Page 92 of Poet & Protector

Layered noxious odors of vomit and fear suffused the room.

“Over here!” Ansel called.

He knelt outside one of the stalls. The door was open. Mason was slumped on the floor, leaning against the toilet. His eyes were closed.

Ansel made room for me and I crouched beside Mason. “Mason, what’s wrong? Are you sick?”

He shook his head but didn’t open his eyes.

“He won’t talk,” Ansel told me. “We were at his locker and all of a sudden his face went whiter than bone and then he ran. I followed him here. He’s gotten sick over and over again. There can’t be anything left in his stomach.”

I pressed my hand carefully against Mason’s forehead. His skin was damp with cold sweat. He suddenly turned and retched again. Violent dry heaves wracked his body.

“He didn’t say anything?” I asked Ansel.

Ansel shook his head, his worried eyes fixed on Mason. “Everything was fine. I was talking to him about Bryn, then I mentioned what Calla told me about Logan. That’s when⁠—”

“Stop.” I grabbed Ansel’s arm. “What about Logan?”

Ansel looked at me, frowning. “When Calla and Ren were summoned to Efron’s office at Eden on Friday night, they were told Logan is going to be the master of our new pack.”

I reeled, releasing his arm to grasp the side of the stall. The metal creaked under the force of my grip.

“What?” Ansel watched me in alarm. “What’s happening? You look almost as pale as Mason did before he got sick.”

“Are you sure?” I asked him, fighting to keep my voice steady. Mason didn’t need to hear my panic. “About Logan?”

“I mean…” Ansel’s eyes darted from me to Mason. “That’s what Calla said. Why is it so important?”

I bowed my head. A fist tightened painfully around my heart.

Logan. Master of the new pack. Our pack. Mason’s master.

No. No. No.

“Nev, please.” Ansel’s voice was strained. “I don’t understand. Tell me what’s going on.”

I shook my head, unable to answer him. My thoughts were spinning out of control. For three years, I’d witnessed Sabine suffer because Efron had claimed her as his own. Now Efron’s son was coming for my mate. Everything inside me felt like it was shattering. But I couldn’t fall apart. Mason needed me to be strong.

I’d promised him we’d be okay, but I didn’t see this coming. I knew he hadn’t either.

“Now we know what changed.” Mason’s rasping voice made my eyes snap open.

“Mason!” Ansel scooted forward. “Here. Try drinking this. Just a little bit. Please.”

He offered Mason a water bottle, but Mason’s bleak gaze was on me.

I nodded.

“I need a minute,” Mason said to me, his voice still raw. “Tell Ansel.”

“Everything?” I asked, not caring if Ansel might be offended by the question.

“He needs to know.” Mason took the water bottle. “Thanks, An.”

Ansel was looking back and forth between us with confusion and alarm.

“Come talk to me, Ansel.” I stood up, ignoring the way my entire body felt unsteady. “Let’s give Mason some space.”