Doe's POV:

My eyes were shut tight as I forced myself to swallow the rest of this tea.

Every time I swallowed it felt like a knife was being dragged down the inside of my throat.

Yet I could tell that Xander ordered this one with more honey, and even through the ache, I knew that this was the only thing giving me any sort of relief.

Both from the honey coating my throat, and the ice-cold temperature of this glass against my skin.

My whole body felt like it was on fire.

I had already discarded the blankets I had prior, yet I could still feel myself sweating.

Sweating and shivering at the same time.

Xander had retrieved me one of my warm turtle necks to try even it out, but it didn't work.

I let my head fall back against the armrest of this couch, deciding to not even try to open my eyes again.

Every time I did it was followed by a deep rumbling in my ears and an immediate headache.

So instead I just focused on the heavy, unnatural rise and fall of my chest.

Everything hurt.

Which usually I was used to but this time it was different.

It was a different kind of pain, exhaustion, and discomfort.

I've had a couple fevers in my life just from a common cold that I'd get on occasion, but this was different.

It was so much worse.

It felt like whatever it was, was just sucking the energy out of my muscles.

Did Layla give some kind of disease or something?

Honestly, that thought alone wasn't that surprising, but a warning would have been nice.

At least it gave Nico a reason to look me over.

Maybe if it's bad enough it'll end up giving me a break for a few days.

A break from her.

Wouldnt that be something.

I took a couple seconds to prepare, before forcing myself to sit up, every muscle involved, as well as my head, screaming at me all throughout the process.

The visible trembling in my body began again.

I squinted my eyes open, setting the empty glass onto the table before looking around for Xander.

We were supposed to be leaving soon.

The quicker we leave, the quicker we get that over with, and then the quicker I can go back to bed.

Maybe I'll fit in a long cold shower depending on how I feel.

My head lifted as I spotted him walking out of the closet, a collar and leash in one of his hands.

He stood with that tense unease in his shoulders he'd carried all day.

It only seemed to deepen after that little conversation we had.

It was weird seeing him like this.

Seeing him this worried.

Usually, he wasn't so open about it with the tone of his voice and the look in his eyes.

Can't wait to see him force that away once we get to Nico's.

He usually looked at me with some kind of discomfort in there, but this time it was different.

It even convinced me for a short second that he might have actually cared about my life.

Cared about it for more than just the fact that it brought Layla to him.

I guess whatever illness I had messed with my brain for a moment, but I quickly remembered the facts of my situation.

'You're not dying any time soon' my ass.

I learned a long time ago not to trust words on their own.

No matter how assuredly they're said.

"You ready?" He spoke to me softly as he approached.

I just forced a nod, not wanting to deal with the ache that came with talking now that my drink was gone.

I lifted my head more on instinct as he worked the collar around my neck, setting it at the loosest setting possible.

It was typically loose, but with my situation and the turtle neck I was wearing, he just went all the way.

"Are you gonna be okay walking or do you need help," He spoke in the same way prior, clipping on the leash.

With that voice filled with sympathy.

I didn't want his sympathy.

I didn't want his pity to begin with.

Was my body begging for me to accept the offer because just the very thought of making the short trip to Nico's room caused a deep feeling of dread to fill me?

Yes.

Was I going to show him that and risk damaging my pride?

No.

I didn't need his help, not with this.

That's what I told myself at least.

I shook my head, getting my point across.

He seemed wary about my decision but still took a step back.

I tried my best to mask my hesitance and discomfort, forcing my feet under me.

Although the moment I found myself standing, I also found my vision blurring and the pain in my head triple.

I registered the hand around my waist and the arm against my back before I registered that my lightheadedness resulted in a temporary loss of balance.

And as soon as I realized the latter, my hands scrambled for the first thing they could grab to steady myself.

Which ended up being his shirt.

When my vision finally cleared, the first thing I saw was his wide-eyed concern staring right back down at me.

Dammit.

"You sure you don't need help?" He inquired pointedly as he righted me.

I widened my stance a bit, pushing his arm away.

"Yes. Just give me a second," I rasped.

I just stood up too fast... I'll be okay.

Luckily, he listened, hands in his pockets until I held out the end of the leash, signifying that I was ready.

Or at least as ready as I was able to be.

He tentatively took it from me, giving me one last look over before heading towards the door.

He walked at a noticeable slower pace, the way he heald his head showing that he was always keeping me in his peripherals.

I almost slowed down my own pace to get out of his peripherals before realizing I didn't have the energy for that.

Still, these kinds of thoughts were enough to keep me distracted during the first half of this short walk.

After that, I could feel the trembling in my legs, and it felt as if my body was somehow becoming even warmer.

My vision began to blur and multiply again before finally his Nico's door came into view.

I kept my gaze straight ahead at it, focusing all of my remaining energy on just keeping myself upright.

Even so, I saw Xander turn towards me one last time, his shoulders lifting in a preparatory sigh.

Y'know, to prepare for the front he puts on in front of his brother.

I wonder how sadistic this one was going to be today.

His knock echoed in my ears, causing my eyes to close for a second.

At least I thought it was a second, but when I opened them again, the door was open and Xander had already stepped in, causing me to hurriedly catch up to the best of my ability.

"Did you do something with the place? it looks different," Xander decided to start with, his eyes searching the room despite knowing that literally nothing has changed since the last time we were here.

I began to do the same just out of curiosity to find his pet.

Which I did almost immediately after looking up, spotting her sitting on the bed.

Weird.

"That's not why you're here," Nico replied, already irked by his brother is his tone told me anything.

"Hm? Oh yeah. Where do you want this." He asked, holding up the end of the least.

'This' he says.

I nearly rolled my eyes.

Real classy, Xander.

I just watched as Nico turned, heading towards his bathroom to retrieve a few things, "Just take off her leash and have her sit on that couch."

My eyes kept on him until he disappeared into the room, not having noticed that Xander was moving until the leash was pulled taught and I found myself stumbling.

Xander turned almost immediately, his hardened exterior breaking for just a second as he realized what had happened.

He's just lucky I caught myself.

And he's also lucky that I had the decency to make sure no one was looking at me before sending him a glare.

We now both staggered our way to the couch mentioned prior, and I tiredly sat onto it.

Xander was in front of me not even a second after, blocking my face in such a way that Khloe couldn't see it.

He quickly unclipped the leash, mouthing a remorseful 'I'm sorry'.

My glare returned before I mouthed back a 'You're an asshole,'

I knew he was aware of that whenever he was with his brother, but sometimes I feel like he needed a reminder.

His eyes shifted to the side, 'I know-'

He looked like he was going to say something else, instead quickly turned as Nico walked back into the room.

Lip reading. A skill I never thought I would have needed back in that pet shop.

Xander began to say something but I blocked it out in favor of leaning back into the cushions and letting out a very long exhale, forcing myself to relax.

Whatever came out of his mouth was probably bullshit anyway.

If I fell back asleep right now would that really be that much of a problem?

Probably not, but then I'd have to get carried back.

Yeah... not worth it.

Unless I was literally bleeding out, I didn't need nor want him carrying me anywhere.

I tuned back into the conversation once I realized the focus was now on me.

"... What's wrong with yours?" Nico asked.

My half-lidded eyes looked towards Xander, curious to see what his explanation for this was going to be.

"I don't know. She told me that she was feeling really hot last night but I thought that she was just trying to make up some lame excuse so I wouldn't drink from her. Her blood tasted a little different than usual so I guess she wasn't totally making it up. And this morning I had to force her to wake up, which was weird because she's always up before me, and then her breathing started getting all weird and her body wouldn't stop shaking."

Wow, almost 30% truthful.

That had to be some sort of record.

Nico outwardly showed his annoyance so that I didn't have to, letting out a sigh before stepping towards me.

I didn't have the energy to react as I felt the chill of his hand on the back of my neck.

It was interesting to see his eyes widen as soon as he did.

Usually, when it came to me, not a lot of things surprised Nico.

"How did you not feel this fever?" He accused, turning back towards Xander.

Of course Xander felt the fever, it's the one thing he wouldn't shut up about.

But there's no way he was going to say that.

"What fever?" He asked, his tone as clueless as ever.

Typical.

It was times like these where Nico's reaction matched my own.

Though they were for different reasons, the emotions were basically the same.

"She's literally burning, Xander. I'm surprised that she was able to make it over here without collapsing."

I think I smiled at that, my pride growing just a bit.

Believe me, Nico, it got close.

I felt myself steadily relax as Nico did a few ordinary tests. A few of which he could do just with his vampiric senses.

He's dealt with me enough to where I knew I was safe here, and his touches were always gentle whenever he had to do anything like this.

"My room is like right down the hall, it's not even that far." Xander defended as if that made it any better.

Honestly, if it had been any farther, I don't know If I would have made it.

"That's not the point," Nico bit back.

I'll admit I was partially relieved seeing the look on Nico's face.

He was overall pretty stoic, but I'd seen his face when my situations were extreme or dire.

His expression now wasn't anywhere near that right now.

Xander sighed behind him.

"So what should I do, all-powerful wise one?"

Nico's brows furrowed before standing straight.

"Just take her back to your room. Give her a blanket and some water and just let her sleep for a while. She'll get better naturally over the next few days. Oh, and keep her in your room until she's better, she's most likely contagious."

Only contagious to humans it would seem.

My eyes flickered to Khloe for half a second.

Then Xander let out a very long and unnecessary groan.

"So you're saying that I can't get her branded tomorrow?" He questioned.

Oh good, this shit again.

"Not unless you want to get every other pet there sick." Was Nico's simple response.

"But I got Layla to agree to go with me."

This time, my brows furrowed.

What was the point of lying about that?

"That sucks. Maybe you should have taken better care of your pet." Nico responded.

Xander met my gaze, and I just rose my brows in a way that showed that I agreed with his brother.

I saw his shoulders slump.

"Fine, I'll just do it the next time the branders come." He concluded.

Gee, can't wait.

Maybe with the way things are going, I'll be dead by then.

"Good choice," Nico said, really just sounding like he was trying to end this conversation as soon as possible," Oh, also, don't drink from her for at least three days."

Oh, thank god.

I felt myself physically deflate into the couch, a sigh of relief following soon after.

"What?" Xander exclaimed.

Oh no, someone was gonna have to tell Layla no for once.

Or he'll ignore Nico's orders and...

No... he wouldn't do that right?

"You heard me," Nico retorted.

"Well then how else am I supposed to get blood?"

I didn't even have time to think up my own witty reply before Nico spoke.

"You could just, you know, drink the stuff that the castle provides for us."

Xander just deadpanned as he leaned a hip against the side of the couch, apparently really dedicated to playing the blood addicted vampire today.

"That stuff is nasty compared to live blood."

Nico's disappointment showed immensely after that.

"Yeah, I'm aware. But it's not my fault you got yourself addicted to it."

Or that he got Layla addicted to it.

"Just get some from one of your friend's pets if you really must, but give Doe a break for a while"

Xander doesn't have any friends.

I feel like everyone in this room knew that.

Well, everyone except maybe...

I looked towards Khloe, seeing a fearful look on her face as she looked at Xander.

"Okay" He surprisingly said, "Is that it?"

Yeah," Nico spoke immediately, "Now get out, I have things to do."

Xander stood straight, taking the leash in his hands.

"Of course you do," He clipped the leash to my collar, "Come along, pet."

Pet?

I nearly grimaced.

First 'this' and now 'Pet'?

Oh, he was gonna get an earful for that later.

For now, though, I maneuvered myself off of the couch.

All in all, I guess this went well.

I get a break, and Xander either has to tell Layla no or take the risk of her possibly killing me the next time she comes by.

I really hoped the first one is the one that I get to witness, but for now, I needed to follow the doctor's orders.