Ste touched Joshua''s forehead. His skin was warmer than usual, but thankfully, he wasn''t running a fever.


    She let out a quiet sigh of relief, though a pang of guilt crept into her heart.


    The air in Germany was always damp, andst night''s persistent rain had left everything cold and mmy. The floor was practically icy.<fn6b5a> Original content can be found at find·novel</fn6b5a>


    And she''d made Joshua sleep on the floor.


    Honestly, even if she''d tried it herself, she''d probably have caught a cold after one night down there, never mind someone else.


    If Joshua fell ill at a time like this, it wouldn''t just jeopardize their escape from Germany-dodging their pursuers would be nearly impossible.


    Ste closed her eyes for a moment and took a deep breath.


    After a brief pause, she opened them again.


    She straightened out the nkets on the bed, then walked back to where Joshuay.


    No matter what, she needed to get him off the floor and onto the bed before the cold got to him any more than it already had.


    But Joshua was tall and broad-shouldered, nearly as big as Haynes. Even though Ste had been working outtely, hauling a man his size was no easy feat.


    After several attempts that left her sweating, she finally managed to pull Joshua upright.


    That was when he stirred awake.


    He opened his eyes slowly. "What''s going on?"


    His voice was hoarse, nothing like the clear, steady tone she was used to hearing from him.


    Seeing him awake, Ste straightened, alert. "Joshua, how are you feeling? Can you stand? Let''s get you onto the bed for a bit."


    He looked at her, his gaze strange-gone was the bright rity she knew. In its ce was a cold, unsettling shadow, like the gloomy weather outside.


    He murmured, "...Alright."


    Ste helped him onto the bed. "Joshua, does your head still hurt?"


    He answered sluggishly, "Yeah."


    She asked, "Did you bring any medication with you? Or is there something you usually take for this?"


    After a moment, Joshua replied, "It''s an old problem. Medicine doesn''t help."


    Ste nodded. "In that case, just rest


    gets


    for now. I''ll go out and get us some breakfast. Is there anything


    anything


    want?"  s


    Joshua shook his head faintly.


    "Okay, just get some rest. I''ll be back soon."


    With that, Ste left the room.


    She waited until the door had clicked shut behind her before she took out her phone and dialed Harold''s number.


    They''d exchanged contacts thest time he''d helped her deal with Q.


    Harold''s cheerful voice answered, "Ms. Cameron, need my help with another tech issue?"


    Ste walked toward a quiet corner. "No, actually. I wanted to ask you about Joshua."


    Harold''s tone immediately changed. "What''s wrong with him?"


    Ste said, “He''s not himself these past couple of days. He keepsining of headaches..."


    Harold cut in, "Did he kill someone?"


    Ste paused for two seconds. "... Yes. He did."


    Harold''s eye twitched.


    Damn it, it was happening again—Joshua''s old problem.


    During these Spells, Joshua could be et


    cold-blooded and dangerously


    unstable. Years ago, Rachel had caught a glimpse of him like this and fled back to Neo-Vespera in terror She''d rather get entangled with a married man than stay near Joshua, terrified he might lose control and take her down with him.  s


    And it wasn''t just Rachel-even Harold, who usually stuck by


    Joshua''s side, knew to keep biel


    distance during these episodes.  s


    Now Ste was alone with Joshua in this state...


    It was dangerous. Very dangerous.