Claiming The Spare Twin novel · Chapter 5 of 24

Chapter 5: Day One Without Tea

The fever hit me at noon, in the middle of the dinner prep.

One second I was chopping onions. The next the knife blade swam, and the sweat came out all over my body at once.

"Sit," said the head cook, and shoved a stool under me.

"I'm fine."

"You're gray." She pressed the back of her hand to my forehead and hissed. "Child, you're burning up."

Pain rolled through my bones in slow waves.

It started at my spine and spread to my hips, my shoulders, even my teeth.

It felt like being stretched on a rack by someone who couldn't decide when to stop.

"It's the tea," I whispered. "Coming out of me."

"Then it's coming out," she said. "Go lie down. I'll tell the Beta you're sick."

"Don't tell her anything."

She understood. She nodded once.

I made it up the back stairs on my own, hand over hand on the rail.

In my room I locked the door, stripped to my underwear and lay on the floor, because the boards were cool.

I stared at the ceiling and shook.

An hour passed. Maybe two.

Somewhere in it, I heard a soft knock.

"Linn? It's me."

Odette.

I dragged myself up and unlocked the door.

She stood in the hall in a cream sweater, holding a glass of water and a plate of plain toast.

"The cook said you were sick," she said. "I told Mother I was going to rest, and I came straight here."

She stepped in and shut the door behind her.

She set the glass in my hand, and held it steady when my fingers wouldn't.

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