32: fever pitch

The warmth of the sun filtering through the open window slowly pulled Camille from her slumber as the sound of birds chirping and the scent of something sweet being cooked filled the air. Opening her eyes, she rolled onto her side to face the window, her ocean blue eyes admiring the view of lush grass and trees and the dozens of brightly coloured flowers swaying in the breeze. She was certain she could lie here forever, watching the day slip by and enjoying the warmth of the sun like a snoozing cat.

"You're awake." A familiar voice pulled Camille from her thoughts.

Looking over her shoulder, Camille couldn't help the smile that curled her lips upwards when she saw Kal in the doorway. He was wearing loose pants and a vest that exposed his muscled arms that were littered in the same markings as Camille saw on Jag once before.

"Are those new tattoos?" She found herself asking as she sat up.

"No. They are something much more important." Kal replied with a charming smile whilst prowling towards the bed.

Camille watched, her heart fluttering as the godly specimen of a male crawled into the bed and caged her under him. Kal's lips were on hers within moments and she moaned in delight at the passion and intensity of the kiss.

"I missed you." Kal purred once he broke the kiss only to attack Camille's jaw and neck with his plump lips.

She let out a soft laugh, baring her neck to the male as he devoured her. "I've not been anywhere."

"You have been here and I have not." Kal mumbled, against Camille's lips. "Goddess, I want to taste you."

"Me too." Sid's voice replied, Camille's eyes darting to the male as he appeared at the door with a plate of food. "I thought maybe you wanted food but I can see you're hungry for something else."

"Am I?" Camille glanced at Kal then back at Sid as he set the plate of pancakes on the side and crawled into the bed.

"You are." Kal rasped before his mouth wrapped around one of Camille's nipples.

She gasped, arching into the wet heat of Kal's mouth as he suckled and toyed with the hardening bud. She didn't remember getting undressed or when both Sid and Kal removed their own clothing but it quickly became unimportant as Sid kissed her, his tongue exploring her mouth hungrily while his hand came to fondle her other breast. She couldn't stop the moan that escaped her as her core clenched. She was already wet and hungry for more. Her clit was throbbing for attention.

"Are you ready for us?" Sid nipped her bottom lip.

"Yes." Camille panted. "I want you and Kal and Jag."

"We are yours." Jag's voice was deliciously low, sending a current of pleasure into Camille's core.

Her eyes gorged greedily on the sight of the last male, his amber eyes like pools of liquid gold. He moved like a tiger stalking his prey, ready to take what belonged to him. Her breath got stuck in her throat as the giant male crawled onto the bed until their faces were mere inches apart.

"We are yours but you are not ours, Camille."

"What?" Camille frowned. "Wh-what do you mean? Why did you call me Camille?"

"You belong to someone else." Kal replied, his tone suddenly cold.

The room suddenly darkened as black clouds covered the sky. The three males were suddenly off the bed, their eyes empty and unfeeling. Before Camille could speak she felt a hand wrap around her throat.

"Did you miss me, babe?" Nathan sneered in her ear. "I told you, you belong to me!"

Camille took a deep breath as her eyes snapped open only to be greeted with a dimly lit room. The feeling of Nathan's hand around her neck disappeared only to be replaced with a scratchy dryness. She hadn't really moved a muscle yet but she already felt heavy and stiff and it took a few agonising minutes to realise she was in a hospital room and attached to various machines and an IV bag. Someone had been kind enough to place the call button near her hand for when Camille woke, which she was grateful for because she would do just about anything for a glass of water.

A new obstacle presented itself when Camille attempted to move her hand that now felt like it weighed a tonne whilst at the same time, she felt like her limbs didn't belong to her and she wasn't in control. It felt like an eternity before Camille was able to gather the strength to press the small button and even that left her feeling exhausted and hot. So very, very hot…

It wasn't long before the door slid open and a nurse with wide hips and thick brown hair in a bun came bustling in. Her scrubs would probably not have offended Camille's sight if she felt like herself but currently the blue scrubs with colourful parrots all over it were hurting her eyes and her head.

"Glad to see you back with us." The nurse smiled as she checked on the IV and the machines. "how are you feeling?"

"Weird " Camille rasped. "And thirsty."

"That will be the pain medication." The nurse smiled and moved to grab a glass of water with a straw. "Take small sips."

It was a challenge not to gulp the water down greedily. The cool liquid was a sweet relief to Camille's parched mouth. It wasn't the first time she had been left with a dry throat and desperate for water. It had been one of Nathan's favourite punishments to deprive Camille of any water or food. Sometimes he would go as far as depriving her of warmth in the winter or relief from the heat in summer. Eventually he would offer her a drink but only after she begged for it. That in itself had been a humiliating punishment.

*Not until you beg for it.* He would croon as if he was saying sweet nothings to a crying baby. *I need to see how much you really want it.*

It wasn't unusual for Nathan to bring an audience with him. His fellow creeps would laugh and heckle while Camille was reduced to nothing. Other times he would drug the water. It wasn't every time but it happened. She'd wake up either still locked in her prison or worse; in Nathan's 'playroom'.

Camille pushed the fuzzy memories away as she finished her drink and settled back against the pillows.

"Where am I?" She asked tiredly.

"In the Ark." The woman replied. "Do you remember what happened?"

"Hm." Camille nodded. "There was an explosion."

"That's right." The nurse nodded, her smile softening a little as her eyes filled with sadness. "Honestly, it's a miracle no one died."

"It's really warm in here." Camille mumbled and attempted to sit up only to hiss in discomfort when a sharp pain radiated in her side.

"Oh easy now, love." The nurse lurched forward to aid Camille. "These new doctors can work wonders with a scalpel but you are still going to take it easy for a few days while that wound heals."

"Okay but can you turn the heat down?" Camille could feel herself becoming agitated as well as uncomfortable. Her skin felt like it was on fire.

"Hm." The woman frowned and touched Camille's forehead. "You are a bit warm. It could be the pain relief but I will notify the doctor."

The nurse disappeared in a whirl of brunette hair and parrot print leaving Camille alone. She forced the covers off of herself ignoring the fact that she was in nothing but a strange gown that looked nothing like the hospital gowns on TV. The cool air was a sweet relief to her feverish skin and Camille couldn't stop the sigh of relief that escaped her.

"Hello, Emma." A masculine voice announced the arrival of the doctor.

The same Draygonian male from the last time entered the room with a kind smile. It was perhaps her feverish mind but she couldn't help but think that this male appeared far too young to be a doctor not to mention just as good looking as all the other males she had seen (which mostly consisted of Jag, Sid and Kal).

"Nurse Pam tells me you are feeling a bit warm." The male continued. "Is it okay if I check your temperature and wound?"

Camille gave a nod, watching with glazed eyes as the doctor pulled out a strange device with a line of soft blue lights. He put it near the blonde's neck but didn't actually touch her skin. Within seconds he was pulling the device away and looking at the screen.

"Your temperature is high." The male frowned in concern and looked at Camille. "I'm going to examine your wound site now but I have a feeling I already know what is causing your fever."

"Fever?" Camille frowned. "But I just thought it was the pain relief."

"Unlikely. I know human medicine can have certain side effects such as raising your core temperature but you're on medication we have developed and this isn't a side effect." The doctor explained as he pulled on a pair of latex gloves and began carefully peeling away the dressing. "Ah. Yes, as I suspected, your wound site has become infected."

"How?" Camille asked, frowning.

"Well there in explosions there is a lot of debris not to mention the shard of glass that lodged into you wouldn't have been sterile." The male replied. "One of the things they don't show you on TV is the chance for infection. We cleaned the wound thoroughly but unfortunately an infection was a high possibility. I will start you on a course of antibiotics and hopefully that will fight it off."

"And if it doesn't?" Camille asked.

"Then we will cross that bridge when we get to it." The doctor smiled. "I will get the nurse to redress this for you. In the meantime, try and rest."

*It's not like I can do much else.* Camille thought, watching the doctor disappear.

Nurse Pam was back a few minutes later with her loud scrubs and perky smile. She seemed happy enough to fill the silence with one sided conversation as she worked on redressing Camille's wound leaving Camille to drift in and out of listening. Just the small amount of interaction had exhausted her and she wanted to find solace in the dark depths of sleep.

"Oh that reminds me," Pam changed subject following a lengthy explanation of her niece's complicated romance with a Draygonian male. "There are three very handsome but very worried men outside who are desperate to see you. Do you think you can handle some visitors?"

Camille perked up at that. Was Pam referring to Jag, Sid and Kal?

"S-sure." Camille nodded and felt a smile trying to tug on her lips.

Nurse Pam gave her a smile and after announcing she was done dressing up Camille's side and would go let her visitors know they could see Camille, she disappeared out of the door. It felt like Pam had barely shut the door before it was sliding open once more and Kal's familiar frame burst through, brilliant amber eyes seeking her out. Camille watched as the anxiousness was replaced with relief the moment Kal's gaze landed on her. It took him no more than two long strides to make it to Camille's size, his lips seizing hers in a desperate kiss.

"Thank god you're awake." He whispered against her skin, his eyes searching her face for any sign of pain. "You're warm. Does the doctor know?"

"Yes." Camille smiled briefly. "I will be fine."

"I was so worried." Kal murmured.

"We all were." A familiar voice came from behind Kal, drawing Camille's attention to Jag and Sid.

"Hey, beautiful." Sid smiled softly when Camille's eyes closed a circuit with his.

"H-hey." Camille blushed, glancing between Sid and Kal before her gaze fell on Jag. "What's going on? You all look like you've done something."

"Well, that's the thing." Jag finally spoke up. "We need to tell you something and you might not like what you're about to hear."

"Tell me what?" Camille frowned.

"You're our soulmate."