Page 72 of Restored

Ledger listens intently as I finish. “Have you ever thought bad thoughts? What would happen if you pictured a bone breaking or a throat closing?”

“I’m a healer, why would I ever do that?”

“To protect yourself. I want to see if you can harm the very same things you mend. If your power can work in the opposite manner.”

“You’ve got to be kidding me. Why can’t you volunteer Cam or Mia for this?” Archie protests. We both look at himuntil he huffs, conceding. “I’ll do it for you, Layla, but go easy on me.”

I send him a sweet smile.

“You’re welcome, by the way,” he says with a grimace.

Ledger steps up next to me so our arms are brushing. “Close your eyes and find your power.” I do as he says and find it humming softly in my chest.

I startle as Ledger’s hands come to rest on my hips. My pulse accelerates at the contact. The hold I have on my power trips as my attention shifts. My mind drifts to how deliciously his calluses scraped against my bare skin, the warmth as they caressed my curves, how his fingers felt inside of me.

“Is this alright? Do you have it?” he asks innocently.

I clear my throat, snapping myself out of the devious thoughts. My hands move to his, and I gently pry them off. “I am finding it hard to focus; maybe if I stand over here.” I take two steps away from Ledger, noting the smirk he tries to hide.

I take a deep breath, scolding myself before reaching again for my power. The second I feel it, I nod my head, keeping my eyes closed. “I’ve got it.”

“Okay, now send it out to Archie, let it do what it normally does.” I take a steadying breath and do as he says.

The air shutters as my power skims curiously along Archie’s body. When it doesn’t find anything, it delves inside of him.

Archie inhales sharply as it skates over his organs and through his veins. “This feels kind of nice.”

“Now focus on his heartbeat.” Ledger’s hand comes to my upper back. “Speed it up.”

My power resists at first but follows my command.

“How do you feel, Arch?” Ledger calls to him.

“Like my heart is racing, breathless, lightheaded, my chest hurts a bit,” he responds, and at that last part, I let off on the command.

“That was good. Now try slowing it down.” I do as Ledger says, and Archie falters a step.

“And now?” Ledger asks.

“I feel tired, dizzy, and there is a sharp pain in my chest.” Archie’s eyebrows pull into a frown, and I release his heart from the command, bewildered.

“I think it’s working. Now focus on his hands, move to a finger, and try to break it,” Ledger commands and my eyes widen, thinking he must be joking. He just nods towards Archie.

I look to Archie to tell me to stop but he just makes a tortured noise. “Make it quick,” he whines. “You owe me.”

I take another deep breath and refocus on my power. I send it down his arm and to his fingertips. This takes more effort than I’d like to admit. I’m panting when I finally get to the finger of my choosing.

I focus on the bone in his pointer finger and imagine snapping it, breaking it clean in two. My power thrashes unhappily for a moment before Archie hisses a pained breath.

“Did it work?” My eyes snap open and Archie is grasping at his hand.

“What do you think, Layla? Now fucking heal me already,” Archie barks, and I break out in a wide smile.

“I did it!” I smile incredulously at Ledger, and his eyes drift down, pausing. His own lips lift in a soft, proud grin I relish in.

“I don’t know what kind of sick foreplay you two are into, but can you gape at each other later? This finger has been used to pleasure many women, and if it is affected at all after this, I will never speak to you again.”

“Sorry, Archie, also that was more information than I needed.” I walk to him and heal the very break thatImade.

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