Page 13 of Restored

“You need to leave before I alert the guards outside my door of your presence,” I threaten.

“Name your price.”

“I cannot be bought. I can’t help you.”

“Ple—”

“LEAVE,” I cut him off, my mind already made up.

His eyes harden and the muscle in his jaw ticks. His magic pulses harshly around him and my stomach flips. I hold my breath, bracing for his next move.

“You deny me so easily. Without thought of what will happen as a result.”

“I do not have a choice.” I plead with him to understand.

“One always has a choice.” His eyes are hard, his presence even more intimidating as I take another nervous step back. He clocks the movement and after several seconds of silence, when he realizes I will not be swayed, he finally speaks in a clipped tone behind gritted teeth, “As you wish.” He backs out of the room, the balcony doors slamming shut, causing me to flinch.

“Everything okay?” Hecktor cracks the door.

“Yes, the wind just caught the doors. I think I’m going to call it a night.” He does a sweep of the room, and I hide my hands behind my back so he doesn’t see them shaking.

“Okay, I will be here at eight tomorrow to escort you to the infirmary. Be ready.” He shuts the door.

I wipe sweaty palms against my thighs and pace around the room attempting to calm my thrashing heart. Unease eats at me, filling the pockets of my mind and unsettling my stomach.

I stagger to the bathroom, lathering my hands in soap. I scrub rigorously, watching numbly as the bubbles swirl down the drain. The water might as well be tinged red. All I can think is I’ve just condemned someone to their death.

“Is everything okay?”Sky finally asks me after it takes four tries to heal the ailment of our last patient. I’ve been painfully struggling to heal every patient today, warring against my straying thoughts. “Why don’t you take a break? I can handle it for a while,” she offers with an encouraging smile.

“Okay,” I agree, my shoulders sagging. “I think I’ll get some fresh air.” I wash my hands, leave the infirmary, and make my way to one of the side terraces.

The sun immediately warms my skin as I sink down the heated stone wall dropping my head onto my knees and pinching the bridge of my nose.

I startle as Hecktor’s knuckles rap against the glass window, alerting me of his presence. A second later the terracedoors swing open. Hecktor waves a sweet roll in the air before tossing it to me. It’s still warm when I catch it.

“Thank you,” I call after him, hearing his responding grunt as the doors swing closed. Ineedto eat—to replenish my power reserves but have no appetite. My stomach is tight, churning with unease and I can’t shake the bad feeling that has rooted itself inside me.

The look in the prince of Westray’s eyes keeps flashing in my mind. It had been desperate at first but was replaced rapidly with something like determination and before he left, malice. The interaction is on repeat in my mind and makes me wish for King Sandor’s memory-altering powers.

I want to find Maddox, seek comfort in him, and tell him of the interaction but am too much of a coward to face him. If our kiss had revealed anything, it’s that I am weak, and if he tried to kiss me again, I’m not confident I wouldn’t fold entirely.

We are good together, him and I. We complement each other and know one another intimately, but until I have time to think clearly, I can’t give him the answer he deserves.

I force a few bites of the sweet roll down, the sweet, buttery flavor tasting like ash on my tongue. Brushing myself off, I inhale deeply and begin walking back to the infirmary.

The rest of the day doesn’t get better. My healing is sloppy, but I manage to fumble my way through it. It’s a grueling few hours that leaves me feeling completely inept.

Sky is gracious enough not to ask me about it again, but I don’t miss her surprised and concerned stares as she pays witness to me laboring with my abilities.

I wash the day away once back in my rooms, dress in one of my white under dresses and then attempt to distract myself with a book. Upon further inspection, I realize Maddox has ripped out multiple pages of my current novel.

Sighing, I make my way to the door. Hecktor is standing at attention, and he doesn’t move, only lifts an eyebrow. “Do you have the report from your shift in town today?” Hecktor always has a report of the townsfolk’s needs after his shifts. It is how I know who needs my powers most.

He pulls a small piece of paper out of his front pocket. “Did you eat dinner yet?” he questions, holding the paper out of reach.

“Yes,” I answer, and he nods once before handing it to me.

“Good.” He looks around to make sure we are alone. “If you decide to leave the castle grounds tonight, I’d like to escort you. You should not be without protection.” His voice is low, and he stands at attention as he speaks.

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