Cursed by the Fountain of Youth

Chapter 17

Nick pressed a kiss into his sister's forehead. The hissing of the ventilator reminded him that if not for that machine, she would be dead. He closed his eyes to hold back tears. Both of the women he loved were in danger. Becca would eventually succumb to her illness. The ventilators couldn't save her indefinitely. She found peace with her fate. Nick still struggled to accept it.

But Fae? She was healthy. No, she was more than healthy. She was immortal. But she was not immune to death. She could be dead, even now. Nick held tight to the hope that Thomas had given him. If her abductor knew what Fae really was, he would know she was worth more to him alive than dead.

Nick looked his sister over. She looked pale, and the spark that always lit up her face had dimmed. She lay unconscious before him, but maybe she could still hear him. He had so much to say. So much on his mind.

"You know I love you." He choked back the lump that formed in his throat. "You may have been a royal pain, and drove me absolutely insane at times, but I love you, Sis. You know that. You could always read me like a book. I bet you knew exactly how I felt about Fae even before I did, didn't you?"

He sighed. "And now she's in trouble. She's in the hands of an evil man—a man who has killed people. He already tried to kill Fae once." He took her hand and gave it a squeeze. He sucked in a breath when her eyes opened.

"You're awake." Nick breathed a sigh of relief.

Her eyes darted around to the machine at her side and down to the plastic tube coming from her mouth. She looked confused for a moment before recognition saddened her face. She knew the end was coming. And then her eyes went to the door. Her gaze held for a moment before she looked at him and back to the door.

"What is it?"

Once again, she looked at him and then back to the door.

"You want to see the doctor?"

Her head moved. It looked like she might be attempting to shake it.

"You don't want to see the doctor?"

She rolled her eyes—typical Becca.

"All right, so you don't want to see the doctor. Wait. How about you blink once for yes, and twice for no?"

She blinked hard once.

"Okay, so you want me to...leave?"

One blink.

"Why? Why wouldn't you want me to stay?" Her eyes went back to that stupid door. Nick blew out a breath of frustration. "I can't leave you. You really think I'd leave when you're scared and lying in a hospital bed?"

One blink.

Nick scowled and then a thought hit him. "You heard me?"

One blink.

His heart felt like it was being torn in two. "You want me to save Fae?"

A tear leaked from her eye and trailed down her cheek when she blinked—once.

He leaned down and kissed Becca on the forehead. "You know I love you too, right?"

One blink and another tear.

He breathed out a curse. "I hate leaving you."

Again, her eyes went to the door.

"I'll leave when you're asleep again." Two blinks.

Nick blew out a quick breath. "You want me to leave now."

One blink.

"Why do you have to be so self-sacrificing?" he asked, and then paced the floor. He stopped and sighed. "I'll do it, but you have to make me a deal. You cannot leave while I'm gone." He couldn't bring himself to say die. Becca rolled her eyes and then turned to the door once again.