifted a phone. “I’ll call 9-1-1⁠—”

“There’s no time.” I heard the screech of tires out front. “I’ll take her. It’ll be faster.”

Enzo appeared, his dark gaze locking on Tessa. His face sharpened like a blade. “What happened?”

Caden was right. Enzo was no simple concierge.

“She’s sick. Caden’s bringing a car around.”

Enzo rushed to open the front door for me, and I raced outside. He then opened the back door of the black SUV idling out front. I climbed in, cradling Tessa on my lap. Caden was in the driver’s seat, and Enzo quickly slid into the passenger seat.

“Go,” I ordered Caden.

He sped out.

Dimly I was aware of the vehicle’s GPS giving directions to the local hospital, but I was focused on Tessa. She was so damn pale.

I stroked the hair off her face. “Wake up, fairy queen.”

The puff of her breath against my palm didn’t reassure me. I pressed my fingers to her throat. Her pulse was still racing too fast.