Chapter 248 The fever

Chapter 248: Chapter 248 The fever

Kaelen’s POV

I watched Talia collapse, and my world stopped.

I had seen her fall before. I had seen her wounded, exhausted, and broken, but this was different. This was not a wound from a fight, but this was something I could not fight for her.

"I have fought enemies, I have fought wars, and I have fought my own demons," I said, with my voice rough with fear. "But I have never felt as helpless as I do right now, because I cannot fight this with my sword or my strength, I can only watch and wait, and that is the hardest thing I have ever had to do, Talia."

One moment she was kneeling at the altar, mumbling and shaking. The next moment, her eyes rolled back, and her body went limp. She fell forward, and I caught her before she hit the ground.

I felt her weight in my arms, and I knew instantly that something was very wrong. She was not just weak, she was burning.

"Talia!" I shouted. "Talia, can you hear me?"

She did not respond. Her body was limp in my arms, and her skin was burning hotter.

Piper rushed to my side. "What happened? Is she okay?"

I pressed my hand to Talia’s forehead, and I pulled back in shock.

The heat was unlike anything I had ever felt. It was not a normal fever, it was like touching a flame.

"She is burning up." I repeated.

Jax’s voice was tight with fear. "What do you mean, burning up?"

I looked at the group, and my voice was sharp.

I could feel the panic rising in my chest, but I forced it down. I had to stay calm for her, and I had to stay calm for all of them.

"Talia is on fire. We need to cool her down, Now!"

I lifted Talia into my arms and carried her to the cart as fast as I could.

My heart was pounding, and my hands were shaking. I had never been so scared in my entire life.

Her body was limp, and her skin was so hot I could feel it through my shirt.

I could see the worry on everyone’s faces that they were all scared, even if they were trying to hide it, except, Piper, of course.

Silas was already moving. "I will get water and a towel."

Cain was right behind him. "I will help."

Piper followed me to the cart, with her voice shaking.

I could hear the fear in her voice, and I knew she was holding back tears. She was as scared as I was.

"What happened to her? Was it the altar? Was it the vision?" She kept asking.

"I do not know," I said. "Just get me the supplies."

My voice was sharper than I intended, but I could not help it. Every second felt like an eternity.

I laid Talia down on the blankets in the cart.

I looked at her face, and it was pale and still, and I felt my heart break. This was my mate, and this was the woman I loved. And I did not know if I could save her.

I pressed my hand to her forehead again. She was still burning up, hotter than any fever I had ever felt.

"Talia," I said. "Talia, can you hear me?"

She did not respond.

Silas returned with a bucket of water and a cloth, and Cain was behind him with more supplies.

"Here," Silas said. "Use this."

I dipped the cloth in the water and pressed it to Talia’s forehead. She did not react, and her skin was still burning.

"Talia, please," I whispered. "Please wake up."

I held her hand, and I waited, because I could not do anything else. I could only wait.

But before I could use the cloth again, I saw it.

Her necklace began to glow. It was soft at first, faint and golden. But it grew brighter, pulsing like a heartbeat.

Piper gasped. "What is that?"

I stared at the necklace, and I felt a strange sense of hope. I did not know what it meant, but I knew it was connected to her mother. It had to be.

It seemed like her mother’s magic was protecting her. I do not know how I know that, but I felt it, like a warmth spreading through my chest, that Seraphina was reaching across through the necklace, to save her daughter one more time.

"I do not know," I whispered, trying to keep my voice from breaking.

The glow grew stronger, and I could see the light spreading through Talia’s chest. It was like the warmth was leaving her body and moving into the necklace.

Jax stepped closer. "Is that the Silvertongue magic?"

I could hear the wonder in his voice. He had seen a lot of strange things, but this was different.

Silas nodded. "It must be. It is connected to her mother."

The light grew brighter, and I had to shield my eyes. It filled the cart, blinding and golden.

"Talia," I said. "Talia, hold on."

The glow pulsed one last time, and then it faded.