Kevin’s POV
“Liam!” I yelled, pulling at his clothes as I kneeled by his side. “Don’t you dare die on me.”
He smiled at me, his teeth shining through the foamy liquid pouring out from his mouth. “My lord.” He said and went unconscious.
I shook my head and cried out. How could he have the nerve to call me his lord in this situation? He was dying for my mate and was supposed to hate me. How could he think of smiling at this point? I didn’t dare think of how I would feel if I lost him.
I didn’t come here for a barter of lives. I wasn’t going to trade the life of my best man for the freedom of my mate. I cradled Liam’s hand to mine as tears fell from my eyes and my heart surged with fear.
Through the fog of tears filling my eyes, I saw the others lying beside me. I saw the horror and guilt filling Ella’s eyes as she knelt by his side, opposite me. I was dejected and couldn’t bear to look at her. I knew without a doubt that I was back to what brought me here. Ella was going to have nightmares for months because of Liam. She had never really been able to deal with grief and death of anyone and it would be tougher on her this time, not because she had a personal connection with the deceased but because he died while trying to protect her.
“Is there anything you can do?” I said to Ella, forcing myself to look at her as if I suddenly remembered that she was a physician.
She shook her head. “I’m afraid I have no idea. If there was, you wouldn’t have needed to ask me before I do something. I haven’t seen this type of foaming before and I don’t know herbs here that can cure him.”
“Oh!” I broke out into a gasp as I watched Liam’s breathing get shallow.
We all gasped when he suddenly started shaking violently and went still.
“Liam!” I screamed, afraid I had lost him finally.
I didn’t doubt that the cannibal was having a good laugh where he was and feeling like his revenge was a success. I had a crazy urge of going after the bastard and killing him off.
“He is still alive.” Andre gasped suddenly.
I turned to him, wondering what he was saying.
“Look,” he said, pointing at Liam. “I don’t believe what I see too but I don’t think he is dead.”
I looked at Liam and strangely, his chest heaved up and then went down. I kept my eyes on him but his chest didn’t move again. I was about to tell myself that we were deluding ourselves when his chest moved up again.
I couldn’t believe it. It seemed like he went still for five seconds and then he sucked in breaths for two seconds. I watched the cycle repeat itself and convinced myself that he was indeed not dead. I frowned, wondering what was in the blasted bite he had gotten from the cannibal.
“The old man.” Damien gasped. “The old man might know something. Let’s get Liam to him.”
And hope he didn’t die in the meantime. I added as I watched Damien carry Liam on his back and rush home.
The villagers were outside by the time we joined them and were happy to see us return when they saw us but their shouts of glee immediately went sour when they saw us.
“The old man,” I said to the little messenger boy when I saw him. “Please get him here.” I nodded in gratitude as the boy dashed off even before I finished my statement.
There was no way I was putting Liam in the old man’s house.
“I will get the local doctor.” One of the women said and rushed off.
Liam was placed on the bed where they slept and we all surrounded him, waiting for the old man. He was still being still for seconds and suddenly jarring to life. I was afraid he would go still forever and never jar to life.
I grimaced, wondering what was keeping the old man late. I wished I had a watch on my wrist so I could tell how much time had been wasted with us doing nothing and only staring at Liam like he was the latest national treasure.
The old man came in just as I cursed and was about to go in search of him by myself.
“I’m sorry I’m late.” He apologized as he made his way in. “It had been long I made these legs walk such a long distance from my house.”
I blushed, feeling embarrassed for getting mad at him. “I’m sorry for disturbing you but could you please look at him?”
He moved closer and peered at Liam, his face forming into a grimace and my heart sank lower, already imagining the bad news he would give us.
“What happened to him?” He asked, turning to me.
“He was bitten by a cannibal in the jungle.” I confessed.
He nodded slowly, the frown on his face etching deeper. “I thought as much. We have two days to find the cure for him before he becomes a cannibal. If we can’t find the cure, I’m afraid we would have to end his pain before he kills us all.”
I didn’t want to think of that. I couldn’t think of killing Liam. “What is the cure?”
“You have to get the daisies growing by the riverside of the Dale River. If he gets that and drinks within the next forty eight hours, he will return to normal.”
“That means we have to go now because I doubt we still have forty eight hours left, judging by how long it took us to get him here after he was bitten.”
“I wish you luck.” He said. “Remember that we can only keep him comfortable here, keeping him alive and human depends on the success of your journey.”
He didn’t have to remind me of that. It seemed like we were going on another adventure. I sighed as I gave one final look at Liam, promising him to be back with the cure. I looked at the men beside me and saw that they were as ready as I was for the next trip.
We would save Liam, regardless of what it took us.