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I startle awake to a knock at my door. I notice I’m alone, the side where Ledger lay last night, cold.

The knock comes again, and I spring out of bed fumbling over to the door. I open it to see a perky-looking Archie in his training gear.

“Rise and shine, beautiful! I heard the news; we did it!” Archie scoops me into a big hug, spinning me so my feet leave the floor. I laugh as he puts me back down. “I thought we could celebrate with a little training session.”

His eyes drift, taking in my appearance, and I remember I am wearing only Ledger’s shirt. Realization crosses both of our faces at the same time, and I attempt to push him out of the room just as he shuts the door behind him.

“Wasn’t Ledger wearing that shirt yesterday?” Archie’s voice follows me as I beeline to the closet. “I thought you’d been healing the King all this time. Wait, was this how Ledger thanked you?” I hear the amusement in his voice.

He stops outside of the closet as I throw on my training uniform, scrambling for an explanation. I stomp out of the closet, throwing the shirt at Archie’s smug face as he leans against the wall. “You’re mistaken. The shirt was hanging in my closet.”

“You’re a terrible liar.” He looks pointedly at my discarded nightgown lying in a puddle by the bed.

“Sexual frustration has been permeating from you two for days. This morning, however, you’re looking refreshed and suspiciously relaxed.

” I throw my shoe at his head, and he, to my displeasure, dodges it.

“I’m glad he offered his services because if he didn’t, I was about to. Just as a courtesy, of course.” He smirks as I pick up the thrown shoe, yanking it on.

“Shut up, Archie. Are you here to train me, or are you just going to taunt me all day?”

“I honestly didn’t know you had it in you. It’s only been what, five hours since I last saw you and you’ve already healed the King and seduced the prince. I’m impressed.” He beams at me as I push past him into the bathroom.

“Nothing happened,” I call as I splash some cold water onto my heated face.

“Mia and I were taking bets on how long it would take you two to finally give in to each other. I didn’t think you’d make it past Grimwood. ”

“It was a lapse in judgment; it won’t happen again.”

“Many girls have said that to me before, and it always happens again.” He grins over at me, and I roll my eyes.

“Have you heard how the King is doing this morning?”

“When I saw him last, he was up, walking around, and looked healthier than I have seen him in years,” he says, and relief courses through me.

“I should go check on him.” I pull on my boots.

“He requested to be alone for the morning. I would check back this afternoon,” he informs me. “I knew we could do it, Layla. In fact, I’d like to show you my own appreciation.” He leans in, closing his eyes and pursing his lips, and I push his head away.

“Very funny. Can we go now?” He chuckles and motions me forward.

“Lead the way, my lady.”

My back slams into the mat, punching the air from my lungs for what feels like the thousandth time.

Archie steps on my wrist, forcing my hand open for him to retrieve my dagger. I am eternally grateful my aching muscles from the days prior were healed last night because I can feel the new aches of today already setting in.

“You’re sloppy and distracted, you should have seen me coming that time.” Archie holds out his hand to help me up .

He’s not wrong. Ledger is training with Cam in the square next to us. He isn’t wearing a shirt, and the sounds coming out of his mouth are making my mind drift to the events of last night.

He seems lighter today, smiling and joking with Cam. It’s so foreign to see, so charming I can’t keep my greedy eyes from straying to him.

I grab Archie’s hand and stand up brushing myself off.

“Go run a few laps. You can come back when your raging hormones have calmed.” His eyebrows lift suggestively in Ledger’s direction. I grit my teeth, willing the heat from my cheeks as we walk over to the track.

Mia is running and when she sees me, she runs to me, engulfing me in a hug. “I can’t believe it worked! I never doubted you for a second!”

I hug her back.

“Thank you, Layla, really, Callum is like a father to me, and I don’t know what I would have done if his condition didn’t improve.”

“You’re the one that found the answer. All I did was provide my blood.” I smile at her.

“I hope this doesn’t mean you will be leaving soon?”

My heart drops with the knowledge I will have to go back. “I will stay another day or two, to ensure the King is recovering as he should. ”

“Let’s make the best of it then.” She grabs my hand, and we start to run. I focus on the contracting of my muscles and the burning in my lungs.

“How did Ledger’s mother die?” I ask the question I’d been wondering, trying to keep up as she runs faster.

“Has no one told you?” I shake my head, and Mia considers me for a moment as if debating what to reveal before continuing.

“Ledger’s mother was able to mimic powers or borrow them. She didn’t use it often and thought of it as a violation. The night Lilly was born, she wasn’t breathing. Her heartbeat continued to weaken until it stopped altogether.” I stumble as my legs burn with effort, eager to hear more.

“One of her handmaidens had the power to create life. It was supposed to be used for crops and plants, never for a human. Ledger’s mother was desperate, so she channeled power into Lilly.” Mia’s movements are lithe as she speaks.

“It worked, but she used a dangerous amount of power. Lilly’s heartbeat returned as she took her first breath. His mother was thrilled, but that night, after extending so much forbidden power, when she fell asleep, she never woke again.”

My heart sinks. “Gods above.” My legs burn from the effort. No wonder Ledger wanted me to stay in his rooms the other night after I had burned through so much of my own power .

I run and run long after my conversation with Mia in hopes my head will blissfully empty. It doesn’t. I can’t get her words out of my head. Can’t shake how much I ache for the boy Ledger once was.

When I make my way back over to Archie, he is talking to Cam and Ledger, who is mercifully now wearing a shirt. Ledger’s eyes find their way to me and run the entire length of me, sending a thrill up my spine.

“Layla, are you ready now?” Archie asks.

“Ready as ever.”

“Actually, would you mind if we tried something?” Ledger asks. “I’d like to test your powers.”

I shrug, looking over at Archie. “Be my guest.” Archie gestures to me and steps back.

“Actually, Archie, we’ll need someone for her to practice on.” Ledger looks at him expectantly.

“Meaning I have to be the test dummy? Why can’t she practice on you?” he questions. Ledger gives him an expectant look. “This is because of the whole grape thing, isn’t it?” Archie asks, and when Ledger doesn’t respond, he concedes. “Fine, but my perfectly symmetrical face is off-limits.”

I raise a curious eyebrow. “What are we doing? Did Archie get a nasty case of chlamydia?”

“That’s an incredibly rude assumption, but since you’re asking, I do have this mysterious bump on my?—”

“Alright, Archie, not today.” Ledger grins, and I avert my eyes so I don’t get swept away by it .

“Explain to me how your power works,” he asks.

“Not this again, Ledger.” I turn from him, ready to walk away, when a root comes up to wrap around my ankle, stopping me.

“Sutton, this isn’t that kind of lesson.” He approaches me, his chest brushing against my arm. “But for the record, if you need more practice with that, I’m more than willing.” His lips brush my ear making my knees weak.

“Now, let’s try this again. How does your power work while it heals?” The roots release me and disappear back into the ground.

I sigh, thinking. “When my power enters someone, I feel their body respond to me. I picture bones fusing back together, skin mending itself, blood pumping at the right pace through veins, and their bodies complying. Other times, I think of things that make me happy. Things that make me feel good and let my power do the rest.”

Ledger listens intently as I finish. “Have you ever thought bad thoughts? What would happen if you pictured a bone breaking or a throat closing?”

“I’m a healer, why would I ever do that?”

“To protect yourself. I want to see if you can harm the very same things you mend. If your power can work in the opposite manner.”

“You’ve got to be kidding me. Why can’t you volunteer Cam or Mia for this?” Archie protests. We both look at him until he huffs, conceding. “I’ll do it for you, Layla, but go easy on me.”

I send him a sweet smile.

“You’re welcome, by the way,” he says with a grimace.

Ledger steps up next to me so our arms are brushing. “Close your eyes and find your power.” I do as he says and find it humming softly in my chest.

I startle as Ledger’s hands come to rest on my hips. My pulse accelerates at the contact. The hold I have on my power trips as my attention shifts. My mind drifts to how deliciously his calluses scraped against my bare skin, the warmth as they caressed my curves, how his fingers felt inside of me.

“Is this alright? Do you have it?” he asks innocently.

I clear my throat, snapping myself out of the devious thoughts. My hands move to his, and I gently pry them off. “I am finding it hard to focus; maybe if I stand over here.” I take two steps away from Ledger, noting the smirk he tries to hide.

I take a deep breath, scolding myself before reaching again for my power. The second I feel it, I nod my head, keeping my eyes closed. “I’ve got it.”

“Okay, now send it out to Archie, let it do what it normally does.” I take a steadying breath and do as he says.

The air shutters as my power skims curiously along Archie’s body. When it doesn’t find anything, it delves inside of him .

Archie inhales sharply as it skates over his organs and through his veins. “This feels kind of nice.”

“Now focus on his heartbeat.” Ledger’s hand comes to my upper back. “Speed it up.”