I hold up my leg to her along with my breath, hoping we can skip the retelling of how it happened.
That’s why I appreciate when she peers over her counter for two seconds to look at it and doesn’t ask any questions. She just says, “It shouldn’t be a problem, but it’ll cost you.”
“Name it.”
“There’s a rare flower that’s difficult to find. It thrives in the harshest environments and is sought after by the most ferocious of beasts—”
It sounds like Medein had more deterrents to list, but Caleb cuts her off. “Done.”
My wolf purrs at the way he doesn’t miss a beat.
He didn’t hesitate, and it threw me off for a second. He is so eager to undo the wrong that was done to me.
I think it throws Medein for a loop as well, but she quickly regains her composure. “Help me clear the counter.”
Once done, Medein pats the cleared surface. “Up.”
I’m about to climb when Caleb scoops me into his arms and places me on top. He releases me but stays nearby.
Medein’s eyes linger between the two of us, but she blinks the thought away. She takes a look at the carving again, then sifts around her kitchen, grabbing crystals, black stones, a cloth, a mortar and pestle. Then, she moves to her plants in the windowsill and pulls off several leaves.
On the small cloth is a north star, embroidered into the fabric. She places a stone on each point and crystals in the four corners of the cloth. In the center, she places a mortar, which she uses to grind the ingredients.
At first, it seems like a home remedy I could memorize and replicate at home. Then, she mutters in a language I don’t recognize until the contents glow an enchanted magenta. When the glow fades, the dry ingredients are transformed into a paste. She dips her fingers in and rubs the substance over my tattoo.
The magenta glow returns, and once it dissipates, the carving is gone, leaving seemingly untouched skin.
I inspect it further, making sure my eyes aren’t deceiving me. “Wow. It’s gone. Just like that.”
“That’s amazing. How’d you do that?”
Medein shrugs. “Magic.”
I’m about to thank her myself, but Caleb beats me to it. “Thank you.”
“Yes, thank you.”
She smiles. “Don’t mention it.”
I go to hop off the counter when Caleb scoops me into his arms again and eases me onto the floor himself. My back is against the counter, and he’s painfully close to me.
His eyes gaze into mine as he asks, “I’m sure Medein could get rid of other scars. But only if you wanted her to.”
Medein holds up a finger. “Not for free, I won’t.”
“Of course, but I’m not worried about the price,” he says to her. He looks back at me. “What do you want to do?”
It was one thing for him to remember the scars I have and the memories behind them—something I never expected him to care about—especially since I hadn’t even thought about it myself. It was another to offer to cover all costs without question.
I consider his offer, then I decline. Which surprises me because I never liked them. But, I guess I’ve earned them. And because I’ve worn them for so long, they’ve become part of me. Erasing them could never erase what happened to me.
Caleb frowns when I reject his generous offer. I can’t tell why he’s frowning—is it because he wants them gone? I search his face for answers, but I find none.
If he wanted me to remove them, would I?
The thought that I would consider changing myself for a male scares me. I needed a minute to myself. “Can I use your bathroom?”
“Of course.” Medein starts to gather the objects in her arms to clear her counter. She nods to the arched doorway. “Down the hall, and to the left.”
