“Dragon what?” Her mouth popped open.
“Nothing to do with the magical beast, don’t worry.” I looked up from my notes with a chuckle. “It’s just the name of the condition, because the dry patches resemble dragon scales.”
“Oh…” she breathed. “And it’s not contagious?”
I shook my head while her shoulders sagged in relief.
“Have you seen any other healers about this?” I asked gently.
“No,” she replied, but then she winced. “Actually, my mother visited one when I was very small. He told her to pour whisky on it –” I almost choked – “and she did that until I was old enough to smash all the bottles outside. It used to sting… really badly.”
“I can imagine it would.” My own skin burned with the pain she must’ve endured. Shuddering, I tried to focus back on the patient instead of the misinformed ‘healer’ this girl’s mother must’ve paid a fortune for.
“I’m going to give you some parchment,” I went on, finishing off my notes. “Take this to Ivy at the medicinecounter and she’ll give you the powder you need. There’s also some notes on how to apply it and what the herb looks like, so if you run out, you’ll be able to find it yourself.”
“Oh, thank you, Your Highness.” She took the parchment, dipping her head low as if I’d just gifted her solid gold.
I passed her a smile. “Before you visit Ivy could you please let the guard outside know I’m ready for my next patient?”
“Of course.” She stood quickly, bowing one last time. “I’ll never forget your kindness. We’re all so grateful to you and your people.” Then the young woman hurried out, still clutching the parchment tightly.
Smiling, I busied myself with preparing the next parchment slip. While I worked, a strange warmth crept up from my toes. It took root in my chest, wrapping around my heart enough to make me giggle.I really was so happy here. I basked in that feeling until bootsteps sounded around the screen.
“Just take a seat and I’ll be with you in a minute,” I said with a grin. But then the quill slipped out of my hand when I heardhisvoice vibrate across the desk.
“What a nice little setup you’ve arranged for yourself, human.”
I jolted back. Prince Arenn was sitting in the chair across from me, one elbow propped against the desk while his amber eyes pierced into mine. His faery ears were hidden behind a glamour, and it appeared he’d stolen one of Lukas’s shirts, but it was still undeniably him.Cruel. Wicked. Murderer.I hated the way my heart fluttered anyway.
“It’s so good to see you, Naria,” he mused, his silver earrings glinting as he tilted his head. “Our bond is so strong now, I didn’t even have to search for you. I just followed the feeling until I could sense where you were. And here you are.” He leaned back, studying me. “Hidden away and playing doctor with your friends.” A smirk pulled at his sharp faery lips. “You know, if you dislike royal life here that much, I can take you back to Faelenna right now. You wouldn’t even need to explain yourself to anyone. I could whisk you away just like that.” He clicked his fingers, and the sound made me flinch.
“If you touch me I’ll scream,” I warned, but my cutting tone only seemed to humour him.
“Scream and it’ll only make me want to whisk you away faster,” he taunted. When my face paled, he laughed cruelly before tracing his fingertips along the desk. “But fear not, sweet princess.” His laughter slowed. “I won’t take you away from here just yet, not if you’d like to stay a while.”
I tried to steady my breath while he glanced up at the tall window nearby. Stars peeked through the glass as if winking at us.
“It’s so strange being above ground,” he continued casually. “But I’ll happily stay here with you until you’re ready to leave, if that’s what you want.”
“I don’t,” I chewed out. “And neither does my fiancé, so I suggest – if you’re feeling better – that you leave before he finds out you wandered in here.”
Arenn’s eyes turned molten. “Iam your fiancé, human. Do not forget that.”
I swallowed thickly.
A few heavy beats passed before Arenn exhaled androlled out his shoulders. “Actually… Now that you mention it, I am still feeling quite unwell.”
“Really?” My lips thinned.
“Of course,” he said quickly. “I don’t like liars, remember?”
I tried to breathe away the dark rose colour staining my cheeks while he chuckled, leaning forward in his seat.
“I’ve had all manner of symptoms,” he murmured. “My heart races. My skin feels hot.” He drew closer again until our faces were inches apart. “My thoughts are consumed by one certain human.”
I twisted my face away, but then I gasped as his fingers caught my chin and he dragged my ear towards his lips.
“Occasionally my thoughts are so intense that I feel a tightening.” His hot breath tickled my ear. “A rather urgent tightening down in my—”
