Her breathing changed as he continued to brush the dark healing liquid over her face and down her arms to her fingers, repairing her tore fingernails and healing the gashes in her beautiful skin.
“What are you doing?” she whispered as her eyes fluttered open.
“Healing you, beautiful. Just rest and let me take care of you.”
“Please don’t.” Her eyes filled with tears as her voice broke.
“Don’t heal you?” He paused as his heart contracted painfully in his chest.
“No. Please don’t call mebeautiful.”
“Why not?”
“Because of all the things I am, beautiful is not one of them.” She reached up and touched the side of his face as tears dripped down into her hair.
“You’re wrong, but I’ll leave it be for now. Tell me your name.”
She dropped her hand and nodded as she wiped at her tears. “Mayra. I am the last oracle of the Territhian kings.”
“So I’ve been told.” He smiled and dipped his finger in his dark blood once more. He ran his fingers between the beautiful curve of her breasts where they met and mended a dark bruise that marred her skin.
She gasped and reached up, grabbing his hand and pulling it toward her face. “What is this that you’re using to mend me?”
Her voice was soft and sensual, whether she meant it to be or not. His desire for more than he would allow himself swelled deep in his belly and pulsed through his veins in a pleasurable heat he couldn’t remember feeling before.
“It’s my blood. It will heal you.”
“Then you are no Territhian, stranger.”
“It’s Nojan, and I am the third son to the King of Vartik. Our blood heals all things.”
“Vartik was destroyed before I was born.” Her eyes moved around his face as if searching for the lie.
“I’m glad the world believes it true, but it’s not. We’re alive and well, and after one thing.”
“What’s that?” She pressed his fingers to her lips and licked them clean as his breath caught in his chest. “I’m bleeding inside my stomach. I can feel it.”
“Then drink more.” He lifted his wrist to her lips and moved closer.
She nodded and gripped his arm tightly as her blue eyes filled with innocence. “What are you looking for, Vartik prince?”
“You. I was looking for you.”
