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“ D o you have any need of me?” Quinn fidgeted with his sleeve and glanced nervously over at me.

Master Riss frowned deeply, tarnishing his ancient beauty with worry.

“Our time has run out.” He whispered and then waved Quinn closer.

“Yes, you will need to stay, my boy. This will be a power you have not yet experienced as a healer and I have an unsettling feeling it will not be your last. Link with me.”

Quinn’s jaw tightened, grunting his assent and reaching out to the ancient fae’s shoulder.

The hairs on my skin stood on end when the air shifted and an influx of warmth pulsed through the room.

Curious, I shifted to my aura sight and was awed by the vibrant shades of blues molding together into a perfectly balanced power of unity.

Auras only reacted that way with family lineage or with soulmates!

My sight switched back to stare at the blonde features of the two fae before me. Their build, the bright blue of their eyes... .

“Quinn is your son!”

Master Riss’s twinkling blues smiled up at me and then back down again. “That he is, forta .”

“You could have told me.” I shot Quinn with an accusing glare.

The healer's son gave me a small apologetic smile. “Apologies, Mistress—”

“No time for that, my boy! Pay attention! Do you see?”

A slight blush stained Quinn’s face before his thoughts turned inward, pinching with concentration. “What in the goddess above is that?” He gasped.

“A power I hoped to never see again. It is the Sanguine, Quinn.”

I looked away, my jaw tightening. Of course an ancient fae would recognize the Sanguine power! It was likely he once knew the extinct blood fae at the dawn of their creation and it was very likely he fought in the blood wars against them, just like my mother had.

This time Quinn shot me a look of accusation. “How is that even possible? That power was eradicated.”

Master Riss shook his head gravely. “The people were, not the power. But what I do not understand is why it has been used on this poor child—look here boy!” The healer said waving to some invisible thing over Riella’s chest I could not see. “Do you feel this here?”

Quinn pursed his lips as he focused. “I feel it, father.”

“Follow what I do and only exactly what I do.”

My hands clenched and unclenched in my lap at the long pause in the room. I exhaled slowly. “Is there anything I can assist with?”

Master Riss did not look up from Riella while he focused.

“I do not need anyone threatened or killed right now but thank you, forta . What you need to do for yourself is rest. You have had a trying journey and you look half dead sitting there, not to mention you smell like...” He wrinkled his nose with distaste. “Cat shit.”

I snorted. The healer had confirmed what I had already known. During my trek here, Eshe had deliberately led me through scat dropped in the grasslands to satisfy her petty urge to dominate me.

“Ah Penina, perfect timing as always.” Hummed the master healer .

My head jerked up to see the petite shifter leaning casually against the door frame staring at me with a wide grin on her face. “Told you not to fall for her shit, general.”

My eyes narrowed but a small smile graced my lips. “Indeed, you did say that.”

The Master healer tsked. “Penina, please show Mistress Dark to her rooms to freshen up, then have the cook bring some food up for all of us. I am sure that our shadow fae friend and guest will want to stay with the child.”

Penina sighed. “Eshe had other orders.” Then she wiggled her brows at me suggestively, her gold piercings glinting in the sunlight.

I grinned darkly. I could only imagine what those orders were.

“I’m sure she did.” The healer responded evenly back, ignoring the two of us.

“Please do as I say. This will be a long night for everyone. No need to add even more discomfort to what is already brought upon us. Now be off!” Then he growled low.

“Slowly my boy, you must not untangle the ward too quickly! Feel this here, now do exactly what I am doing.”

Sighing, I stood, my dismissal obvious. “Thank you again, Master Riss. Send for me if there are any changes.”

“What the goddess fuck did you do to my creation?” Penina exclaimed, gaping in horror at my desecrated attire

I shrugged. “Went for a run.”

Quinn snorted roughly. “A run? She out sprinted Eshe’s leopard for miles—.”

“Pay attention boy!” Snapped the master healer.

“Sorry father.” Quinn muttered.

Penina practically bounced on her feet with excitement as I approached her.

“In that case, let’s get you cleaned up!

I have the perfect outfit for you to try!

” She gave me a reassuring smile and looped her arm within mine to guide me out of the room.

“On my honor, the faeling will be okay. Master Riss is the best healer in The West Isles…in all of Faerie really.”

I glanced back at Riella’s sweet face. “For your sake and the people that live here, you better pray to the goddess that is true, shifter.”

The shifter’s steps faltered. “It’s easy to forget.” She stated simply.

I frowned. “Forget what? ”

“How dangerous you really are.” She whispered and then smiled, tucking me in closer. “It's going to be so much fun having you here!”