The 27th

Chapter 38

Hours passed, the sun has left the sky long ago. Then moon, hidden behind a thick cloud cover didn't give him much hope. The blessed rays were blocked, unable to reach the prayers he whispered under his breath.

"She's burning up." His mother's tone was soft, trying to keep him calm but he could hear the worry in her voice. Besides, he already knew she was sick and they had no means to help her. Only now, it has gone from bad to worse.

"Bad?" He asked, reaching over to place his hand on Thaelia's forehead. His findings proved that she was warmer than usually but because he emitted so much heat, he couldn't tell if it was his or hers.

"It's not good but if caught it soon enough, we can regulate it." Her words were quick as she rushed around the room, grabbing rags in her arms. "Go get the water basin." He did as he was told, grunting at the added weight of large tub of water.

Throwing her rags in the water, letting them absorb the moisture. Randomly grabbing one, she rung it out before placing it on Thaelia's head. After a few moments of letting it rest there, she shook her head, throwing it back into the water before doing the same to another. Again and again, the actions were repeated, her hand shaking more each time and Arias, noticing her growing panic, held Thealia's hand tighter.

"Tell me." Arias pleaded, looking to his mother for the answers. He felt helpless in the sense that he couldn't help his mate or assist his mother unless he was told what to do.

"This isn't right. She shouldn't be this hot." She said, throwing another towel in harder than usually, making the water spill onto the floor. "We need to cool her down, fast." He helped to pull back the blanket they originally tucked tightly around her body to heat her up, finding that the blanket and the sheets below her were soaked in sweat. Her skin had a sheen to it from the layer of perspiration but despite the glow, she looked pale and flushed.

"Don't just stand there." His mother regained his attention. She was right, standing and staring wouldn't help in any way. "Take the rags out of the water and lay them in the snow so they freeze." She directed him as she pried open one the windows, sacrificing her plants by exposing them to the extreme cold.

His hands trembled, barely able to grasp onto the thin rags. The froze in seconds after laying them out and he had to struggle again to pick them up, finding it extremely hard not to drop them as his body and mind failed him.

"W-" He began to ask but his voice cracked. Swallowing, he tried again, "What now?"

"You're not going to like this but we have to remove her clothes." It was extremely disrespectful to undress and or look at an unclothed female without their consent. The urge to tend to his mate but also to respect his teachings clashed in his mind, a dull throb starting to build up behind his eyes, radiating up to his head. "Look, I understand what you are going through but this is for a medical reason, not a selfish one. I can't lie to you because you are my son. This is very serious and if we don't do everything we can to cool her down, she could die. This heat, if she lives, can damage her organs and her brain." She stated bluntly. "We can leave her underwear on." His mother comprised, knowing his inner turmoil.

Cursing himself, he began to rid her of her furs and trying to keep his eyes to himself, he looked only when necessary when he pulled off her cotton layer. With most of her skin not exposed to the cool air that entered from outside, they laid the frozen rags on her body, cracking them to conform them to her skin.

It was nonstop routine. Her skin would melt the ice almost upon contact so he was constantly running in and out, freezing them and placing them back. Dawn approached and her fever still raged, showing no signs of letting up. All he could do was repeat the seemingly endless cycle when all he wanted to was hold her, to protect her, but he couldn't because they would only harm her further.

Sinking down in the chair, watching as the newly placed fabrics thawed once more, the droplets mixing with her sweat to form beads that ran down her skin. As those drop conjoined together on the bed, further soaking the mattress, an inking fell upon him.

It was a pull he felt, not a strong one but it was alluring, calling out to him. Lifting his head from his conjoined hands he watched as Thaelia's eyelids fluttered before they fully opened.

Standing up quickly, his chair falling back and hitting the floor, he grasped her face in his hands. As their eyes met, he could feel the beginning of a bond forming, again weak, but more than what they had before.

"I feel you." He smiled, a tear sliding down his cheek.   A shaky hand raised but fell, too weak to hold up the appendage. Seeing this, Arias grasped it, pressing her palm against his cheek where should could feel the start of a beard growing, the sharp hair poking her skin.

"I really do love your eyes." She giggle deliriously. "I can't really see them though." Which was true. Her vision was so distorted that all she could see where blobs but she could make out the pink hue within the color of his skin. "I love-." The smile slipped from her face. She stared blankly for a few seconds before she retched, blood seeping from her lips. It wasn't but a moment later that it also slid down from her nose. Her eyes when wide as she retched again, only for it to remain in her mouth, causing her to choke.

"No!" He panicked, their moment of bliss abruptly ended. "Turn!" He turned her head to the side before releasing it and grabbing her shoulders, flipping her onto her side. Patting her back, the blood leaked from her mouth, coughing as she was able to breathe again.

Panting, she flipped onto her back, despite Arias' protests. Slowly, her breathing evened out and slowed, sending her into a deep sleep after her fit that used up all her energy.

Arias, stunned, stared for a few moments before gathering his wits. Grabbing a rag that had fallen off, he used it to wipe the blood from her face and neck, refraining from looking any lower. His adrenaline from the excision was wearing off, his body shaking as his heart pounded. Having no time to settle himself back down, he discarded the bloody rag before gathering the rest, taking them outside to begin his routine again.