“You’ve heard right on both accounts, but Mrs. Oliveria has recently stepped in to let me know she cares,” I told her but then realized how horrible that sounded. “She was allowed to after I was free.”
The healer nodded and sighed, seeming to want to choose her words carefully.
“She needs to learn fast how to mitigate the dangers of using too much magic in ways she’s not ready for since our familiars tell us to stop or warn us,” Rita said.
“Yes. None of us has seen this because our familiars would have stopped us, mine pulled the plug even if I’d tried this,” the healer said. She reached out and patted my hand. “But you’re fine. A few days of rest before another run and let your normal healer check you out. Whoever checks you. Your young man here was smart and immediately—”
“They’re not together,” Mrs. Oliveria said firmly as Link and I said the same thing.
“My apologies,” the healer said as she held up her hands in surrender. “Again, I’m out of the loop. Your friend here who you trust enough to be running with alone when you have targets on you was a quick thinker and handled the situation well.”
“That’s fair, and many might have made that leap, but they’re more like cousins,” Mrs. Oliveria offered… But then did a double take for some reason, but I couldn’t see what or who she focused on from where I sat. Though I was too tired to try and I wanted to pay attention to what the healer was saying.
“I needed his counsel and I push him to run more,” I explained but then snorted. “Or, you know, give him a heart attack.”
“Yeah, seriously, Bev, and I’m—I’m going to have nightmares about not being able to catch you,” Link grumbled and walked away… Which shocked all of us. His aunt looked gobsmacked.
Elegantly but still completely shocked.
“I really didn’t understand what was going on,” I told her as I quickly wiped my eyes. “The topic was—and my test went well, but—I just wanted to get the stress out and…”
Mrs. Oliveria sat next to me and hugged me to her. “Your instinct to run away and fast given all you’ve suffered isn’t a bad one, poppet. We’ll just figure something out so you don’t hurt yourself. Maybe Mark can put some sort of—we’ll figure something out. Mark or Tracey—Laura can cook something up. It’s fine and luckily, you both weren’t hurt.”
“He’s really upset with me,” I worried.
“No, not at you,” Rita comforted. “Something is going on, and I saw one of the council guards who was coming to help upset.” She cleared her throat and glanced at the healer.
“I know nothing and don’t want to be involved, but I do want to know why you were poking about how unhappy I am at my job. We can speak on that another time.” She used the trick I knew and made a business card appear before handing it to me. “Off the books if you need someone for your people, I will take side appointments. I can’t officially.”
“That might make our attorney nervous,” I muttered.
“I bet she is nervous a lot, goddess witch,” the healer said under her breath and nodded when we all froze. “What you did broke the bracelet you wear to hide that, so next time you do something astounding, I would suggest you not bring in anunknown person. Which is why I’m offering to help.” She gave me a sad look. “Your life will be hard enough.”
I already knew that look, recognizing it from Mrs. Cook. “You knew someone.”
“I did. A friend from school who wanted me to be one of his points, but I couldn’t give my heart to someone who I would have to share his with others.” She made a funny noise and looked away. “I wish I had or figured out a way for us to just leave it all behind and be us because the women he chose sucked the life out of him.”
“I’m hearing stories like that a lot and it’s fucking terrifying,” I whispered.
“I don’t mean to downplay what you have gone through and will because it’s valid and I worry for you, but that’s life for a lot of us. I’m a talented healer that too many want to control and use as their own like a toy. None of us who are useful to evil have it easy, child,” she said gently.
“I’ll make sure she talks with Jasmine and signs what she needs to,” Rita promised.
I searched the woman. “I think she might be beyond the normal NDA like Tracey.”
Shock flashed in the woman’s eyes. “You’re learning fast. Good. You will need it.”
I nodded and looked at Link. “She’s got more potential than even you did. Like limitless. I honestly don’t understand what I’m seeing, and I get why you guys are all fascinated by me now. Like I’m dying to have a session with her and see what she’s really got under the hood and have Mrs. Reid help me.”
Link glanced between me and the confused healer… Before cussing several times. “The magic broke your protection bracelet. Fuck, I didn’t think—what the fuck is wrong with me?”
And then he stormed back off.
“That wasn’t my fault, right?” I asked Mrs. Oliveria and Rita.
“No, but it does explain what is going on with him,” Rita muttered, focusing on Mrs. Olivera who seemed just as confused. “He’s being eaten by guilt that the help Bevin gave him turned some of the council against her.”
Oh shit. Like…Oh shit.
