Fated Healing [Kindred of Arcadia 5] (Siren Publishing Classic ManLove) by Alanea Alder Page B

over next to Ma. I bet Ma would love to hear the sound of this
    little guy’s heartbeat,” Connor said. Aleks nodded blankly. The Arkadions circled around Rebecca and
    eased the bed closer to Ma.
    Claybourne and Felix left the gym, running to the principal’s office where David and Daniel had helped
    to set up a mini conference area. Claybourne dialed the number he was given and Lachlan appeared on the
    screen.
    “Doctor, how are my grandson and great-grandchild?” the Elder asked at once.
    “There has been no change in Sebastian’s condition. The reason I called is because Rebecca Arkadion
    has contracted the illness, or I should say her unborn son has.” Claybourne sat down. Lachlan’s face shut
    down.
    “She must live. That child must live. That family has ruled Arkadia for thousands of years. There have
    always been Arkadions to rule,” the old man said adamantly.
    “Elder, unless you have been withholding a cure, I don’t know what to do. I can give her the antiviral,
    hoping it will pass from mother to son, and a low dosage of Tylenol, but that’s all I can do. I’ve tried giving
    different patients epinephrine to kick-start a shift but it’s not working. I am reduced to handing out fucking
    Tylenol. It’s the only thing that seems to be working,” Claybourne growled, sounding frustrated.
    “I’ll check with the doctors here to see if they have anything new. But, Claybourne, it’s new to them too.
    No one has ever seen a virus like this in shifters. I hate to admit this out loud, but we may have to consider
    this as an attack on Arkadia,” Lachlan said grimly.
    “Keep everyone calm, Elder. Call me back if you have any new information from the board,”
    Claybourne said, disconnecting the call.
    “If they declare this a war on Arkadia then they will blame the vampires,” Felix whispered.
    “He’s right about one thing. Rebecca and her son must live. There is something he’s not telling us, but I
    can read between the lines. If she dies, there will be catastrophic consequences,” Claybourne said.
    “But we don’t know how she got it,” Felix countered.
    “But I bet she can tell us. Unlike the other patients, she is far removed from the original contagion and
    coherent since this is affecting the baby and not her. We may be able to pinpoint the cause,” Claybourne
    said, standing quickly.
    “Let’s go then,” Felix said.

    * * * *

    “Okay, Rebecca, we’re going to see if we can figure out how you got infected,” Claybourne started.
    “What were you doing when you first started to feel pain?” Claybourne asked.
    “I was eating Lucky Charms,” she said. Claybourne wrinkled his nose.
    “Told you he would hate them,” Rebecca said, smiling weakly. Felix rolled his eyes.
    “Did you eat or drink anything leftover from Field Day?” Felix asked.
    She shook her head. “I’m not stupid, guys, I wouldn’t eat that stuff when we don’t know for sure it was
    the cause,” she retorted.
    “When you were in the lab, did you spill any of the virus on bare skin?” Claybourne asked.
    Rebecca shook her head.
    “I took every precaution, I know my way around a lab.”
    “What about the broken glass?” Felix asked.
    “Snitch!”
    Claybourne and Aleks looked from Rebecca to Felix and back.
    She sighed. “I was overwhelmed and just a little bit upset earlier, so I may have thrown an empty beaker
    or two,” Rebecca admitted.
    “Just empty beakers? Nothing with the virus in it?” Claybourne asked. She shook her head and yawned.
    “Thanks, Rebecca, you get some rest. We’ll be back in a few hours. If you think of anything let me
    know,” Claybourne said and patted her hand. Rebecca stuck her tongue out at Felix who stuck his tongue
    out in return. She giggled and yawned again. Felix followed Claybourne out of the gym back to the
    teacher’s lounge. Once inside Claybourne wheeled on him.
    “I just don’t get it. I don’t get it! She was fine not twenty-four hours ago.”
    “There