67. The Queen Is Dead

Was Layla completely human? Her pulse was weak, and she felt like a furnace, even against Jax’s naturally higher body temperature. But she was shivering as if she was stuck in the snow naked in winter.

He pulled the blankets higher and tucked them under her chin even though she would likely start sweating again, and he’d have to take them off. She hadn’t even stirred since she’d fallen, even though the trailer was shaking and the storm was still raging outside.

Was the Hunters’ poison still in her system? Was it killing her? He shoved that thought out of his mind the moment it popped into his head. There was no room in his head for thoughts that would break him.

He pushed a strand of her fiery red hair out of her face and put his hand under the covers to hold on to one of hers.

“This isn’t how things were supposed to go tonight,” he whispered. “Wake up, Layla.”

The door opened, and Gerald walked in with another bowl of water and a battery-operated camping light. He placed the t