SHIVER by Tiffinie Helmer Read Free Book Online

didn’t get out of here.
    “Your life is mine, remember?” Fox continued. “I saved you. I won’t let you die now over something stupid.”
    How did you argue with a kid who spoke with such wisdom? “Fine.” He looked at Raven. Seriously, she needed to leave.
    “All right,” she muttered and left the room, closing the door with a snap behind her.
    Fox shrugged. “Women.”
    Aidan cracked a laugh. “Yeah, women.”
    He emptied his bladder, flushed, and then moved to the sink to wash up. He caught his reflection in the mirror. Wow, he did look bad. His skin was red and blotchy and had a yellowish cast. His eyes were sunken with dark bags under them.
    “See, I told you, you looked bad,” Fox said. “We’d better get you back to bed, before you pass out.”
    “Good idea. Let me brush my teeth first.”
    “What’s taking you guys so long?” Raven’s muffled voice came through the door.
    “Just a second, Mom.”
    Aidan grabbed for the toothbrush he’d used last night. And the room swam. He made a reach for the vanity counter.
    Fox was there at his elbow, holding him steady. “I think you’d better brush you teeth sitting down.”
    “I think that’s a good idea.” What was wrong with him? He sat on the turned-down toilet seat, the crutches falling to the floor. His head became too heavy to hold, and he had to rest it in his hands. There was a buzzing in his ears.
    Suddenly, Raven was there, peering into his eyes, feeling his forehead with her soothing cool hand, and cussing like a broke prospector. “Fox, go and get Eva. Hurry.”
    Fox scurried from the room.
    “Back to bed for you.” Raven helped him to his feet. “Lean on me.” She held him up and cursed again when he fell against her.
    He yelped in pain as he came down on his leg. She took his weight and somehow had the crutches under his arms.
    “I can’t do this without your help, Aidan. Come on, I’ll steady you, but you’re going to have to do most of the work.”
    Some part of his brain heard the worry in her voice, another heard the anger. Once again he was making her life hard. She should leave him. “Get out,” he said. He was tired of her seeing the worst of him. Believing the worst of him.
    “Yeah, you’d like that, wouldn’t you?” She nudged him. “Move.”
    She pushed and pulled and finally he was sinking back onto the bed. Bad breath didn’t seem as important right now as slipping back into nothingness.

    Raven stood back, breathing hard. Holy shit, Eva was going to kill her. The heat coming off Aidan felt like a stoked wood stove. She grabbed the thermometer from the nightstand, shook it and placed it under his arm. He’d had a slight fever during the night, but that was to be expected after the trauma he’d been through. But this…this was more. This meant there was something really wrong. She glanced out the window. It was still dark…and still snowing. No heading into Fairbanks.
    She should have watched him closer. Regardless of how she felt about him, she should have kept a better eye on him.
    “What’s wrong?” Fiona asked rushing into the room. “Fox hollered something as he rushed out.”
    “Aidan’s got a fever. He can’t even stay on his feet.” She shared a worried look with her mother.
    Aidan’s head tossed back and forth on the pillow. “Fine,” he said, his voice weak. “I’ll be fine.”
    “Right.” Raven wanted to smack him. “Why didn’t you say you weren’t feeling well?”
    “Doesn’t matter,” he mumbled, his eyes closed. “Nothing matters anymore.”
    “Oh, my.” Fiona reached down and placed her forearm on his forehead. “A hundred and three. We need to get him cooled down right away. I’ll get some ice.” She rushed out of the room.
    A hundred and three? Come on. Raven grabbed the thermometer from under Aidan’s arm. A hundred and three . How did she do that?
    “Tell me,” Eva demanded, blowing into the room, shedding her coat and hat, snowflakes falling to the floor