Felix sighed, flipping over onto his back. His eyes didn’t look good, already glossing over from the fever. How long had he been feeling like shit and just hadn’t said anything? Fucking stubborn men were going to be the death of me. “I have chills. And my bones ache. That sounds like a fever doesn’t it? Like yellow fever?”

I shook my head. “Not really a thing in these parts any more. But you might have the flu. What else?”

“I just want to sleep.” I could see his eyes drifting shut, but I needed him to stay awake until I figured out a course of action.

“Anything else?” I repeated, leaning him forward so I could rest a cool cloth behind his neck. Hopefully the direct location would help bring the fever down.

“Nothing else,” he murmured. “Except my wrist is ridiculously itchy. Does that have anything to do with the flu?”

“Not usually, but let me take a closer look.” I grabbed his wrist out from under the blanket, and gasped when I realized what was making his skin so itchy. Where his wrist met his hand was a red and purple welt. It was already looking infected, pus and blood seeping out freely from the three dots in the middle. Definitely a spider bite, and definitely an infected spider bite. Shit. What was I going to do without antibiotics?

Think old school, Savannah. “Alright, this is what we’re going to do,” I announced. “I’m going to go downstairs and boil some water. We’re going to clean that bite with boiling water, and whatever hydrogen peroxide I can find in the house.”

“Okay, darling,” he whispered. “Whatever you think is best.” His eyes were fluttering closed again, and I wasn’t sure if I should keep him awake or not. Fucking hell. I wasn’t a nurse. I didn’t have any first aid training. I was a waitress with a community college business degree, and I was in over my head. Fuck.

I pressed my wrist to Felix’s forehead again, and if anything he felt warmer than he had only moments before. The infection must have been running wild since the moment the spider bit him. “I’m going to send Luther in to sit with you while I boil water.”

The only response I got was a mumbled acknowledgement. I darted out of the room, hammering at the library door until Luther poked his head out. “Hey, sweetheart. What can I do for you?” He was smiling, but with one look at my face, his expression fell. “What’s wrong?”

I was trying to keep my emotions under control. Feelings wouldn’t help Felix get better. Logic would. I collected my breath, and met his sharp gaze. “It’s Felix. There must be another spider in the conservatory. He’s always used gloves before, but today….”