Page 34 of Scaled Hearts

The offending arm is offered to me. I grab Kara by the arm and pull her forward, ignoring her gasp of surprise. The scales, as black as night, crawl up from her fingers and to the middle of her forearm. I twist her arm around a few times, looking at it from all angles.

“It is quite strange…” I mumble.

Kelly leans forward. “Do you know what it means?”

“No.” I peel her fingers apart to look at the webbing between them. “You say she’s had an outburst?”

The old woman behind me clears her throat. “Yes, very violent. It seems she can’t control her reactions and lashes out randomly.”

“Hm...”

“Are you okay, Agatha?” Kelly asks. “I’m sorry. I didn’t know this would happen, or else I would’ve warned you.”

“It’s alright, dear. Nothing you could’ve done.”

I let go of her sister’s wrist and roll up to a stand again. “I’ve never seen this before but there is a possible treatment.”

I can feel the entire room perk up immediately.

“Really?” Kelly stands and grabs my hand. “You know of one?”

“Possibly.” I give her a pointed look. “I can’t guarantee anything.”

She shakes her head at me. “I’ll take anything at this point. Even if it’s temporary.”

I can’t help but admire her. Her willingness to throw herself into whatever hapless cure that someone can give her, despite the possibilities of it not working out in the end, speaks volumes of her character.

I’ve never met anyone like Kelly before.

For some reason, seeing the determination in her eyes makes my chest ache. I wonder why?

“It’s called the Paradise Lotus. It’s said to cure more blights and curses. Whatever is infecting your sister, it’s spreading quickly.”

“Where can we find a Paradise Lotus?”

“I’m not sure.”

Kelly’s shoulders sag. “What?”

I shrug. “It’s largely extinct. I’ve only seen one once before and that was long before I ended up on my island.”

“Where was it? Maybe we can go there and check?”

“It’s in dark elf territory. Deep in the caverns. At that time, the war had caused ruins to fall over them, and the area was mostly abandoned.”

“Dark elf territory is dangerous, Kelly,” the old woman cuts in.

Kelly turns to look at her. “I have to go. Kara won’t survive if we do nothing.”

“I know, dear. But going there without protection will only get you killed.”

“I have protection.” She squeezes my hand, looking back at me.

A smile works its way onto my face. I’m conscious of the old woman side-eyeing me carefully, but am much too focused on how steady Kelly is in her conviction that I’ll protect her. Because of course I will, I’m her mate after all. I will burn down cities for her if she asks.

Outside of the hut, my ears pick up voices traveling up the small pathway.

I turn my head, frowning at the door.

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