Total pages in book: 102
Estimated words: 100553 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 503(@200wpm)___ 402(@250wpm)___ 335(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 100553 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 503(@200wpm)___ 402(@250wpm)___ 335(@300wpm)
Roran had to hold her down so she wouldn’t buck against me. “Shh…”
Once I had the wound as contained as possible, I pressed my palms against the injury, gave a slight pressure, and then focused my thoughts. Moments of silence passed as I pushed my energy forward—but her body didn’t push back.
She was too weak.
I closed my eyes and tried again. “Come on, I can’t do this alone.” I pushed and pushed against her, knocking on the front door to her vitality, and waited for the door to open. I didn’t have the capability to fix her. No one did. But I could point her body’s own capabilities in the direction they needed to go. Sometimes the body was too weak to do it on its own, like it had lost the will to even try, and I could give it the reminder it needed.
“It’s okay, Ivory,” Roran said. “I know you did the best you could.”
“Shh…” I kept up my focus, gave her plenty of time to meet me.
And then I felt it. Like the slow growth of a stem rising from the soil, it reached up to the sun. Her heart started to beat slower, the nerves in her system sent different messages to the rest of her body, and then she began to heal.
I could feel it in my mind. “That’s it, girl.”
I felt her ribs pop back into place. Felt the loose flesh tighten. Felt the blood dissolve back into the tissues, where it became contained. The vibrations of her body stopped—and I knew that was the best she could do. “You’re a tough bitch, you know that?”
Roran chuckled.
I opened my eyes and gave her a good rub as I looked down at her.
“She’s going to be alright?” Roran asked.
“I can’t promise anything.” I watched her breaths become less labored, watched her flick her tail like she was restless but playful. “We won’t know until tomorrow, but I think she’s going to pull through.”
Roran gave her a pat. “You hear that, Madeline?”
“Make sure she has plenty of rest.” I got to my feet and dusted off my breeches. “And she can have as many oats as she wants—doctor’s orders.”
Roran rose to his full height too, a foot taller than me, his face weathered from the elements. “Where did you learn all of this?”
I grabbed my bag off the ground and inserted my arms through the straps. It was still morning, but the sun was already relentless. Sweat started at my forehead and began to soak my clothes. “Books.”
“Books?” he asked incredulously.
“Yep. From the library in the castle.”
“So, you taught yourself?”
“I did, thank you very much.”
“Very impressive,” he said with a chuckle.
“I’ll check on her tomorrow. You know where to find me if you need anything else.”
“Thanks, Ivory.”
I went to the water basin to wash the blood off my hands, and that’s when I felt it again. That stare. That penetrating stare that could see my bones beneath my flesh. When the blood was gone from my fingers, I raised my chin.
It was a brief glimpse, and all I saw was the king’s steel glimmering in the sunlight. It was a flash, over as quickly as it started, and then it was gone.
But I knew exactly who it was.
I took off at a run. “Asshole!” I headed to the main road and ran up the cobblestones, my eyes scanning for the guard who had followed me all the way into town, who had continued his intrusive stare into my back when I didn’t suspect it.
At a jog, I glanced into the alleyways between the buildings, searching for the steel on his chest and the sword at his side. I spun around, getting a quick panorama of my surroundings. I had no idea where he was, but he knew exactly where I was.
Because I could still feel that stare.
“I want to see my father.” I approached the double doors that led to his study, where two guards were positioned on either side of it.
Thomas, one of my father’s personal guards, remained at his station. “He can’t be disturbed.”
“Yes, he can.” I grabbed the handle and tugged on the door, but my hand slipped and I fell back because the door was locked in place. “I’m his daughter. I can disturb him all I want.” I marched back to the door and pounded my fists into the thick wood. “Dad, I need to talk to you.” I stepped back and waited for the doors to open.
They didn’t.
I crossed my arms over my chest and shifted my gaze to Thomas.
“M’lady, he’s very busy.”
I rolled my eyes and turned away. “Well, tell him I have something important to share with him—whenever he’s not busy.” I crossed the great room and had entered the hallway when I heard the heavy door shift. Then whispers. I turned back, knowing he’d finally put down his scroll or whatever else he was doing to come to my call.