I was in and out as they rushedme inside. Before I knew it, I was lying in a sea of blankets,sandwiched between Anders and Stefan. The fire roared in thefireplace and Daeron had healed my palm. My body felt as if it wereon fire as the warmth returned. I still shivered, but I tried tothrow the blankets off to relieve the scalding feeling, but Andersheld me fast. "Ana, you must stay warm." Stefan scolded as hishands still rubbed my body, creating a warming friction.
"It burns," I whimpered,struggling again.
"I know, luv, but this has tobe done," Anders soothed, his warm hands slid over my back and downmy side.
My eyes widened. "Why am Inaked?"
"Your clothes were soakedthrough," Anders explained.
"Stefan, do you mind?" Iasked, a wave of modesty hitting me.
"It's nothing he hasn'tseen before," Anders insisted. "And we need the body heat!" ForAnders to allow Stefan to stay was saying just how worried he was andjust how bad my situation was.
I hissed, writhing against theburning sensation. Anders took my hands in his and blew on my frozenfingers. The pain all over my body was intense. "You need to staywith us," Stefan shook me as I fought unconsciousness.
"Can't..." I whispered."So... tired..."
"Ana!" Anders' voice becamea distant thing as my mind fell into darkness.
I awoke, still in my bed, butalone. I did a silent mental check on my baby and sighed with reliefas I felt it shift in my womb. "Thank goodness," I whispered.
"You really had us worried,"I heard Anders' voice from next to the bed.
I turned my head to look at him.His face was set in anger, his arms and legs were crossed as he satin his chair. I flinched at the expression and the crackle ofelectricity that flitted by, disappearing just next to my head. Itried to sit up, struggling with my belly. "I'm sorry," I saidsheepishly.
"Sorry?!" his voice rose ashe stood swiftly. "You could have bloody well died out there! Whaton earth were you thinking!?" I saw his hands shaking. I couldn'ttell if it was his anger or fear. I didn't know what to say so Iclamped my mouth shut. "What, no excuses?" he asked.
I shook my head slowly, tearsreaching my eyes. "I'm sorry," I repeated, pulling the blanketup around my shoulders in spite of the sweat now pooling in severalinconvenient places on my body. I couldn't look at him. I'dreally done it this time. I'd never seen Anders so angry, asidefrom the time Genovia held a knife to my throat. I remembered whathe'd done to her and hung my head. "You're not going toincinerate me, are you?" I whispered in a small voice.
It took him a moment to respond.In that moment, I think my heart broke 16 times, pieces chipping offand floating away, leaving me numb. "I think I'll save that forwhen after the baby is born." Was that humor I heard in his voice?Was a smile lighting up his green eyes? My head shot up to look himin the face and sure enough, I had heard correctly. He was grinningat me. I didn't have to ask for him to break down and say, "Howthe bloody hell am I supposed to stay mad at you when you say suchendearing things?"
I shrugged, no smile gracing myface. I didn't feel up to being forgiven. I had done a stupid thingand I hated that he could get over it so easily. "Stop being sonice," I protested.
"I'm just glad you'realive, little warrior. Being angry is pointless. Sod it, I thinkyou've suffered enough." He approached me and sat on the edge ofthe bed, placing a hand over my stomach, still covered in blankets."You're alive, our baby's safe, that's all that matters."Then he chuckled. "I think Stefan wigged out worse than I did."
I finally found the strength tosmile. "That's only because he had to see me naked. It's quitea traumatizing sight." I patted my belly.
"I think pregnancy suits you,"he smiled taking my hand. "If you weren't so bloody tired all ofthe time, I'd be taking full advantage."
"You haveto say that," I grinned.
"It's that or face the wrathof the beast," he teased.
"If I wasn't pregnant," Ithreatened.
"Yes, yes... Tiny mage bits."He rolled his eyes and leaned in to kiss my lips. The kiss was shortas he pulled away and frowned. "Are you feeling alright?"
"Other than being hot as hell,yes," I said as his palm pressed against my forehead.
"Your skin's warmer thanmine," he said worriedly.
"I told you, I feel fine," Iinsisted.
"I'm going to get Daeron,just to be sure," he said, taking his hand away and kissing meagain.
When he left, I settled back intothe pillows, sweating. I threw off the top three layers of blankets.I felt like it was the middle of summer. I realized as I lay therethat I really wasn't feeling as good as I had said. I had felt sogood with the length of sleep I had gotten, even if it was not trulysleep that my mind had overlooked the dizzy, woozy feeling I wasswimming in. I threw off another blanket, leaving myself with only athin sheet to cover me. I groaned miserably. "Seriously?" Icomplained.
"Is there a problem, littlewarrior?" Anders asked, returning with Daeron. He was lookingpositive and I hated having to tell him.
"You know how I said I feltfine? I don't," I confessed putting a hand on my forehead where Ifelt a pounding beginning behind my eyes.
Daeron approached, and pushed myhand away so he could touch my forehead. "She definitely has afever." He glanced at Anders. "I don't understand. When I dothe usual check, I am finding nothing wrong."
"Well, there's obviouslysomething going on. She's burning up and the dizzy spells aremaking me nervous," Anders said, coming to sit next to me again.
"Not to mention I feel likeI've taken a blow to the head." I sighed. "Correction, severalblows to the head."
"Could it be something magicalthat you can't detect on the surface?" Daeron asked.
"I would have to dig muchdeeper and I really don't like exposing the baby to that muchinvasion." He sighed, brushing my soggy hair off my face. It wasclinging to my skin uncomfortably.
"Could we staunch that damnblaze," I pleaded. "It's too hot."
Anders looked unwilling, butfinally waved his hand to extinguish the fire. "Isn't thereanything you can do?" he asked Daeron.
"I can't fix what's notbroken," he apologized.
"No offense, but if you can'tfix it, could you leave so I can strip the sodding sheet?" I asked.
Daeron looked to Anders whoshrugged. He left the room and I ripped away the sheet, sighing asthe cool air hit my skin. Anders fidgeted nervously. "Ana, when youspoke with Reif, did he have any suggestions?"
I shook my head with my eyesclosed. "He is on his way. When he gets here, he wants to check...me out." I could feel my tired mind slipping back into a sleepystate. I yawned.
Anders caressed my face as Idozed. "Get some sleep, luv, maybe you'll feel better," hewhispered.
