Nova didn't feel right. She'd barely slept. Her head pounded, and her chest felt tight — like someone had stuffed her lungs with cold air and sealed them shut.

  She managed to get dressed. A soft sweater, black leggings, warm socks, and tall boots. But she didn't eat. Couldn't.

  She just curled on top of the bed with her shoes still on, eyes shut, letting the quiet hum of the room swallow her whole. She was in between dreaming and awake.

  Elle looked at her and noticed an expression pained. There was a bead of sweat on her temple, even though it was frigid cold in their room even with the fire.

  "Nova..." Elle called.

  A knock at the door made Elle jump. She opened it.

  "Oh," she said, voice lighter. "Hello Gamma Thorne."

  Jax.

  "Call me Jax please. Is she awake?" His voice didn't register in Nova's mind.

  Elle glanced over her shoulder at the lump that was Nova. "Not really. She was sick last night and still not feeling well."

  "Can I see her?"

  A pause. Elle stared at him, but then stepped aside. "Okay, but if she gets sick all over your boots, I'm not responsible."

  "I'll take my chances," Jax murmured, stepping in as Elle grabbed her coat. "I am heading out, Nova."

  Nova didn't answer drifting into sleep. She wasn't even sure if Elle had been talking to her.

  The door shut softly behind her.

  Jax stood a moment in silence, then crossed the room. He crouched beside the bed and gently brushed his knuckles across her forehead.

  Too warm.

  His brow furrowed.

  Again.

  He mindlinked the only man he trusted for this.

  Jax: Elias. Nova's running a fever again. Can you bring a tonic? Discreetly?

  Elias: If I walk through Omega quarters with a bottle, it won't be discreet.

  Jax: Meet me in my quarters.

  Elias: I'll be right there.

  Jax leaned over and gently brushed her hair back from her face.

  "Nova," he whispered. "Wake up."

  She didn't move. He didn't like that.

  He hesitated wondering how freely he should be touching her. He sat on her bed and rubbed her back slowly. "Nova... wake up. Elias needs to give you a tonic."

  She stirred, eyes blinking open groggily. Her lashes were damp. Her breath shallow.

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  "Jax?" Her voice rasped.

  "I'm here," he said softly. "You have a fever. The doctor wants to see you, but he'll meet us in my quarters. Can you walk?"

  She blinked again, disoriented. Then slowly nodded.

  Jax helped her up and pulled her into a hug against his chest. Nova was too groggy to be stunned. She hugged him back on instinct. Jax fought the urge to kiss her head.

  They held it for a second. He breathed in her scent and all the tension he was feeling faded.

  His fingers intertwined with hers and he silently led her out the door.

  Butterflies danced in her stomach and she felt that electric sensation again. She was awake now.

  They walked through the halls like that — hand in hand — and the whispers came like wildfire.

  "Gamma Thorne and that girl. Since when?"

  "I knew it! I've seen him with her before."

  "That pretty girl everyone keeps talking about. Is he holding her hand?"

  "She is an omega."

  "I thought the Alpha would have traded."

  Nova kept her eyes down. Her skin flushed with heat that had nothing to do with the fever. Jax felt her unease. Again feeling her emotions and unsure how. They weren't fated mates, but yet again he was able to feel her.

  When they got to his chambers, Elias was already there waiting, his usual calm expression tightening with concern as soon as he saw her.

  "She's pale," he muttered. "Sit."

  Nova sat in the chair at a table by the window. Jax hovered nearby.

  Elias pressed the back of his hand to her cheek. "Too warm. You're dehydrated again."

  "You also need this." He handed her a small ceramic bottle. "No alcohol. No running around. No magic. No shifting. No stress."

  Nova's cheeks burned.

  Elias raised a brow. "I'll take that as a confession."

  She didn't say anything.

  He held up a hand. "Not judging. Just a warning and friendly reminder. You were stabbed with something laced in dark magic, and then nearly died of hypothermia. It's not normal for shifters to get fevers or pass out for two days."

  She winced when he said the word stabbed. Gods that was painful.

  He chuckled and ruffled her hair affectionately. After packing his bag, he glanced at Jax.

  "If her fever doesn't go down in the next hour or so, mindlink me. She will need to finish that and have another tonight and two a day for the next few days. Nova can come find me or I'll bring it to you and her."

  Nova had her head laying on the table.

  Jax looked at her and then nodded at Elias.

  "Thank you. I'll let you know if it doesn't go down," He said.

  Elias left and the door clicked shut.

  Silence.

  Jax walked over and without hesitating, scooped her up in his arms and carried her to his couch. He sat with her in his arms on his lap in front of the fire.

  Nova was feeling too sick to feel shy.

  Her head rested against his shoulder. His warmth bled into her bones.

  "Drink," he said gently, holding the bottle to her lips.

  She took a sip. Grimaced. "It tastes horrible."

  "Drink anyway."

  She sighed and then drank it.

  Then sagged into him, face pressed into the crook of his neck. His scent wrapped around her — forest after rain, pine, and snow.

  Warm. Familiar.

  Home.

  She forgot — just for a moment — that she'd been upset with him. Or embarrassed at the fact that he rejected her right after he kissed her.

  Jax stroked her back and stopped fighting his urges. He kissed the top of her head.

  And then said, softly, "I need to tell you something."

  Nova looked up at him.

  He swallowed. "My wolf... yesterday. He almost—" He broke off. "He wanted to mark you. I kissed you, and he just... lost it. I almost lost control. I'm sorry I had to leave abruptly."

  Nova blinked.

  "Even after I left the room, even when I went to bathe to clear my head, he kept pushing. He's never done that. Not like that."

  "I'm sorry if I frightened you Nova," he said, kissing her temple. Again surprised at himself for doing that so freely.

  Her face flushed, would she ever get used to him kissing her? Probably not. She wrapped her arms around his neck.

  "You didn't scare me Jax. That doesn't scare me."

  Jax's breath caught when she wrapped her arms around him. That one simple touch undid something inside him. Everything in him burned for her—ache, desire, need—and she didn't even realize it.

  He didn't hesitate.

  His lips met hers in a slow kiss—soft, searching. But the moment she melted into him, it deepened. Heat flared. The kiss grew hungrier, more urgent, like every restrained thought and buried feeling finally broke loose.

  She tasted like warmth and lightning. And for a moment, there was nothing else in the world. Just her.

  They kissed holding each other for a few minutes. Jax felt more relief wash over him. She was his sanctuary.

  He reluctantly pulled away and kissed her forehead, thumb caressing her back.

  "I haven't had a chance to tell you yet," he said, voice low but calm. "But I need to talk to you about something else."