His Little One

Chapter 16 Fever

Austin POV

"Kiddo"

My heart left my body as I saw her fall down on the couch. Horror filled me like air in lungs. No no this couldn't be happened. Why wasn't she opening her eyes.

"Kiddo, Are you ok? Please talk to me. You are scaring me."

I tapped her checks. She tried hard to open her eyes. She wanted to say something but nothing came out.

I held her weak body. I was afraid of her reaction. What if she brushed me off again just she did when she opened the door for us.

She didn't push me away. It was a relief but it didn't last. She was slipping away from consciousness. She was barely breathing. Her eyes were tightly shut this time.

"Kiddo? My child, my little sister" I called her. Desperate to hear her voice. It was like her body slowly drifting off. I was scared. I could feel her breathing getting shallow. What happened to her.

'No, no! Please open your eyes." This feeling was worse than waiting. Why didn't I notice it earlier that she was sick. She looked so weak, so fragile.

Lorenzo bent down to check her pulse then forehead. I was grateful that he was here. I was a nerving wreck.

"What's happening?" I inquired anxiously. I couldn't think straight.

"She is running a fever." Lorenzo scooped her and hurried to her room.

" Wait! We should take her to the hospital, Lorenzo."

"No, it will take too much time. It's better to cool her down first. You notify Dr. Waver,"

Lorenzo carefully laid her on the bed, ensuring she was well snug.

I didn't waste time, contact Waver right away.

"What's now? We cannot simply wait here for Waver. It will take time."

I rubbed my face in frustration. My mind practically blank. It worse than fighting with enemies or ruling the empire.

Lorenzo was calmer than me. He always been. "Fetch some cold water, and I will gather some washcloths,"

I rushed to the kitchen and returned with a bowl of cold water. I placed it on the bedside table and sat beside her.

Lorenzo came with some clean towels. He was anxious too but would not show it on face.

I carefully took her hand and pressed a kiss on it. " Kiddo, please open your eyes. Your brother is by your side. I am not going anywhere. You will be fine." I wished I could take her all pain away.

I shouldn't let her go alone. I should have just follow her. Get well soon kiddo, I am not letting you go ever again.

I would rather have her all charged up on me than lying unconsciously.

Lorenzo gently wiped Orchid's face with wet towel. He was trying to touch her as gentle as possible.

I was sure He was afraid, he would hurt her. He had never been a caring type...

Orchid hissed as the cold water made contact with her skin.

"Ssshhh, it's alright, little one.. You will be just fine," Lorenzo comforted immediately not giving me any chance.

I silently rubbed Orchid' s hand. Her hand was so hot on my cold hand. The frown on her face slowly disappearing.

I continued to rub her hands. Lorenzo continuously changed the wet towel from her head to cool her down. Her fever was subsiding. Lorenzo never moved his eyes from Kiddo.

My gaze wes going back and forth from Orchid to Lorenzo. A sense of relief washed over me seeing his tenderness. It was his real self, only for my Kiddo, his wife, his queen.

The way he was stroking her hair, wiping all the sweat from her body, looking at her so dotingly. It was all raw.

I knew when he acted out of responsibility and when from heart. And the indifference, detachment never occurred when he was around Orchid. I made the right decision. He was the one.

His little gestured made my heart warm. A smile formed on my lips unknowingly.

I was happy knowing my sister was lucky. Lorenzo was lucky more.

"What?" Lorenzo asked completely obvious of my gaze. Like I said he never missed a thing and I liked that about him.

"Nothing just amused by the remarkable ability of a lioness to transform her lion from a ferocious beast into an enamored companion." I said with a soft chuckle. Now he was with Kiddo, I didn't need to worry much.

I knew I was exaggerating a little bit. In reality I was happy for both of them. Besides you hardly got to see the ruthless King to acted like a soft kitten.

Lorenzo did not forget to give me a hard glare. I just shrugged.

“What?" I didn't miss how his eyes soften when he looked at Orchid.

" You are really doomed man. But.." I paused a little.

"You are a lucky bastard and I am genuinely hoping the best for both of you."

Lorenzo always been so full of himself. Never cared about anyone. Seeing him like this was a bliss.

"Shut up and go see if Waver has come." Lorenzo snapped, clearly annoyed. But failed to hide his little smirk.

I just shaked my head. We both continued to observe Orchid. I was calm now only because of him.

After Lorenzo left this morning, I thought about everything. He was right, I needed to compose myself and should approach Orchid more sensibly. She needed space.

She never been a trophy to win, she was my little sister, my Kiddo, my child. I couldn't let myself carried away by emotion and hurt her again. I needed to understand her, made her believe that I loved her and always did.

It was stupid to assume that after all these years, she would embrace me with open arms. I should have more patient. A little step at a time.

She deserved it. Not just that, she deserved more, more respect, more love, definitely more care. I would prove my affections through my actions.

She would forgive me. Yes she would. I just needed to slow down a bit .

I couldn't sleep last night. So much things were going through my mind. All I could do was take a warm shower. At least it calmed my nerves.

I went through all the data we have acquired about Orchid so far.

They were basic ones. But I hoped to get something to know her better. She had changed a lot in this five years. It was almost like I never knew her.

Lorenzo had send me Olivia's details too. They suffered a lot through out the past year. I didn't want them to go through all those ever again, specially Kiddo. My blood boiled to even think about what would have happened to her if Richard Brown didn't save her that day.

In the morning I called Mark to pick me up. I couldn't trust myself to drive.

I was nervous.The chances of getting rejected by her was high. It was nerve wracking.

It broke my heart when Kiddo shut us down earlier. It creeped me more when she refused to open the door.

Hopefully she let us in. Whatever the reason was. I was grateful and relief. I didn't even want to think what could be happened to her. She was having these much fever and no one beside her to take care. How did she managed all these years?

How much pain we caused her to live here. All by herself. I was confused when Mark drove in the forest road. It was one of the deadly one. I almost doubt it was wrong path or we got the wrong address. But no. It was it.

Guilt was all that I felt.

She never cared about her safety. Forget about people but the wild animals, they could eat her alive. Did she not have any fear for her life?

I didn't want to think anymore. It always catastrophic.

"I am sorry Kiddo. You had to endure all these. You will never be alone again. You have me and Lorenzo. We will protect you with our life. "