“My mother taught me,” Damien said.
“Your mother taught you how to lie?”
“Not all bruises can be hidden. Sometimes you need a story.”
“Damien—”
“When we get to the hospital, we’ll say you’ve been having headaches. Once you’re in a room with a Healer, you can tell them the truth.”
He doesn’t want to talk about it.
“Okay.”
A friendly blonde woman sat at the front desk of the army hospital and smiled when they entered. “Good morning! How can I help you, Captain Fontaine?”
Damien leaned on the desk and let his charm flood the room. “I’m so glad you are on duty today, Celeste. My friend here keepsgetting headaches and wants to see a Healer. Are we in the right place?”
Celeste giggled. “Yes, Damien. We still haveHealersin thehospital.”
“Oh good, I would hate to have to leave you to go somewhere else.”
“What is your friend’s name?” she asked, picking up a pen.
“Evelyn Connolly.”
Celeste really looked at Evelyn for the first time. Her voice dropped in pitch. “Like the princess?”
“Indeed,” Damien said. “The first princess ever raised in a barn.”
“My father was a lord!” Evelyn snapped. “We had an estate!”
“She wanders outside a lot and sets the garden on fire.”
“I do not!”
Celeste rose from her chair. “It’s no trouble to find a Healer, Your Highness. I’ll be right back.” She scurried down the hallway.
“Why are you being a brat?” Evelyn asked Damien.
“Because I’m still mad about the crap you pulled last night.”
She froze. “I’m sorry?—”
“We’ll talk about it later.”
Celeste returned with a tall, dark-haired woman.
“Good morning, Princess Evelyn,” she said. “My name is Margot. I was your Healer after the incident last week.”
“I recognize your voice!” Evelyn remembered. “You were speaking with my father while I was waking up.”
“I’m glad to see you’ve gained your strength back. Let’s get you to a room to discuss your headaches.”
Evelyn glanced at Damien, but he was already flirting with Celeste.
Margot led her to an exam room, and Evelyn confessed as soon as the Healer closed the door. “I’m not really having headaches.”
“Oh?” Margot didn’t sound the least bit surprised.
