Morgan tried sitting up, but everything hurt. She and Susan had practiced their magic together for weeks now, but she hadn’t tried utilizing deep magic and connecting her magic to Susan’sbefore. The burst of power that they threw at that portal had nearly wiped her off the map.
“You’re awake!” Susan said. The other woman turned toward Morgan.
“Morgan? It’s nice to meet you,” she said, grasping Morgan’s shoulder in a tight squeeze. “I’m Hyacinth.”
“Nice to meet you,” Morgan croaked. Her throat was parched and she desperately needed a drink.
“Just one moment and I’ll have just what you need to restore your constitution,” Hyacinth said as she walked over to a kettle on a stove. She began pulling down bottles from her shelf, assessing each one in a manner that Morgan couldn’t figure out.
“She can sense what you need,” Susan said. “Hyacinth is the greatest healer in Aeritis.”
“Now, don’t be telling stories, girl! I’m good, but I’m not that good,” Hyacinth argued.
Susan chuckled. “She’s humble too!”
“I heard so much about you. It’s nice to know I’m in good hands!” Morgan said. Her head felt heavy and she gave in to the desire to lie back down.
“She’s the one I said could remove your scars if you want to,” Susan suggested, a friendly smile on her face.
Morgan bit her lip. Her scars had fueled her rage against these fae for months now. The scars were an ever-present reminder of what they could do to her, to never let her guard down. They also were a testament to her resilience. But part of her did wish she could erase them. Break down those barriers she’d sealed around herself.
No. She couldn’t do that yet. She couldn’t let go of everything that had happened when that monster ripped into her face, carrying her in his jaws back to that tunnel.
Maybe someday, but that day wasn’t today.
Morgan shook her head. “No. I’m good.”
“We all must walk our own journey, child. Yours will be full of hardships here. Wear your scars like armor and I will be here when you’re ready to remove that armor,” Hyacinth said, stirring various dried plants into a mug of hot water.
“Thank you,” Morgan whispered. She liked this no-nonsense, wise old fae already.
Hyacinth offered her the cup and Morgan sipped it, tasting notes of sage and juniper, clover and nutmeg, plus something else that she couldn’t discern. “How do you know what to put in each mug?” Morgan asked, taking another drink of the soothing elixir.
“My essence guides my hand, and it’s my essence that does the most healing. However, I can speak to what ails you in a way and the herbs or spices I choose for the cup reflect what your body craves. It makes taking the draught much easier to consume too.”
Morgan immediately felt her body growing stronger, less exhausted from when she woke. “Do you ever choose something that tastes bad?”
“Yes of course, but the recipient needs to drink it regardless for the healing to happen. I also heal directly with my essence. Some more challenging cases need more work as well. Your sister was wrapped up in a paste and left to sleep with it overnight when she couldn’t recover from her lung infection and fever. I dare say she didn’t find it too pleasant!”
Morgan’s eyes grew wide. “She was sick? How?”
Hyacinth bit her bottom lip. “I shouldn’t say. I’ll leave the story for her to tell.”
A knock on the door startled the three women, but Morgan heard her sister’s familiar voice and the unease disappeared. Avery walked into the room and went directly to Morgan, tugging her into a hug and kissing her on her scarred cheek. “I’m so happy you’re safe and you’re here!”
Morgan gave a weak smile and put her cup down before she spilled it in her sister’s next embrace. Avery slid into the bed next to her, crossing her legs and leaning close enough to touch Morgan. “I’ve missed you, Ave. I’m sorry I left the way I did. I just—I couldn’t stay here.”
Avery took Morgan’s hand in hers and gave it a squeeze. “It’s okay. I’m sorry too. I should have listened to you when you said you were uncomfortable with coming here. I was being selfish.”
“It’s okay. I think we were both being a little selfish at the time. I shouldn’t have abandoned you the way I did.” Morgan squeezed her sister’s hand back before bringing her fingers to the crown on Avery’s head. She didn’t even know what to think. Her irresponsible ski bum sister was now a queen. “Ave, wow.”
Avery grimaced. “It’s complicated, but basically this crown and the title of Queen was another thing forced on me by Althea. Don’t make too much out of it, okay?”
Morgan nodded. “Okay.”
“By the way, I’m sorry Savine attacked you when you landed here. I’m so angry at him, looking at him makes me furious.”
Morgan gritted her teeth. As far as she knew, Avery had always just casually dated. Now she’d bound her soul to a fae king and was already angry at him. To be fair, Morgan would be ready to slice Rylo’s throat if he laid a finger on Avery.
