Page 4

She nods hesitantly after looking at her mother, and I gently press my palm to her small chest. I try to ignore the way my fingers brush her protruding collarbones .

She lets out a few barking coughs that leave her breathless. “Okay, I’m going to begin. This won’t hurt. You’ll feel my palm get hot; my hand will start to glow a bit. She nods just as my power dives inside of her. I can almost see it wrapping around her little lungs.

I picture her running, jumping, playing, laughing. Being a healthy child. I picture myself at that age and how I used to chase my father through the fields behind our worn-down cottage. He would turn with open arms, and I’d jump into them before he’d spin us around and around.

I rein in my power, looking to her mother. “Her lungs are clear; she should be without ailment now.” She takes her child’s face in her hands and scans her. “There is one more thing. I saw something in your ear.” I make a show of looking in her ear before pulling a silver from behind it.

“Wherever did that come from?!” A smile spreads across the girl’s face as I feign shock.

“I suppose because it was behind your ear it is yours.” Her and her mother’s eyes widen as I hand it to her.

“I’m so happy you came to see me today. I will forever talk about the girl with the silver in her ear. ”

She clutches the coin, reaching up and touching her ear before smiling over at her mother.

“Thank you,” the mother says, the worry behind her eyes easing a touch.

“Glad I could help.” I make my way over to Sky, who is cleaning some empty beds .

“I wish you would stop doing that, if the King or Tamish ever found out, I don’t even want to think about what they would do,” she grumbles, not bothering to look up.

“They aren’t going to find out. What was I to do Sky? They were skin and bones. Am I expected to heal their ailments only to have them starve to death?”

She sighs and then tenses as King Sandor enters the room.

He is an average-sized man, not very tall, but manages to appear imposing.

His very presence demands respect. He wears an affable mask, but I can always feel his cold, calculated demeanor underneath.

He is followed by Tamish, Maddox, and a few people I don’t recognize.

A man on a stretcher is brought in behind them, moaning in pain.

“Layla, there you are.” The King approaches us, and I go rigid.

“I have brought some spectators today. This is Ledger, Prince of Westray.” He points to a man with severe yet attractive features next to him.

His black hair is short, a dusting of rugged facial hair lining his jaw and full mouth.

His expression is unreadable as his forest-green eyes study me.

“And his travel companions, Mia and Archie.” He sneers as he looks at the tall, blonde, boyishly handsome man.

Archie clenches his jaw, and Mia brushes his hand with hers discreetly.

She is a beautiful, dark-skinned woman with hazel eyes.

I nod, giving them a tight smile.

“Miss Sutton is one of the only healers left on our continent. She is as talented as she is beautiful. ”

I despise when he does this—using my power as entertainment, showing me off like a prized possession.

“What are you waiting for? Continue—we want to see that power of yours. Work on him next.” He nods over at the man who was just brought in. “His moans are starting to grate on my nerves.”

“Yes, Your Grace,” I grind out before walking over to the man. I fight to control my face as my anger grows.

The man is writhing wildly on the bed. His shirt is tattered, and his shoulder is leaking blood. Cutting the shirt away, I can see familiar black venom running through the veins of his arm.

I give Sky a look, and she pins his arms down so I can begin. The black venom from the bite is already spreading to his fingertips. I wonder what the animal looks like that inflicts such wounds.

Heat scalds my skin, my power already threatening to erupt out of me. I hold my hands steady as they begin to glow. I brace myself as the poison starts to leave his body; it creeps into my veins, sizzling them and stealing my breath.

I clench my teeth together to ease the blinding pain. Sweat beads on my forehead. I desperately want to stop but force myself to continue. The agony is almost crippling. My back bows.

I shift my focus and recede into the recesses of my mind to drown out the pain. I think of Maddox last night. His devious smile and how his perfect teeth were stained red with wine. I think of my father and how proud he used to be when I would conjure a spark of my power.

I sag with relief when the pain subsides, and the man’s struggle stops. His moans cease and the shredded skin on his shoulder knits neatly back together.

My power snaps back with such force my knees hit the floor. I must have been holding my breath because I am now greedily gulping down air, unable to satisfy my lungs. My mouth waters, a familiar putrid taste filling it, making my stomach sour.

I reach for the closest bin and vomit the contents of my empty stomach.

Maddox is next to me in the next breath, his hand finding mine and his other going to my back.

“Are you okay?” he whispers, and when I look up at him, his jaw is set.

His whisky eyes are focused on me, and his eyebrows are furrowed in concern.

I nod as I wipe my mouth with the back of my hand.

Clapping echoes off the bare, white walls.

“Such a show you put on; I could watch you all day.” The King wears a face of delight.

“Honestly, Layla, get up, you embarrass me. She has always been one for the dramatics.” He addresses the visitors at his side, who all stare with wide eyes and their mouths ajar.

I grit my teeth at his comment and take a deep breath through my nose. I force my wobbly legs to stand with Maddox at my back, steadying me .

My brain feels like it is thrashing around in my skull, and my vision has gone slightly blurry. I curse myself for not eating the sticky bun Hector gave me earlier. My body is desperate for fuel.

“Maddox, get over here, the girl is fine; you’re making her look weak. Should I be concerned, Layla? Does this display have anything to do with your nightly escapades?” The King lifts his eyebrows, looking at Tamish who stands on the other side of him. Maddox goes fully still beside me.

I don’t even have time to brace before Sandor is in my head. His power slithers over my skull, sinking its teeth into the flesh of my mind.

I gasp as every muscle in my body tenses.

My instinct is to rage against his power but the harder I fight, the more intense his grip becomes.

Razor sharp claws drag against the sensitive crevices of my memories.

Maddox’s hand grips my hip bone and I can practically hear his thoughts.

Stop fighting, give him something that will satisfy his intrusion.

I manage a small gasp, forcing my body to relax. I let The King’s power creep into my mind. The feel of it is so repugnant that I nearly vomit again.

I reach for a memory from last night. I think of Maddox and I lounging on the bed drinking wine, me swaying around the room, Maddox catching me and listening as I wail about my mother.

King Sandor’s scoff echoes and when I look up, he is rolling his eyes. Everyone’s stares bounce between the King and me. The blonde man—Archie, His nostrils are flaring as his gaze vaults from me to Ledger. Mia has a death grip on his hand.

I can feel the King’s dissatisfaction as his grip tightens on my skull. I wince, but before he can violate me again a crash makes us all jump. Sandor’s concentration breaks and relief is immediate as his power slowly reels back.

Medical supplies chime off the ground and the metal tray they are on rattles as it bounces, reverberating off the stone floor. Maddox releases the breath he must have been holding and it ruffles my hair. The King turns a shade of red as he whips around.

The prince of Westray stands, unbothered, forest green eyes glued on me.

Tourniquets, tweezers, needles, and shears are at his feet.

He doesn’t even spare Sandor a glace as he speaks.

“My apologies your Grace, how very clumsy of me.” He kneels to retrieve the supplies, and I intervene before Sandor can think too much of it.

“I must also apologize my King,” I exclaim, drawing his scrutiny. “I forgot to eat this morning.” Sandor’s gaze moves back to me, and he makes a noise of displeasure before leveling Maddox with an expectant look.

I don’t dare glance over at Maddox as his hand lingers on the small of my back before he drops it, moving to stand by King Sandor’s side once again.

I grip the end of the bed, my knuckles white as I fight to form some semblance of control over my body.

Sky scrambles over to Ledger to grab the tray from him.

He is still staring at me, studying me, like I am the answer to all his problems. Maddox seems to notice as well, his eyes narrowed and his jaw tight as he stares the man down.

“Incredible,” King Sandor’s attention shifts to the sentry I just healed. “He looks to be the picture of health.” He marvels, as his lips spread, gaping. The guard’s skin is no longer pale; it is flushed with color. His cheeks are rosy, and the skin of his shoulder a fresh pink.

“What do you think? Isn’t she marvelous?” He turns to the green-eyed man and his party. “It is not every day you get to see something like that.”

“Indeed,” Ledger replies, glancing at the sentry. His deep voice makes goosebumps erupt on my arm. I frown as I look down to see them pebble my skin.

“Wonderful! Layla, back to work, these people aren’t going to heal themselves, and for God’s sake, eat something,” King Sandor says lazily, snapping me out of my daze.

A snarky response sits readily on my tongue, and I fight to keep it inside. My gaze flicks to Maddox, who wears a warning look.

“Tell me, Ledger, has Callum had more luck at keeping Archie in line than I did?” the King asks, and the blonde man tenses.

Ledger’s jaw feathers as he follows King Sandor out of the room .

“Of course not, what fun would that be?” I hear Archie respond as the doors swing closed. I frown at the interaction before refocusing.

The sentry I just healed starts to come to, letting out a groan and attempting to sit up.

“Whoa, take it slow.” I rush over to his side placing my hands on his upper back to assist him. “You’ve lost a lot of blood. How do you feel?” I take in his handsome face and hazel eyes for the first time.

“I feel…” He pauses, his eyes straying to his mended shoulder and then back to me. “Alive, thanks to you.” He flexes his fingers and rolls out his arm. “You have quite the power.”

“It certainly has its uses.” I run my fingers over the pink raised skin of his shoulder pressing gently. “Does that hurt?”

“No.” His breath brushes the side of my face, and I’m instantly aware of how close we are. He studies me and smiles softly when I finally look up. “You have soft hands, a gentle touch.”

I stand, clearing my throat, and busy myself pouring him a glass of water. “Here, you need to stay hydrated.”

He accepts the glass, intentionally brushing his fingers against mine. “Your name is Layla, right?”

My response is a small nod.

“I’m Jonah.”

“Nice to meet you. I have a few more patients, so if you’re alright, I really should tend to them.

” I motion over my shoulder, where I can sense Sky eavesdropping.

“Take all the time you need, but when you feel ready, help yourself out.” I begin to turn away hoping to dissuade what I know is coming.

“I’d love to repay you in some way, perhaps dinner?”

I wince before turning back to him and answering, “That is unnecessary.” My shoulders stiffen as I take a step back.

“I insist.”

“It would look poorly on me to be seen at dinner with a patient, so as much as I appreciate it, I must decline.”

He tilts his head, an amused smile tugging at the corner of his mouth. “Alright, well if you change your mind, the offer stands.” He hesitates giving me one last look, as if expecting me to take back my words before continuing. “Thank you, ladies.”

I let out a breath as he disappears behind the doors.

“What was wrong with that one?” Sky asks, stripping the bloodied sheet off the bed.

“Nothing was wrong with him. I simply do not entertain patients, you know that.”

“He seemed nice and was rather attractive.”

“Sounds like you should track him down and tell him all the ways he can repay you then.” I grin as Sky swats my shoulder.

Sky leaves and comes back with some pastries we gobble down.

I work for a few more hours, healing patient after patient until my power begins to fizzle.

The skin I keep trying to knit together rips back open, leaving behind jagged, horrible scars.

My hands start to shake, and my concentration is shot.

After the third try at knitting together a knife wound, Sky places her hand gently on my shoulder. “I can take it from here Layla, you’ve healed all the serious injuries for the day, all the rest of the wounds can be taken care of with a simple needle and thread; go, rest.”

I return her smile the best I can and cautiously stand. I only have enough energy to agree with her, offering a small nod and a thank you before I sluggishly make my way out of the infirmary.