The Lycan King's Fate Calling (Shawn Gibson and Sylvia) novel Chapter 1063

Crystal's POV:

I looked down the moment I jumped off the cliff and felt somehow relieved. Fortunately, a lake was waiting for us down there. I didn't know how deep it was, but I figured it was better than literally falling into pieces.

I reached out, hoping to grab the corner of Rufus ' clothes, but he fell so fast before I even got to prepare myself. I wasn't ready to take the leap. Rufus came into contact with the water with a loud splash and immediately passed out. He was unconscious as he sank.

I took a deep breath. It was now or never. I then landed into the lake as well and felt the water around me move away in a huge plash before engulfing me once again.

The lake was very deep. The cold water quickly permeated my clothes, and I couldn't help but shiver. But there was no time to get occupied in that sensation.

I scanned the lake to search for Rufus' sinking body. When I spotted him, I swam toward him and tugged him by his clothes.

Rufus went out like a light, and it was probably because he was losing too much blood. The blood that gushed from his chest wound was immediately diluted by the lake water, dyeing it red.

There would be no use if I panicked right now. I tightly took a grip of Rufus' clothes, pressed my mouth against his, and breathed into his airway. Making sure he didn't drown was first on the list.

As we slowly fell to the bottom of the lake, I could feel the weeds around undulating along the waves.

I tried dragging his arm to reach the surface, but my feet got entangled with the weeds. I was now anchored to the bottom with an unconscious Rufus. I struggled hard but accidentally inhaled a mouthful of water. I felt the sharp pain draw against my chest as I fought the reflex to choke.

I wasn't the best at swimming. Even when I was training for the military, I scored the lowest in that department. Still, that was then and this was now.

I shook my pounding head against the water, held my last breath, and pulled myself down to free my feet from the clutch of the weeds. It was not until I felt dizzy that I managed to successfully break free. Pushing myself to survival, I jumped out of the water with Rufus just in time before I expended the remaining bits of my oxygen supply. I wheezed, while dragging Rufus ashore. And then, I laid him flat on the stone and performed a mouth-to-mouth resuscitation.

Rufus coughed the water out of his lungs violently. After that, his breathing became stable, but he was still in a coma.

The bandage was not only wet; it also caught a lot of weeds and sand that it couldn't sift.

I carefully untied the bandage, uncovering the wound. My hand trembled at the sight, and my heart ached. His injury was serious. The wound was so deep that the bones were visible. Since it got wet, the area started to fester.

I took a deep breath and felt a lingering fear. I couldn't imagine what would have happened to Rufus had I not arrived here tonight. I shook my head to erase the scenario that played inside my mind.

Then I realized Rufus' forehead was scorching! If the wound worsened, a persistent fever would put his life in danger. I had to at least stop it from getting even more infected.

I racked my brain to think of a way. What should be done? Then it suddenly occurred to me that the mate's lick would be helpful for his injury. Although I used witchcraft to cover up my mate bond with Rufus before, our connection was undeniable, so licking the spot of his injury should be effective.

Rufus' breath was becoming searing by the second. I had to make up my mind since there was no other way. I removed the disguise of my scent and lowered my head to lick Rufus' lesions.