Chapter 253 Fever of Two Bloodlines

Chapter 253 Fever of Two Bloodlines
Ryker quickly scooped Lyra into his arms just as she lost consciousness, lifting her dead weight against his chest.

“Lyra!" He cried out and shook her but she didn't respond.

“What's happening? Did the blood King hurt her?"

Ryker shook his head, checking her quickly for injuries and not finding any.

"We need to move, Wayne! Right now!" Ryker shouted. "She's burning up and I think her system is fighting something they gave her at that temple!"

Wayne scrambled ahead. "The human town is just past this ridge line, Alpha. If we move fast through the shortcut, we can make it to Mama Olga’s doorstep on foot in about forty minutes. Let’s go!"

They ran down the winding mountain path, the morning sun beating down on their backs.

Ryker’s muscles were already stiff and aching from the fight earlier but he refused to slow down, his eyes fixed on Lyra’s pale face, watching for any sign of her waking up.

"Lyra, stay with me," Ryker muttered under his breath. "Don't you dare leave me now after everything we just did."

By the time the gravel road slowly narrowed into the town, both men were completely spent.

Wayne was limping slightly, his face smeared with dried black blood and Ryker was practically wheezing, his arms trembling violently from carrying her for miles without a single break.

Ryker staggered down the gravel driveway and stomped on the porch, throwing his weight against the front door and pounding on the wood with his fist.

"Olga! Open the door! We need help!"

The door swung open instantly, and Tega stepped onto the porch, looking ready to fight.

Then he saw the exhausted Alpha carrying his unconscious mate.

“What's going on? I thought you're supposed to be back at your home by now?"

"We had a little bit of trouble,” Ryker panted, "You have to help me. I think she's dying!”

"Get her inside," Tega hurried and called out to his wife quickly. "Olga! Clear the long couch in the living room right now!"

Ryker laid Lyra down gently on the soft leather sofa, his hands shaking so badly he could barely let go of her clothes.

He sank to his knees on the rug right beside her, his head dropping against the cushions as he tried to catch his breath.

Mama Olga rushed into the room, holding a basin of cool water and a clean cloth.

She was muttering in some unknown language as she pressed her hand against Lyra’s forehead, instantly drawing it back with a hiss.

"Goddess above," Olga whispered. "She feels like a furnace. What happened out in those mountains? I need to know everything before I try to bring this fever down."

Wayne collapsed onto a nearby wooden chair, wiping fresh sweat from his face.

"The Blood King ambushed us. He took over her mind and forced her into some deep crevice that looked like a temple. Before we could breach the inner room, he straddled her on an ancient stone altar and forced his own royal blood down her throat to awaken her vampire side completely."

Olga nodded slowly as she dipped the cloth into the cool water, wrung it out, and pressed it against Lyra’s burning forehead.

"He fed her royal vampire blood after she had just undergone a wolf submission ritual? Her body wasn't ready for that kind of switch. The two bloodlines are completely tearing her apart from the inside out."

"Can we fix it?" Ryker asked desperately as he grabbed Lyra's limp hand, rubbing his thumb over her hot knuckles. "Is there an herb that can stop the fever?"

"I don't know, Ryker," Olga said honestly, changing the warm cloth for a fresh, cold one. "This isn't a simple witch spell or a standard wolf sickness. If what you've told me is right, then my only guess is that her hybrid nature is trying to digest the King's royal essence while her wolf side is trying to reject it. We have no choice but to keep her here and try to take care of her until she recovers or her system finds a way to balance the load. Tega, go to the kitchen and stoke the fire. I need to prepare a special willow bark and sage tea to protect her body."

Tega nodded silently, giving Ryker a reassuring pat on the shoulder before heading down the hall to help his wife.

For the next few hours, the living room was filled with the scent of many burnt herbs and tea as Olga tried her best to resuscitate her.

Lyra was getting in and out of consciousness, like her mind was trapped in a hazy, feverish nightmare.

"Ryker..." Lyra suddenly mumbled, her blue eyes fluttering open just a fraction. "The temple... the stones are falling. Where is Wayne?"

"Wayne is right here, baby," Ryker said softly, leaning his face close to hers so she could see him.

He took the cold cloth from her forehead, wiping the sweat from her cheekbones. "We killed the King, Lyra. You're safe inside Olga's house. Just relax."

"It hurts," she whispered, her chest heaving as she twisted her torso against the cushions, her fingers weakly clutching the fabric of his shirt. "Don't let him back in my head."

"He's gone, I promise you," Ryker whispered as he kissed her knuckles. "Nobody is getting inside your head ever again."

Her eyes rolled back up, her grip loosening as she drifted straight back into an unconscious state, her body shivering violently despite the high heat radiating from her skin.

Mama Olga walked back into the room, carrying a steaming porcelain mug that smelled strongly of bitter roots and earth.

"The tea is ready, but we need to get it down her throat before the fever handles her hydration. Ryker, you have to feed her. She won't take it from anyone else right now."

Ryker stood up from his knees, sitting on the very edge of the leather sofa.

He slid his large arm behind Lyra's shoulders, lifting her upper body up gently until her head was resting securely against his chest.

"I've got you, Lyra," Ryker murmured near her ear. He took the warm mug from Olga, holding the brim carefully against Lyra’s dry, cracked lips. "Come on, baby. You need to swallow this. Drink it for me."

Lyra moaned softly, her head moving away from the heat of the steam.

But Ryker was patient and he kept the cup steady, tilting a few drops of the bitter liquid into her mouth.

Her throat ticked, her reflexes forcing her to swallow the tea.

"That's it," Ryker whispered as he watched her swallow another small gulp. "Just a little more."

It took nearly twenty minutes of slow, careful movements to get half the mug down her throat.

Once she had taken enough, Ryker lowered her head back down onto the pillows, replacing the fresh cold cloth over her eyes.

Olga took the empty mug, looking down at the couple with a deep sigh. "You're a good husband, Ryker. Your father would have been proud of how you’re holding this bond together. Now, go wash the dirt off your face. Tega and Wayne are out in the kitchen cleaning their wounds. I’ll keep watch over her for an hour."

Ryker didn't want to move, he looked down at his blood-stained leathers and realized he needed to clear his head if he was going to be of any use to her.

But still, he couldn't afford to leave her side.

“I'm fine, I don't want to be gone when she wakes up."

Olga sighed, "I don't know about that, Alpha. It might take a few days.”

"Then I'll wait right here.”

Olga nodded and then handed him a blanket. "I was afraid you'd say that. I'll bring your food up shortly. I'm sorry you're going through this.”

Then she left and shut the door, leaving Ryker alone with Lyra.

“Please, baby. I need you to come back to me. You know I can't live without you."

He didn't know when tears rolled down his chin and he buried his face on her chest.