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My power resists at first but follows my command.

“How do you feel, Arch?” Ledger calls to him.

“Like my heart is racing, breathless, lightheaded, my chest hurts a bit,” he responds, and at that last part, I let off on the command.

“That was good. Now try slowing it down.” I do as Ledger says, and Archie falters a step.

“And now?” Ledger asks.

“I feel tired, dizzy, and there is a sharp pain in my chest.” Archie’s eyebrows pull into a frown, and I release his heart from the command, bewildered.

“I think it’s working. Now focus on his hands, move to a finger, and try to break it,” Ledger commands and my eyes widen, thinking he must be joking. He just nods towards Archie.

I look to Archie to tell me to stop but he just makes a tortured noise. “Make it quick,” he whines. “You owe me.”

I take another deep breath and refocus on my power. I send it down his arm and to his fingertips. This takes more effort than I’d like to admit. I’m panting when I finally get to the finger of my choosing .

I focus on the bone in his pointer finger and imagine snapping it, breaking it clean in two. My power thrashes unhappily for a moment before Archie hisses a pained breath.

“Did it work?” My eyes snap open and Archie is grasping at his hand.

“What do you think, Layla? Now fucking heal me already,” Archie barks, and I break out in a wide smile.

“I did it!” I smile incredulously at Ledger, and his eyes drift down, pausing. His own lips lift in a soft, proud grin I relish in.

“I don’t know what kind of sick foreplay you two are into, but can you gape at each other later? This finger has been used to pleasure many women, and if it is affected at all after this, I will never speak to you again.”

“Sorry, Archie, also that was more information than I needed.” I walk to him and heal the very break that I made.

He tests it, wiggling it around a few times before he decides he’s satisfied. “I’ve done my part. Never do something like that to me again, promise.”

“I promise, Arch, and thank you for letting me practice. I really do owe you.”

“I’ll take my payment in beer, or if you’re open to it?—”

“She’s not. You’ll be happy with beer,” Ledger interjects, and I smother a grin.

As I gather my things and prepare to walk back to my rooms, Ledger approaches me. “Coffee with a touch of honey. ”

I jump at Ledger’s voice, my eyes springing open. “What?” I look down to see a mug of steaming coffee in his hands.

He offers it up to me. “Your coffee. I hope I didn’t get it wrong. A touch of honey?” I look incredulously at him, taking the mug as our fingers brush.

The look on his face spurs me to take a sip of the piping liquid. I nearly moan at the rich, nutty flavor made perfectly to my liking.

“Thank you. I’ve found my will to live again after Archie beat it out of me.”

“You did ask for his help training you.”

“Don’t remind me.” I take another sip of the heavenly drink and try not to think of what conspired between Ledger and me before he left my room last night.

“You did good today,” he praises.

“You may have created a monster. With enough practice, I may never allow a man to be within two feet of me ever again.” I smile into my cup of coffee.

“Good. A man should not have access to you if that is not what you desire.”

“I’m tempted to make my way back to Grimwood just to test my newly found skills on Forde himself,” I joke, but Ledger’s face becomes serious.

“You promise me you will not leave Westray alone. That no matter what you will not venture into those woods without protection.” His face is serious as he speaks .

“Trust me, Ledger, I’ve seen what is out there. I am not eager to encounter those creatures any time soon, especially alone.”

“Where is my coffee? For future reference I like mine black with sugar.” I startle as Archie appears.

“I’m happy to share,” I offer him my mug, and he accepts it with a slight bow, taking a few large gulps. “That’s hot, you know?”

After another gulp, he takes a long inhale. “Thank you, Layla, you are a true angel.”

“No problem.” I turn the empty mug over in my hands, sighing.

We are all about to leave the training grounds when Humphrey makes his way over to us. I stiffen at his approach remembering the words he spoke to me.

“Your Highness, Archie,” he greets them before eyeing me from head to toe. “Layla,” he grumbles. “So sorry to interrupt but His Grace has requested Layla and Ledger’s presence. Please clean up and meet him in the great hall.” He looks pointedly at me as he says the last part.

I bristle, struggling to keep the emotion I’m feeling off my face. I glance over at Ledger and he responds for us. “I’ll escort Miss Sutton when she is ready, thank you, Humphrey.” Satisfied with his answer, Humphrey leaves us.

“I’m going to go test this new finger out. Good luck, you two!”

“Gross.” I make a face at him .

“Shall we?” Ledger gestures for me to walk in front of him, so I do. He grabs the door, and we walk down the hallway together.

After Ledger walks me to my room I bathe, rinsing the sticky sweat from my skin, and hop out of the warm water. I brush my hair and rub some pink liquid onto my cheeks. My anxiety spikes as I stare at the fine clothes in the expansive closet. What does one wear to meet a king?

I rake through the dresses and decide on a simple blue silk dress that fits like it was made for me. I give myself a once over, running my hands through my hair before heading to the door. When I swing it open, Ledger is on the other side, knuckle in the air as if he was about to knock.

His gaze snags on me, his eyes doing a full sweep. “I like you in that dress.”

“I hope it’s appropriate to meet your father. I was going for something innocent and sweet.”

“I’m pretty sure he will see through that the second you open your mouth.”

“Hey!” I push his shoulder, and that damn dimple appears. My heart flutters at its appearance. As soon as it disappears, I already want to see it again. This new side I I’m seeing of Ledger is dangerous. The more he lets me in, the further I wanted to explore.

Now that the King is healed, I know I have to get back to Bellehaven, and I feel the ticking clock like my own impending doom. I don’t want to leave, but I can’t see any other option.

The walls I built around myself are crumbling at a rapid rate, and I can already feel the devastation setting in.

As we walk, my eyes filter around, drinking in the castle’s artistry. It’s a mix of elegance and charm. I could get used to so many windows and the beautiful greenery outside of them.

“I forgot to ask, are we mentioning the whole ‘you kidnapped me’ thing, or should I keep that to myself?”

Ledger stops dead in his tracks, making me stumble. His face loses a little color, which elicits a smile from me.

“Kidding.”

“You think yourself very funny, don’t you?” His body relaxes, and he continues walking.

“You don’t?”

“Oh, I find you many things.”

“Enlighten me.” I smile, curious.

“Stubborn, frustrating, strong-willed,” he begins.

“I’m flattered. I can’t begin to conceive why you are not betrothed, you have such a way with words and women.”

“You didn’t let me finish.” We stop outside of two double doors. “You’re strikingly beautiful, kind, captivating, and by far the most intriguing woman I have ever met.” He brushes some hair behind my shoulder, his hand lingering as if needing some excuse to touch me .

“Watch it, Prince, you say too many nice things about me, and I may never leave,” I joke. Ledger falls silent as he looks at me, and I gesture to the doors. “Are we going to go in?”

He opens one side and my heart jolts. I hesitate in the doorway until Ledger’s familiar hand finds my back. “I’ll be with you the whole time.”

“Reassuring,” I mumble and feel his grin on the shell of my ear before I walk into the room.

I let my fingers drag against the spines of old books as we amble inside. I’m once again struck by how lovely the library is.

“This used to be my mother’s favorite room, she would spend hours here. I used to join her reading, watering the plants— sometimes she’d even let me paint with her.”

“It’s perfect.” My eyes roam the bewitching room again, and I have the sudden urge to feel the sun warm my skin. My eyes scour around, and it’s only on my second sweep I notice the king sitting on the outside settee.

He is smiling at me, almost sadly, watching as I gawk. My cheeks heat, and I force myself over to him.

“My apologies, Your Grace, I don’t think I will ever get used to a place that is quite so enchanting.” I curtsey. “I’m Layla Sutton.”

“Wonderful name. Please, sit. You reminded me of my Eloise the first time I showed it to her.” He pauses as I hesitantly sit on the warmed cushion next to him.

“I built it just for her, you know. I could hardly get her to leave for a second after she laid eyes on it. If there was ever a time I couldn’t find her, this is where she would be.

Now, when I need to feel her, I come here, her very presence is entwined in this room, these books, in this very settee.

” The King strokes the book in his hand gingerly, his face alight with a rueful smile.

“She sounds lovely,” I respond.

“Lovely doesn’t even begin to describe her.” His eyes have a distant look as if he is now picturing her beauty. He shakes his head, clearing his eyes before continuing. “Now it is I who must apologize. I did not ask you here to bore you with woeful stories of the past.”

“They do not bore me; I quite like to hear of her.” I smile at the king. He looks so unlike the man I first saw, so full of life and almost impossibly younger. He is quite handsome, bearing a clear resemblance to Ledger. “You look well. How do you feel, if I may ask, Your Grace?”

“Call me Callum, please. I can’t remember a time when I’ve felt this well, thanks to you. I awoke feeling like I had aged ten years backward. It is nothing short of incredible that power of yours.”

“It was nothing really. I’m happy to have been able to help.”

“I am curious how your powers were able to get through to me. I’ve never in all my life experienced a power effectively used on or against me. ”

“Uhm.” I shift nervously and look to Ledger, who is sitting in the chair next to us.

“Father, Layla tried multiple times to reach you with her powers, but she was not successful. Instead of giving up,”—Ledger’s eyes stray towards me, and my heart skips a beat—”we read in some old texts that sometimes a healer’s blood could be infused with healing abilities.

” There is a long silence where I can’t bring myself to look at the King. “So, Layla offered you her blood.”

“Remarkable,” Callum breathes. “You must not speak of this to anyone. I fear what one would do to get their hands on something as precious as your blood, especially Sandor. A man like him could find many uses for it, good and bad. It could bring him more wealth and power and upset the balance of the kingdoms.” I balk at his words, fear snaking up my throat.

I know how easily Sandor can infiltrate my mind and rifle through my memories, and I contemplate how I will hide such a revelation from him once I return.

“How did you know it would be successful?” Callum asks.

I squirm uncomfortably before forcing myself to be still. “I didn’t know if it would work at all, but we were out of options. My father never gave up on anyone. He always used to say, ‘Everything has an answer, you just have to find it.’”

“Wonderful, I find those words to be very true.” He pauses. “You’re from Bellehaven?”

“I am. ”

“I know King Sandor. In the past, he has been hesitant to allow those with abilities to aid any of the neighboring kingdoms. He must have had a change of heart?” He looks at Ledger, and I fiddle nervously with my hands.

“I can be very convincing,” Ledger says stiffly.

“Indeed, you’ve never been one to accept the answer no, even when you were just a boy.

I suppose if anyone could have convinced him, then it would be you.

” He addresses Ledger and then turns back to me.

“Thank you again, Layla, truly. The gift you have given me, to have more time with my loved ones, with this beautiful kingdom, is immeasurable.”

“It is an honor, Your Grace,” I respond as Ledger and I get up to leave.

We leave the King, and Ledger walks me back to my room. He produces a book when we get to my door. “I thought you might like something to read; this was one of my mother’s favorites.”

I accept the book from where it is outstretched in his hands and marvel at the golden sprayed edges. I falter at his thoughtfulness.

“I must get back to my father, we have much to catch up on. You’ll be okay the rest of the day?”

I nod in response. “Yes, actually. I am meeting Mia. She wanted to show me more of Westray.”

“Well, in that case, make a wish at the fountains.” He produces a silver from his pocket and flicks it into the air.

I catch it in my open palm. “Will do, Prince.”