He scooped up his female gently and carried her over to the cushions lining the central hub fire pit, his heart as heavy as stone in his chest, but pumping like howling wind.Just then, Kirzalla shouldered her way inside the dwelling.
Kirzalla was an older female, one of the few females that had chosen the healing profession.She was as straightforward and gruff as Privanax was, so it made sense that it was rumored they’d once been involved as pleasure partners.
More importantly, Rixavox trusted her and she was an accomplished healer.
“Step away,” she commanded when she saw Sessela.Immediately, she dropped down near his female and began unpacking her scanners and equipment.Swiftly, she made a cut on Sessela’s arm that had him growling when he saw her red blood drip.Kirzalla shot him a look.“Signal Privanax on the Coms.I cannot work with a warrior’s Instinct looming.”
Rixavox knew she was right and strode to the Coms to signal Privanax, channeling his warrior training.Panic and fear would accomplish nothing.He needed to be calm.For Sessela.
The healer’s face appeared on screen.He scowled when he saw Kirzalla but then his gaze focused on Rixavox’s female and he demanded, “What happened?”
“She was sick when I returned back to our dwelling,” Rixavox explained in a low tone.“Her skin was hot and damp and pale.She blacked out just before Kirzalla entered but she said that the sickness got worse suddenly before she did.”Rixavox’s hands clenched at his side, guilt overwhelming his senses.“She seemed fine earlier, when I left for the command center.I should have stayed.I should have made sure.”
“The scans you sent last span showed nothing progressing with thehellixaxava,” Privanax insisted.
“It is nothellixaxavathat is causing this,” Kirzalla suddenly chimed in, looking down at her scanner, which was analyzing the blood sample she’d taken.“I do not know what this is.”
Rixavox ran a hand over his horn and he paced the floor in front of the Coms, a restless energy building.He strode over to Sessela, not caring if Kirzalla wanted him out of the way.He needed to be near his mate.
“Let me see the scans, female,” Privanax barked.
Kirzalla’s scowl was more frigid than the ice storm outside but she quickened her pace towards the Coms and uploaded the scans.
As Kirzalla looked over them a second time, her breath hitched and she said, “Wait, I know this sequence.”
“What is it?” Rixavox demanded, smoothing a hand over Sessela’s forehead.
“It is the sequence ofanglavix.I saw it in a female fifteen rotations ago who had misused it for fertility,” Kirzalla said, realization dawning in her gaze.“It is dangerous if not properly administered.A poison.”
Dread filled his gut.Poison?
“How would she have access toanglavix?” Privanax questioned.
“I do not know,” Rixavox started, shaking his head, racking his mind.He’d always prided himself on keeping a calm, level head.And now, when it came to hisluxiva, he was failing her.“I—”
His eyes caught on a familiar flask, wedged between the cushions of the fire pit.When he swiped it up and sniffed the contents, he knew.
“Kirzalla,” he called, unfathomable rage filling his veins.He’d never known hate as he did in that moment.When the healer turned to look at him, he tossed her the flask.“It was Levrix.She must have been dosing her with it.”
Kirzalla sniffed the contents and jerked her head in a nod.“Anglavix.”
“How is it cured?” Rixavox demanded, stuffing his anger deep inside.Now was not the time.He needed to see hisluxivabetter first.She was his first and only priority.
He didn’t like the shared glances that Kirzalla and Privanax shot each other through the Coms.
“Rebax?” he demanded.
“It is almost impossible to determine the concentration and the dose Levrix has been using,” Kirzalla said, eyeing him, as if afraid at any moment, he might channel his animalistic Instinct.
“What does that mean?” he asked through a clenched jaw.
“It means it is risky to administer the correct cure, even for a Luxirian.Much riskier than curing something simple likehellixaxava,” Privanax finished for her.“It could kill her if it is not precise.Not to mention that she’s human.We do not know how she would react since we cannot run tests first.”
“What are you saying?” Rixavox asked.“That we do nothing?”
“No,” Privanax said.“There is one other way that should be safer for her, but only the Fates will determine whether she lives or passes into the blackworld.At least we know a human has survived it before.”
“Tell me,” he growled.“I will do anything.”
