Um, what?
TWENTY-THREE
Alyx didn’t know what to say. In all his years as king, or even as long as he’d known, no one had ever gotten sick on Aurora. Death came from aging, usually after two or three hundred years.#p#分页标题#e#
Something had made his mate sick. Now he didn’t know how to fix it. She smiled at him through glassy eyes and a red nose.
“You’ll need a doctor,” Gerri said. She turned to face Alyx. “We’ll have to take her to your mother.”
Not that his mother was a doctor—she was a seer and knew about herbs and natural remedies. She’d loved reading how humans handled disease and would often take trips to Earth to help during natural disasters.
He marched to Bella’s side, holding her close, listening to her sniffle. “Is there anything we can do?”
Bella shook her head. “I really think I just have a cold.” She sneezed again. “Maybe, since I’m the first human here, this might not be such a big deal.”
He doubted it.
“How often do you get these colds?” he asked, worried that she was going to be uncomfortable for a long period of time.
Bella grinned and took the tissue Gerri offered her. “I don’t usually get sick unless it’s winter. But I think visiting your friends on that cold mountain set it off.”
He knew it. The wolves. They had taken her from his home, and now she was sick because of them. He’d never allow them back in his castle. They were lucky he’d signed the river pact between them and the Dragos, or he’d give it to the Dragos.
“Alyx,” Bella said, tapping him on the shoulder. “You look ready to kill somebody.” She raised her brows and shook her head. “You better not be having any ideas about the wolves. They’re nice.”
Alyx carried Bella to bed and waited for Gerri to get her something warmer to wear.
“You know,” Bella said as he put her on the bed. “I can walk fine. Even with a cold.”
She wiped at her forehead and sniffled. “It’s getting hot in here.”
Fear clutched at his heart. He touched her head. She was on fire. Her skin burned hotter than the two suns on the hottest day of the year. “There is something very wrong here.”
Gerri returned with a thick wrap. He covered Bella with it and wouldn’t allow her to walk. She looked weak enough without them asking her to take unnecessary steps.
He took her to the transport that would carry them to the Untamed Forest. Bella slept for most of the ride. He hadn’t seen his parents in months. He didn’t know how his mother would take meeting her new daughter under these circumstances.
“Don’t worry, Alyx. She’ll be fine,” Gerri said, pushing up the wrap to cover Bella better.
“I never did thank you for coming,” he sighed. “I’m sorry I was so ungrateful the last time you came and offered to help.”
Gerri smiled. “I forgive you, little lion. You have your queen now. Make sure she is always happy.”
He nodded. He’d give his life for his queen. “I plan to.”
“Did she touch anything you think could have had any strange effects on her when you took her by the falls?” Gerri frowned. “She’s got a high fever.”
“No. She waded her feet in the water. That’s all.”
Their arrival at his parents’ cabin came late at night. His mother stood at the cabin door, watching the transport land.
He picked up his mate from the seat and carried her out, straight into his parents’ living room.
He laid her on the sofa and turned to his mother, Alanna.
“Son.” She smiled, throwing her arms around him and giving him a tight hug. “What’s wrong with your mate?”
He knew his mother would have known. Having a gift meant she was probably better informed of what was going on than he was.#p#分页标题#e#
“She’s ill.”
Gerri rushed forward and hugged his mother. “So nice to see you again, Alanna.”
“Wonderful of you to bring my son his queen,” his mother said. “Thank you.” She smiled wide at Gerri. “I’m glad you didn’t allow his childish words to keep you from helping him.”
Gerri shook her head. “I thought about making him suffer, but I wanted to see Bella happy.”
“Bella,” his mother said. “She’s lovely.” She sat next to his mate and pushed Bella’s hair away from her damp forehead. “Too bad your father is out hunting. He’d have loved to meet his new daughter.” She gave Alyx a soft look. “He always wanted a daughter.”
“Can you tell us what’s wrong with her?” Gerri asked, leaning down next to Bella and his mother.