Mark was burning up.
I noticed it the moment I woke up. His body, usually warm, was now too warm. His skin felt like fire against my fingertips, his face pale despite the heat radiating off him. His breathing was heavier than before, like his body was struggling to keep up.
My stomach twisted.
I sat up quickly, pressing my palm against his forehead. A fever. A bad one.
“Mark?” I whispered, shaking him gently. “Hey, wake up.”
He didn’t stir.
My heart jumped into my throat.
I shook him harder. “Mark, wake up.”
This time, he groaned, his eyebrows pulling together like he was trying to fight his way out of sleep. His eyelids fluttered open, but his gaze was unfocused, like he wasn’t really seeing me.
“Sage?” His voice was hoarse, barely above a whisper.
I exhaled shakily. “Yeah, I’m
