Chapter 24
RUVON
Ruvon woke with a warm, soft weight pressed against his chest and the slow, even rhythm of Arezoo breathing against the side of his neck.
He didn't move, savoring the feel of her in his arms.
It was the third morning he'd woken up next to Arezoo, but it still felt like a miracle that she was here, in his bed.
His wife.
His mate.
It was also the third time she'd enjoyed his venom bite, and he had woken up several times during the night, surfacing briefly to check on her and then sinking back into a contented sleep.
She had stayed under the entire night, not waking up after the venom trip ended, but he knew she was alright because he'd heard her murmur in Farsi in her sleep.
Or at least he'd thought it was Farsi. He knew a few words in the language after listening to her recite poems and then translate them to English for him, but that wasn't enough to understand what she'd been saying in her sleep.
A shame, really.
He hoped she'd been singing his praises.
She felt so warm against him.
Too warm.
He came fully awake, drew his hand up from her waist, and pressed it to her forehead. Her skin was hot, and it wasn't the pleasant warmth of being wrapped in his arms under the duvet on a chilly morning.
"Sweetheart," he said softly.
Arezoo made a small sleepy sound and pressed her face deeper into his neck.
"Arezoo."
"Mm."
"You have a fever."
"Mm."
She refused to wake up even though the venom must have left her system hours ago. She was still human, which meant that she needed more sleep than he did, but she should've at least opened her eyes.
He shifted and propped himself on one elbow.
She stirred, and her eyes opened, just enough for the dark line of her irises to show. She blinked at him with a puzzled expression.
"What's wrong?" she murmured.
"You have a fever. Your forehead is hot. Are you feeling sick?"
"I'm fine. Just tired and want to sleep." She yawned. "It's our honeymoon, and we don't have to get up if we don't want to. I want to sleep until lunch. Maybe until dinner."
He chuckled. "As you wish, my love."
"You should go back to sleep, too." She yawned again. "You kept me up all night, and you must be exhausted."
"I'm immortal," he said, as if that explained everything, because it did.
"Go back to sleep," she said, and her eyes were already closing.
The slow, even breathing returned, and her hand, which had been resting on his ribs, slipped down to the mattress and stayed there.
He didn't believe she was just tired.
He brushed his lips over her temple, confirming that he hadn't imagined the fever and that he wasn't overreacting. Humans got sick from time to time, although Arezoo hadn't been ill even once since he'd met her.
He held her for a few more moments and then gently removed his arm from her waist and slid out of the bed without disturbing her.
She didn't wake when he drew the duvet up over her shoulders.
He stood beside the bed, admiring his wife.
Her hair was a tangled dark mess across the pillow, her cheeks were flushed, and she looked beautiful, contented, and happy.
For a moment, he allowed himself the pleasure of enjoying the sight, but then the fever pushed once more into the forefront of his mind, and he turned and walked into the bathroom.
When he came out, he checked on Arezoo again. Her fever was still the same, it hadn't gone up or down, and she was sleeping soundly.
It was probably nothing. Just some human virus that was messing with her and would be gone in a day or two.
He left the bedroom and walked into the kitchen to make himself coffee so he could think clearly and decide what to do next.
What if it wasn't a virus? What if this was the start of Arezoo's transition?
He didn't know much about human illnesses or what the first symptoms of transition were. He heard that losing consciousness was common, but Arezoo was just sleeping. She was conscious.
The embarrassing truth was that he was completely unprepared for having a human wife.
He didn't even own a thermometer or any fever-reducing medicine. He should have planned ahead and made sure that he had everything Arezoo might need.
He set the mug down and picked up his phone.
He stared at the screen, scrolling through the contacts and trying to decide who to call first. Doctor Bridget was the best choice, but she wasn't currently in the village. She was staying in the city with her husband and supervising Navuh's rehabilitation.
Julian was a capable doctor, but he was young and didn't have much experience. The other option was Merlin, but that guy was too kooky for Ruvon's comfort. He might be a capable physician, but his appearance didn't instill confidence in his ability.
Kalugal would know what to do.
After all, his boss had gone through Jacki's transition not too long ago. Well, it had been almost two years, but that was a blink of an eye in an immortal's life. The memories should be fresh in his mind.
The phone rang twice.
"Ruvon." Kalugal sounded surprised. "Aren't you still supposed to be on your stay-at-home honeymoon? It's only been three days."
Kalugal had offered to finance a lavish honeymoon abroad for Arezoo and Ruvon, but she'd refused. As much progress as she'd made, she was not ready to leave the safety of the village for more than a few hours at a time.
"I am. Arezoo has a fever, and I'm not sure what to do. Should I call Julian?"
There was a small pause on the other end.
"How high?"
"I don't know. She's warmer than usual. That's all I know. I don't have a thermometer."
"Of course, you don't. Fever is usually the first sign. Call Julian and ask him if you should bring Arezoo to the clinic."
"I'll do that. Thank you."
"Good luck, Ruvon. And don't worry, Arezoo will be fine. The clan hasn't lost any transitioning Dormants yet, and yours is not going to be the first."
That wasn't the most reassuring pep talk, but Kalugal was doing his best, and Ruvon appreciated that.
"Do you want me to come over?" Kalugal's offer surprised him.
"I appreciate the offer, but I don't think you should take time out of your busy day just to provide me with moral support."
"All right. But if you need me, call."
"Thank you, I will."
"Don't forget to call Soraya."
Ruvon's stomach dropped. Soraya would go into full panic mode, and he couldn't handle that right now.
"I'll call Julian first."
"You do that and then call your mother-in-law. She would never forgive you if you did not tell her that her daughter started transitioning."
"Yes, sir," Ruvon agreed reluctantly. "After Julian confirms that Arezoo is indeed transitioning. I don't want Soraya to panic for nothing."
"That's wise. Good luck, Ruvon. I hope this is it."
"Yeah, me too."
The call ended.
Ruvon scrolled to Julian's name and pressed it.
The doctor picked up on the first ring.
"Is Arezoo transitioning?"
Ruvon blinked.
"How did you know? I mean, I'm not sure she is, but she has a fever."
"The timing is right. Three days after the wedding night. Anything other than fever?"
"She's more sleepy than usual in the mornings. She was barely coherent when I tried to talk to her and went right back to sleep."
"Has she been around any humans recently who might have been sick?"
"She's been in the city for fittings and other pre-wedding stuff. She had brief contact with many humans in the last two weeks."
"Then it could be a virus, but it could also be the transition. I'll come over and check what's going on with her. I should be there in fifteen minutes."
That was a surprise. Ruvon had expected the doctor to tell him to bring Arezoo to the clinic. "Thank you. I appreciate that."
"It's my pleasure. Welcoming new immortals into the fold is always exciting. My mother says that it feels like delivering a baby. A new life is joining the clan."
The call ended.
Ruvon took the mug of coffee he had not drunk yet and headed back to the bedroom.
Sitting on the edge of the bed, he put his hand on Arezoo's forehead again and registered no change. If anything, it had gone a fraction higher.
"Sweetheart," he said softly.
She didn't respond.
"Arezoo."
A small movement. The barest twitch of her eyelashes.
"Mm."
"Doctor Julian is coming. He'll be here in a few minutes."
"Mm."
She turned on her side, and as the duvet shifted, revealing a shapely backside, he was reminded that she was naked under there, and realized that he should put some clothes on her before Julian arrived.
Arezoo would be embarrassed. Even half-conscious and feverish, she wouldn't want to be examined by a male while she was completely naked. Especially given her history.
Ruvon stood and went to the closet.
He pulled out the things he thought she would have chosen to wear herself.
A pair of gray cotton pants and a loose long-sleeved T-shirt that she liked to wear around the house while lounging in front of the television.
He found her underwear in the second drawer and chose a plain pair of white panties and a matching white bra.
It was the kind that did not fasten with a hook.
He carried the clothes back to the bed and sat on the edge.
"Sweetheart."
"Mm."
"I am going to put some clothes on you. Doctor Julian is coming."
"Mm."
"You will be embarrassed if he sees you like this."
"Mm."
He wasn't sure she was registering anything he was saying.
He drew the duvet down to her waist, but the loss of the warm blanket did not even produce the small reflexive shiver of a sleeping body losing its covering. He noted this as something he needed to tell Julian.
He worked the bra around her with as much care as he could muster, but it was not a graceful operation. She was limp in his hands, and he had no experience dressing a woman, responsive or otherwise.
He apologized softly each time he had to move her.
She murmured something that sounded distinctly like azizam, which was a Farsi endearment he did know.
"Yes, my love. I am here. I am sorry. I am almost done."
"Mm."