Page 154 of The Robin on the Oak Throne

Then she clipped the girl in the kidneys and said,“Down.”

She only opened her eyes after they both collapsed to the ground. Kierse’s jaw was on the floor.

“What the fuck was that?” Kierse demanded.

“Healing,” Niamh said simply.

“That…doesn’t look like healing.”

“There are two sides to healing,” Gen said. Her eyes drifted to the pair of Druids with a frown, but she recited the words rote. “Sustaining the body and relieving the body. All life is a circle, an ouroboros, birth and life and death. You cannot learn only parts of the practice or else it stunts all growth.”

“Precisely,” Niamh said with pride in her voice.

Gen preened under Niamh’s praise.

Niamh nudged Kierse with a laugh. “Stop looking so shocked. They’re just sleeping. We also don’t have unlimited resources. We don’t want to have to do that with everyone.”

“Well, at least I know you can handle yourself,” Kierse said once they’d moved the guards out of the way and continued on at a faster clip. “If you’re learningdeathmagic.”

“We don’t wield that,” Niamh said automatically. “Only to ease suffering.”

Kierse had doubts. If someone could use the magic, then they would. Of that she was certain.

It was only a few more minutes before Niamh stopped in front of Ethan’s room. Kierse focused her mind on the hook in her chest. Lorcan had moved, but he wasn’t heading their direction just yet. They had a few minutes before her part began.

Gen knocked twice on the door. Her hand still hoveredin the air when it was wrenched open.

Time froze as the three friends looked between each other. Ethan, who had always been gangly, standing there all beefed out, wearing a green T-shirt a size too small to make him look even bigger and fitted running shorts. Gen with a hand toward him, almost as if she couldn’t believe he was real. And Kierse, trying to fight back the hurt of their last interaction, hoping Gen could heal it like she always did.

“Gen!” Ethan gasped, throwing his arms around her. “What are you doing here?”

Gen buried her face into his chest and squeezed. “We came to see you.”

“We should get inside,” Niamh warned.

“There’s not a lot of time,” Kierse added. She put her hand on her heart again. It was like she could feel thatsoulmatebond tugging closer.

“It’s not much,” Ethan said, self-conscious of his space as they barreled inside.

In fact, it made the attic look like luxury. There was a narrow twin bed against one wall. A utilitarian desk next to that with a wooden chair. Papers were neatly piled on the desk, and an ink pen rested on top. A chest sat at the end of the bed with drawers for his provided clothing. There were no familiar touches. No pictures. No books. And worst of all for Ethan, no plants.

“Where are your plants?” Kierse asked on instinct.

“There’s a greenhouse,” he said quickly. “It’s part of classes.”

Kierse eyed him skeptically. “You’re okay only seeing them during classes.”

Ethan tensed at the words. “Are you second-guessing the curriculum or are you just here to argue with me again?”

“Stop,” Gen said.

Kierse’s back went up immediately at his words. She could see Ethan was ready to bite again if he felt his place as a Druid was threatened. And thatwasn’twhy they were here.

“I’m not here to fight. I never want to fight with you,” she said softly.

“We’re here because tonight is Nate and Maura’s engagement party,” Gen told him.

Ethan’s jaw dropped. “They’reengaged?”

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