CHAPTER 51

Claire was swimming in a pool of blood. Pain shot through her waist constantly, and she couldn't move. She looked around and all she could see was snow. She shivered with the cold. How had she even gotten here? She tried to move her arms, but they had turned to ice. In fact, her entire body had become one big block of ice.

She opened her mouth to scream, but no sound came out. From far off, she heard voices she knew she should recognize, but she couldn't see anything.

"Her fever is too high. We might need to call in the doctor."

"Send for him. Tell him to get here on the double."

A cool hand touched her forehead and she winced slightly. She was sure she had a cut there somewhere, but how had she gotten it? She sighed and tried to open her eyes. The snow disappeared gradually, and her field of vision was covered with a face.

"Axel?"

He was staring at her, his lips turned down. "Why do you always make me worry, Sugar?"

She tried to sit up, but pain shot through her lower abdomen and she