The Price They Paid: Imprinted Mates Series

and still have space. Who needed a house this big?
“The room you stayed in last night was the spare room that Seuss sleeps in when he’s too exhausted to come upstairs.”
“And this room?” I took another look around.
“This is where the king and queen will sleep.”
Maddox took all the linen off the huge bed that seemed to take up most of the room then remade it while I went into the bathroom and showered. When I came back out, he was long gone, and a pine oil burned in a corner. It smelled similar to what I’d smelled on Seuss. Not having any clothes to wear, I’d taken one of Seuss’ cotton pj shirts from a drawer and claimed it. I stared at the huge bed and wondered how many people it would take to fill it. I climbed into the freshly made bed with maroon fleece sheets and buried myself deep before relaxing into sleep.
“Justice …” I fought to open my eyes, but the faint voice called out to me until I was awake.
I looked around the moonlit room to see no one there but me. I frowned and sat up but continued to see nothing. I laid back and closed my eyes, and the calls began again. This time I listened harder and realized that they came from Seuss through echoes of my mind.
I used the adjoining door to enter his room where he lay asleep. His lips appeared to be bluer than earlier, and the chill coming from him pierced the room. I looked for more blankets and put them over him.
“Justice … lay … with … me …”
The words reverberated throughout my mind. Damn it Seuss! I knew he was going to be cold and there was no amount of preparing for it, but I could try. I ran back into the master suite and grabbed the blankets from the bed and put them over him before climbing in beside him. I put my hand against his and I pulled the blankets over me to keep me warm. The chill was bone aching, but slowly he started to warm. I moved closer hoping to spread the warmth.
“You’ve got some nerve asking me to warm you up after you tried to burn my arm off,” I mumbled.
I felt his chuckle more than I heard it in my mind, and I smiled. His laugh was stronger than his voice had been when he’d reached out to me. That was a good sign.
“We’ve got to get you better. Your people need you.” I yawned, feeling drained. I rested my head on his shoulder before succumbing to sleep.

Justice
Soft Caresses to my face made me snuggle closer. Callused hands soothed my cheeks, and sleep pulled me further into its hold.
“Justice …” That voice. Seuss.
A single kiss to my forehead made me open my sleep heavy eyes. I attempted to raise my head, but it was congested. I laid back onto Seuss chest. He was warm, but he didn’t appear to have moved. The sunlight danced across the room, and I wished that someone would close the blinds. I was exhausted as if I hadn’t had any rest. I pulled the blanket up over my head and went back to sleep.
“Justice!”
My eyes popped open to see a worried Alice staring down at me. Tired … so tired …
“We’ve been looking all over for you.”
I groaned and closed my eyes.
“How long have you been in here?” Alice asked.
“Since last night …” I mumbled.
“It’s late afternoon, Justice! You must get up.”
I groaned again. “Just fifteen minutes. I’m so tired.”
“Justice, can you sit up for me?”
“Mhm …” I moved to sit up, but everything hurt. I laid back down and pulled the blanket up.
“No. No. No!” Alice rushed from the room, and I sighed in content that she was leaving me alone.
“Justice.” A deep baritone voice startled me out of my sleep. I looked into the eyes of Maddox. “I’m going to lift you and take you back into the master bedroom.”
I closed my eyes and went back to sleep. The moment that Maddox touched me I heard a low growl.
“Don’t growl at me,” I mumbled.
“Don’t touch her, Maddox,” I heard Alice say. “Justice, I need you to focus.”
I tried, honestly, but it was difficult. She held a straw to my lips, and I drank the cool liquid. The taste of fresh berries exploded against my tongue, and I greedily consumed the drink. I could feel the energy building from somewhere deep. It was slow, but already I was feeling better.
“More,” I demanded.
“I’ll get you more if you explain to Seuss that Maddox needs to take care of you. You’re sick, and the only way to get you better is to get you away from him. That way you can come back to help him heal some more.” Alice’s voice reminded me of a mother trying to explain the wonders of the world to a four-year-old.
I didn’t know how to get inside of his head the way he did with me, so I communicated verbally. “Seuss, I’m tired and …” My voice faded but I shook myself awake again. “Maddox needs to take me into the other room.”
Seuss grumbled something, but I kissed his shoulder hoping to soothe him. “I’m so tired, Seuss.”
Seuss was tired as well. I could feel it. I struggled to pull the blankets over him as best as I could before Maddox took me into the other room. He laid me on the bed, and I asked for another fleece blanket like he’d given me before. He covered me with two of them and said he’d get more since I liked them so much. Then he left me to sleep.
What was that amazing smell? I opened my eyes to see Maddox setting a tray down next to my bed. Alice walked in with a pitcher and a glass. I sat up against the headboard and Maddox helped to put extra pillows behind me.