to see Dredward go down, maybe he can give us the antidote for these drugs.”
Temo pulled out his phone. “You willing to pay for that information? I know he’s going to ask.”
“Yes,” Donna answered. Temo started typing as she spoke. “Offer him ten thousand and tell him I’ll let him live when I’m erasing the rest of the fae from the face of the earth.”
To Temo’s credit, he didn’t blink. “You got it.”
A wave of heat washed over her with a burning intensity. Exhaling, she fanned the back of her neck. “I thought the hot flashes ended when I was turned.”
Jerabeth straightened. “Could be the drugs intensifying.”
Sweat began to drip down Donna’s spine. “Well, that sucks. We have to find a solution to this and fast.”
Pierce stood. “Jerabeth, why don’t you take a sample of everyone’s blood and see how it interacts with Donna’s? Maybe there’s one of us she could feed from that wouldn’t strengthen the drugs.”
Jerabeth nodded. “It’s worth a shot.”
The door chimes sounded. Charlie headed in that direction. “Probably Dr. Fox.”
Donna was on fire, but worse than that, she felt like she was about to snap. She was going to yell or cry or hit something, and what little control she had was quickly slipping from her grasp. She did not want to lose it in front of her team.
She loved these people. Cared what they thought about her. She didn’t want them to see her like this. Or to take the brunt of her emotions. Or worse, accidentally hurt one of them if she lost control.
Pierce came over to her. “Come with me.”
She glared at him, unable to do anything else with lava flowing through her veins. “I know you mean well, but this isn’t the time.”
“Shut up and come with me.”
She frowned but followed him. He led her into her bedroom, opened the door to the balcony, and gestured for her to go outside. Tiny flakes drifted on the breeze.
She stepped out into the cold. The relief was almost instant. She grabbed hold of the railing and took deep gulps of the icy air. In less than a minute, she felt almost normal. She looked over her shoulder. He was standing just inside, still wearing his pajamas. He had to be cold. “Thank you. I’m sorry for my reaction. I didn’t mean it.”
He smiled. “I know. And you’re forgiven.” He folded his arms over his chest. Definitely cold. “I have to confess something.”
She chewed on her lower lip. “I can’t take any more bad news.”
“It’s not bad.”
“Then what is it?”
He glanced down for a second. “I overheard your conversation with Charlie. About me. I just want you to know that you’re right. A relationship between us could make things very awkward. If you want to date someone, you should do it.”
“Pierce—”
“No, I mean it. Look, I don’t want to stand in the way of your happiness.”
She had no doubt that was true, but the smug look on his face said he thought it was very unlikely another man was going to make her as happy as he could. He was probably right. “That’s kind of you.”
He shrugged. “What we have is already amazing and intensely special. Nothing’s going to change that, outside of death or marriage. And I don’t see any vows in my future. You?”
“No way. Never again.” Truer words had never been spoken.
“Then go have fun, Donna. I’m not going to love you or care for you any less. You spent most of your adult life married to a man who never put you first. It would be strange if you didn’t want to sow some wild oats.”
Was he just saying this to give her an out? They’d never played those kinds of games before, so why would they start now? He’d always been extremely honest with her. She could feel herself getting weepy again. “Do you really mean that? Or are you putting my happiness ahead of your own?”
His smile perked up a little. “As you know, I can leave whenever I want. The only thing that keeps me with you is my desire to be here. I gain nothing by lying to you.”
It was frightening to think of life without him. Her mood turned blue, and she fought it with humor. “You’d lose that fat salary if you left.”
He laughed. “True, but I wasn’t exactly destitute when you met me.”
“No, you weren’t.” She came back inside, cupped his face, and kissed him on the mouth. There was nothing much romantic about