Page 35

E vie didn’t trust him with her brother . Jace was still reeling from the blow even as he stepped back from her with a growled, “Later,” and turned to smile at Suha.

It clawed at his soul. Didn’t she know he’d protect Kyler with his life?

But how could Jace argue Evie was wrong? From what she’d seen of his clan so far, they were dog-eat-dog, like in the Darktime.

His first instinct had been to withdraw. The mate-bond was fragile—a gossamer-thin thread that either of them could still break. It would hurt like hell, at least for him, but it was still possible.

Then his stubborn side asserted itself. Evie was right—and she was wrong. Things had changed under Adric. The clan wasn’t like that anymore. Maybe the world didn’t know it, but that was because a bad reputation was the best protection as they worked to rebuild themselves.

Damn Tyrus and Corban anyway. A cold anger burned in his stomach. But he refused to let them ruin this for him. Evie was the best thing that had happened to him in a long time, and he wasn’t going to give her up without a fight.

He’d just have to be crafty. He was a cat—cunning and patient. Changing Evie’s mind would require both, and meanwhile, he had her in his den. What better place to show her the rock-solid bonds that were at the heart of a clan?

Suha took out her quartz to scan Jace. She nodded with satisfaction. “You look good, babe.” She gave Evie a sidelong grin. “I’m not going to ask why.”

Evie shot Jace a guilty look and then her dimple flashed. He just looked back, straight-faced.

“Nope,” Suha said, “don’t want to know.”

Beau had stopped to say hi to Kyler, but now he shambled into the kitchen. “Hey, girl.” He lifted Evie off her feet in a hug.

Suha smacked him on the shoulder. “Take it easy, you ass. She’s not used to bears.”

But Evie just grinned and hugged him back. “I don’t mind.”

Beau set her carefully back on her feet. She was flushed and a little mussed and Jace wanted to eat her up.

Suha shook her head and shooed Beau out of the kitchen. “Go do your man-stuff. Evie and I need to talk.”

The bear wrapped a huge hand around her nape and nuzzled her ear. “Are you trying to get rid of me, woman?”

“Yeah,” she said, but her eyes closed in pleasure.

“All right,” he said, and grabbed a mug of coffee before heading back into the living room.

Jace glanced at Evie. “Want me to go too?”

But she shook her head and asked him to stay, so he got the three of them a fresh cup of coffee and pulled up a chair next to hers at the kitchen table.

Suha took the seat across from them. “So,” she said, “have you had a chance to think of any questions?”

Evie took a sip of her coffee. “No offense, but I’m not even sure I’m a healer. Like I said last night, I wasn’t even able to help my mom.”

“Even if you had the Gift of healing, you’d need training. What do you know about the fada?”

“Well,” Evie said, “everyone knows you’re part animal—and that you’re magical in some way. And you earth fada have the quartz”—she nodded at Suha’s pendant—“which is important to you in some way.”

Suha nodded. “Fada are a mix of animal and human genes, but every fada has at least a few drops of fae blood, too. We don’t have the full range of fae Gifts—ours tend to be related to our animals.

The most common fada Gifts are hunting and tracking, but we also have a few healers in every generation.

Some of us are born protectors—they guard the most vulnerable, like nursing mothers and cubs.

Jace is Gifted with crystals. He can do amazing things with quartz. ”

Jace nodded. “But I had to train under another crystal engineer to fully utilize my Gift. Just like Suha trained as a healer.”

Evie blew out a breath. “I wish you were right, but I really don’t think I’m a healer.”

Suha held out her hand. She had a nasty black-and-blue mark on the back. “Why don’t you see if you can make this bruise disappear?”

“Sure, but why didn’t you just heal it?”

“Lesson One: Don’t waste your Gift. Because every time you call on your Gift, you burn energy.

The bruise will heal on its own in a few days.

Not that healing it would be a big deal, but what if someone gets hurt bad, and I need every bit of energy?

Like Jace when he was stabbed by the night fae—I almost didn’t have enough juice to draw the poison from his body.

The alpha had to step in and help me. And iron poisoning is a serious thing—he could’ve died. ”

Evie’s fingers tightened on her mug. “You didn’t tell me.”

He shrugged. “Things worked out.”

“He wouldn’t. And not because he’s a fada and you’re a human.” Suha rolled her eyes. “It’s because he’s a man.”

“Guess that’s the same with every race,” Evie muttered, and the two women exchanged a very female grin.

Suha set her bruised hand on the table. “Give it a try. You can touch the bruise if you want. The key is to picture it healing.”

“How do I draw on energy to heal you?”

“You just do. Picture the bruise healing, and the energy will come.”

Evie nodded. She stared at the bruise, and Jace could sense her gathering her concentration into herself. Nothing happened that he could see, except a couple of fae lights drifted over to brush across her shoulders.

Evie tried again, this time touching the bruise. Jace felt her whole body go rigid, but still nothing happened.

“Try to picture it whole, unbruised,” murmured Suha.

“Okay.” Evie’s dark brows furrowed.

“Breathe,” said Suha. “Slow and easy.”

She dragged in a breath and glared at the bruise as if it were an enemy and she an invading arm. When it remained unchanged, her shoulders slumped. “I’m sorry,” she said, sitting back. “I can’t.”

Jace set a hand on her back. “Maybe she’s an amplifier,” he said to Suha as he massaged her in slow circles.

“A what?”

Suha lifted a brow. “You just might be right. An amplifier works with a healer,” she told Evie, “adding their energy to the healer’s—but they can’t heal on their own.”

“Last night,” he said, “you were able to add your energy to Suha’s.”

“And the fae lights?” asked Evie.

“Who knows?” The healer shrugged. “There’s something about your energy that draws them, and that enhances your own.”

Evie’s face fell. “So if this is true—that I’m a—whatever you call it—then I’m not going to be able to heal people on my own.”

“Amplifiers are valuable, too,” he said.

“Yeah?” She seemed unconvinced. But then, for someone like her it would be a dream come true to have the Gift of healing. Jace hated seeing her so disappointed. He wanted to pull her onto his lap and tell her it was all right, that she was perfect just as she was.

“I’m sorry.” Suha squeezed Evie’s hand. “To be a healer is an amazing Gift, one I thank the Goddess for every single day. But think about it—you can still help heal people. Any Gifted healer would pay to work with you. We get stretched to our limits, especially when sickness sweeps through the clan, or when we’re under attack. ”

Evie’s chin lifted. “I wouldn’t charge. I might not have much money, but I’m not going to take payment for helping to heal someone. If you need me, just ask.”

“That’s good of you,” Suha responded, “but it’s only fair that you get paid.

Look at me—anyone in the clan can come to me for healing, and I’m happy to help however I can.

But in return, the alpha pays me a salary.

How would I live otherwise? Healing is my calling—but it’s my job, too, just like the doctors and nurses in your world.

And sometimes, people give me something extra—food, a piece of pottery, a hand-knit sweater.

It would be wrong to refuse, don’t you think? When they’re only trying to thank me.”

Evie nodded slowly.

“So if I call on you to help me—and I will—you’ll accept payment for it, or else I won’t feel right asking. You’ll need to be trained, of course. Energy work can burn you up if you don’t know what you’re doing.”

“Leesa,” said Jace. The woman was a deer like Suha, and one of the few elders to survive the Darktime. Leron Savonett had simply ignored her—to him, deer were the bottom of the barrel.

Suha nodded. “Leesa is our only amplifier. I’ll call her later if you’re up for it.”

Evie wrapped a hand around her coffee cup. One thumb rubbed the surface. “Thank you,” she said without looking at Jace, “but we’re probably not going to be here that long.”

Suha’s brows shot up. “I see. Well, let me know if you change your mind.”