Page 7 of His Noble Savior

“T-Twenty,” Lilian said, the word muffled against Richard’s shoulder.

“You’re not going to live for the centuries you expected to, but you still have a lot of time. I expect you to live into your seventies. You have decades ahead of you during which you’re going to age no faster than a human.”

Lilian sat up, collecting himself, but he remained pressed against Richard. “I appreciate you telling me. At least I’m not dying.”

The healer’s eyebrows lifted. “Not at all. Once your wounds have healed, you can resume your normal life. Your body will recover, and I expect your health to remain stable for a longtime. You can enjoy the coming decades just as a human your age would. Also, I have some remedies that’ll help you heal.”

She pulled two vials from her satchel. “Ask the servants to prepare a hot bath for you, and pour this into the water.” She held up a green flask, the base wrapped in leaves. “This is a healing oil that will remedy your bruises and superficial injuries.” The healer showed them the second vial, which was filled with an amber liquid in which flower petals and small, coiling pieces of grass floated. “This is faerie oil.”

“Faerie oil?” The words burst out of Richard unbidden. He knew the substance, every adult in Vale did, though in a different context.

“It might come as a surprise,” the healer said, “but faerie oil has exceptional healing properties. Yes, it’s employed to smooth intercourse, but it also prevents and heals anal injuries.”

Richard was dumbstruck. He’d used faerie oil every time he’d been with a man. It was wonderfully slick and caused a warm, tingling sensation in the places it was applied to. He hadn’t been aware of its medical use. But it made sense—intercourse without faerie oil could lead to an intense soreness lasting for days.

“The oil will speed your recovery and take away any discomfort,” the healer told Lilian. “From what I’ve seen, I assume you’re in pain?”

“Excruciatingly so.”

Richard closed his eyes and clenched his jaw, holding his flaring wrath inside. His hold on Lilian stayed gentle as he fought his hatred for the beasts who’d done this to him.

“You have an internal wound caused by the orcs’ repeated violation of your body. For the next few weeks, the oil needs to be applied to your insides morning and night and whenever you feel pain. After a fortnight, your injury should be healed. The wound runs quite deep, and it’ll be difficult for you to sufficiently spread the oil yourself. The Summer Court isn’t far, and I canvisit Somerdale Castle twice a day to help you. The sooner we begin your treatment, the quicker your pain will subside. I recommend we start immediately. Richard, if you don’t mind leaving us for a minute, I’ll get started with Lilian.”

“Of course.”

Richard made to get up and step outside to grant Lilian privacy, but shaky hands curled into the sleeve of his shirt. Lilian looked at him with pleading eyes, silently asking him to stay. Richard would never deny him, and so he sank back onto the divan. If Lilian wanted him by his side for this, he’d stay.

The healer moved to uncork the vial, and a violent tremor raced through Lilian, making his teeth chatter. The faerie oil would have to be applied inside Lilian, an intimate act that surely terrified him after what the orcs had done.

“Please don’t worry,” the healer said, “applying the faerie oil doesn’t hurt. It takes away the pain.”

Lilian squeezed his eyes shut, visibly trying to rein in his shivering body.

“She won’t hurt you,” Richard said. “I’m right here. I’ll hold your hand through it.”

Lilian scrunched up his face in visible agony. “I can’t,” he pressed out. Sweat pearled on his forehead.

Richard’s heart broke for Lilian. He wanted to tell him that the healer would make him better, that yes, it was difficult to bear, but it’d be worth it. At the same time, he understood where the fear came from. After being violated, of course Lilian balked at the idea of being touched in intimate places. Richard respected his wishes. If Lilian didn’t want to be touched, even if it was to help him, then he wouldn’t be touched.

The healer’s eyes darted between them, taking in how Lilian clung to him. “Would you prefer it if Richard applied the faerie oil?”

Richard froze. Lilian’s tremors drained away, and he wentslack.

Had he heard right? Richard furrowed his brow. The healer couldn’t have meant what he thought she’d said. If Lilian didn’t want a healer to touch him, she couldn’t possibly suggest that Richard, who had no medical training, was a better solution.

“Have you used faerie oil before?” the healer asked Richard.

“Yes, but—”

“Then you know what to do. This is no different.” The healer gave him a burst of mechanical instructions that heated the tips of his ears. She couldn’t be serious. This was the last thing Lilian wanted. “Would you be all right if Richard did it?”

Lilian lowered his eyes, a faint pink gracing his cheeks. “Yes.”

“Then it’s settled. Unless you have any objections?” The healer raised an eyebrow at Richard.

What was he supposed to say? He’d help Lilian in any way possible, though he’d have to check with him when they were alone. Lilian might’ve only said yes to get out of this uncomfortable situation. “It’s fine.”

“Perfect. I’ll leave you to it. Reach out if there’s no improvement within the coming days or whenever you need more faerie oil.”