Midnight Mate

Fever

Falcon POV

It was the early morning hours when we finally reached the hideout. The air was crisp, and a soft, golden light filtered through the trees. I stood outside, taking in the surroundings with Tom by my side. As I linked with him, I could sense that he had heard everything.

"For now, no one must know I am infected, not even Katya," I whispered to him.

"I will not utter a word, Alpha prince," he replied.

I planned to tell Katya when the time was right, but I didn't want her to try and save me out of fear. If it hurt her, I would never allow it. Instead, I would find another way to ensure that both of us survived.

Maeve had left clothing for us by the entrance, anticipating our return in our shifted forms. As we approached the door, I felt a connection with Katya. The entire time I had been away from her, sensing her seemed impossible. But now that I felt her presence, I also sensed trouble. She was not doing well.

I rushed into the hideout and found Maeve in the kitchen, grabbing ice. "Falcon," she said, surprise and relief evident in her voice. I glanced at one of the bedroom doors and without saying a word, I ran towards it. As I entered, I saw Nate in the bed with Katya, and it made me growl in frustration.

"Falcon, I promise it's not how it looks," Nate hurriedly explained. Katya remained asleep, her face flushed with fever.

"She has a bad fever, Falcon, and when we leave her, it seems to get worse. Nate is simply there to keep her calm," Maeve reassured me.

Taking a deep breath, I believed and trusted them. I took over Nate's place, allowing him to get up. As soon as he moved away, Katya instinctively nuzzled herself against me in her sleep. Her body was burning up.

Maeve and Nate left, giving me the space to be alone with Katya. In that moment, I felt immense gratitude not only for their loyalty but also for the friendship they had given me.

"I'm sorry I left you, Katya," I whispered softly. "But I'm here now, and I'm not going anywhere." I promised her, wrapping my arms around her warm body, keeping her close.

"Is this what the witch warned? Is she awakening to her true self?" Ash questioned in my mind.

I had no clue there were still so many unanswered questions. A whimper of pain escaped her lips.

"What if being close like this hurts mate?" Ash's voice trembled with worry in my mind. "She heals us, as we have proved. Does that mean since we are infected, being close may hurt her?"

Pondering his words, I sighed softly. "I doubt it. I think we would sense if we were hurting her. But we will be cautious. There is a lot we don't know." Honesty laced my words, uncertainty tugging at my heart. How would I even begin to tell her what I had learned? I was unsure of how she would react. I had always known she was special, but I never could have imagined she was Death's daughter. That meant she held the powers of a reaper, powers that many feared.

When people think of death, they assume evil. But that's not the case. Death guides us to the afterlife, bringing our souls to our final destinations. When I do tell Katya, she needs to understand that. I never want her to think she is evil or bad, for she is pure. So much so, that I know if I told her right now about me being infected, she would willingly sacrifice herself for me. And that's why I must find another way, for I refuse a future without her by my side.

I stayed with her for some time as her body temperature started to come down. The soft hum of the air conditioner filled the room, providing a gentle background noise. Yet, she did not wake, causing Ash concern. But deep down, I could sense that she simply needed rest. Once I was confident her fever had lowered enough, I left the room to speak with Maeve, Nate, and Tom. They had chosen to follow me, and they deserved to know what was going on.

They all sat in the small living area, the soft glow of the lamp casting a warm light. Maeve had already sorted through the supplies we had. "By the expression you have, our situation must not be good," Maeve said to me, her voice filled with concern.

"It would seem I have been blind to much," I admitted, my voice filled with regret. "We all have," Maeve said softly, her voice tinged with understanding.

"Yes, but it is my duty to know what is going on as a prince," I confessed, feeling the weight of my responsibilities.

"It is hard when great effort has been put into hiding things," Nate chimed in, his voice laced with frustration.

"The vampire I interrogated had a disease. One that has been around for some time now and one that is fatal to their kind as well as ours." I explained.

"I know my father has funded more into the research lab in the kingdom. Maybe we have been trying to formulate a cure but I was left in the dark. But what I do know is that the disease was created from a being. One that has the power of life and death. And that being can also keep those around them immune."

Maeve's voice held a hint of awe. "Sounds like some sort of goddess."

"Or a demon if they can create a deadly disease," Nate added, his tone filled with apprehension.

"So, it is a being that can be used as a weapon. And those who have control of them hold great power over all others," Nate concluded, his voice heavy with realization. I nodded in agreement.

"A being like that should be killed to avoid the risk. Something with the power to create a disease that can kill our kind is dangerous. What happens if we hunt it down and kill it? Will it end the disease?" Nate questioned, his words punctuated by Maeve slapping him.

"What was that for?" he snapped at her, his voice tinged with annoyance.

"Falcon, is Katya the being you are speaking of?" Maeve asked me, her eyes searching for the truth. Nate's face went pale as he realized the answer.

"Yes, she is," I admitted, my voice filled with a mix of concern and sadness.

"She's dangerous then," Nate said, causing a growl to escape my lips.

"I only speak the truth," Nate said cautiously, knowing he was pushing the boundaries of our friendship.

"She is only dangerous if used," I responded firmly.

Maeve's eyes widened with curiosity. "What exactly is Katya then? It's clear she is not human."

"Her mother was human, her father is a god," I revealed.

"What god has the power to create a disease?" Nate questioned, his voice filled with disbelief.

"Death," I replied, causing Maeve's eyes to widen in shock.

"Her father is death," she blurted out, her voice filled with both fear and awe.

Suddenly, we heard a loud thud behind us. I instinctively jumped up, my heart pounding in my chest. As I turned, I saw Katya on the ground near the bedroom door.

"Mate heard," Ash said, his voice filled with concern. This was not how I wanted her to find out. I rushed over to her, my hands trembling as I knelt down by her side. She was struggling to breathe.

I reached out to help her up. "D-don't," she stammered, her voice quivering.

I took a step back, giving her some space. She spoke between sharp breaths, her words punctuated by hyperventilation. "I-I don't understand," she choked out, tears streaming down her face. "D-death, but I'm human. My parents are dead," she cried out, her voice filled with anguish.

I slowly approached her, cautiously sitting on the floor beside her. Reaching out, my hand shook as I gently grasped hers, pulling her closer to me. She buried her head in my chest, seeking solace. I remained on the floor, not wanting to startle her further. After a while, as I felt her relax, I offered, "Can I help you up?"

"Okay," she responded softly. As we stood, she clung to me tightly, whispering, "Thank you for coming back."

I guided her back into the room and closed the door behind us. Her face was flushed, I could tell her fever was returning. "Let's get you back in bed," I suggested.

She shook her head, expressing her frustration. "I feel like I'm always in bed or resting. How can I be any use or help this way?" she admitted.

"For now, this is what you need. Let me hold you, and we'll talk about what you heard," I reassured her, gently settling her back in bed. I removed my shirt and joined her, our bodies pressed close together.

"I'm human, right?" she asked, her voice filled with uncertainty.

"Yes, you are," I replied, caressing her cheek.

"But Nate said I'm dangerous. How can I be dangerous?" she asked, her eyes searching mine.

I hesitated, searching for the right words. "You have great power within you, power that can be used to cause harm. It has been used that way in the past. But I promise, Katya, I will never let you be used. I will protect you with my life," I declared.

"I don't want you risking your life for me," she confessed, her voice filled with sadness.

"Katya, you are my life," I whispered, my voice filled with emotion. "You're my mate, and you mean more to me than anything else in this world. I want to protect my home and those who look up to me, but not without you. Without you, I feel incomplete. Today, not being with you was torture. Even though I trust Maeve and Nate, I couldn't shake this unfamiliar feeling of fear. It's a feeling I never experienced before meeting you.” I explained.

"I don't understand, Falcon," Katya said, her voice trembling. "I don't understand what you were saying to them. My father, he was human, but you were talking about how I made a disease."

I took a deep breath, trying to find the right words. "I'm afraid I still don't have many answers for you, Katya. But I will explain what I've learned," I assured her, as I filled her in leaving out the part about me being infected.

"So, I heard right. My father is death, and not just that, he is still alive," she said, her voice filled with disbelief.

"Yes, but don't let the name scare you, Katya," I replied, trying to ease her worries. "Being his daughter does not make you evil, like many assume. It just makes you very strong and powerful."

"So I'm the cause of people dying," she choked out, her voice filled with guilt.

"No!" I growled, momentarily losing control of myself. She tensed in my arms, and I quickly regained composure. "In no way are you to blame, Katya. I am going off what a witch told me, and I still want to verify the truth. But if what she said is accurate, in no way are you at fault. You were used."

I gently brushed my hand against her forehead, feeling the warmth of her skin. She had a fever, but it wasn't as severe as before. "Are you in any pain?" I asked, concern evident in my voice.

"Not much," she admitted. "I have cramps, which is normal for my time of the month, but the fever is not."

I moved my hand down her body, resting it over her lower abdomen where I assumed her pain was. As I did so, she visibly relaxed. "Your hand feels like a heating pad," she said, a hint of relief in her voice.

"I hope that's a good thing," I replied, a small smile forming on my lips.

"Very much," she said, looking into my eyes. "Your body heat helps ease the pain."

"Good," I said softly, my gaze filled with affection. "Even if it is natural pain, I don't want you to suffer from it."

"It's hard to believe you are real," she whispered, her voice filled with awe. "I mean, I know you are, it's just... well, I guess I'm really lucky to have you."

"You always do everything to make me feel good," she continued, her voice tinged with gratitude. "And I'm starting to believe you do much more than the average 'Mate'."

"And now, apparently, I'm some god's daughter," she sighed, her words laced with disbelief. "Although I still find it hard to process, I do believe and trust you. And you still want to be with me. Just as you promise to protect me, I will do the same for you," she whispered. I leaned in and gently kissed her forehead, feeling the softness of her skin against my lips.

"I know you will Katya," My voice filled with love and concern. "This fever may be a result of what was sealed away, awakening with you, or it could simply be stress. I now understand how worried you were when I was gone. Your concern for me brings me happiness, but I don't want you to get sick because of it. Trust me when I say that I will always come back to you, no matter how much time it takes. Nothing, and I mean nothing, will ever stop me from being by your side. I will always return, and I will always come for you."

She drifted off to sleep again, her body finally finding the rest it needed. "How do we even help her with her powers?" Ash pondered, his voice filled with uncertainty.

"No idea," I replied softly. "But we will find a way."

"The moon goddess picked us for her," I whispered in my mind to Ash, the words resonating with hope. "That means we can do this, and it also means we have a future together."

Closing my eyes I drifted off to sleep, the comforting warmth of my mate beside me eased the tension in my body, I would find a way to keep her safe.