Page 73 of Royal Hunt
I had no idea what they were talking about, but Ellis’s grip around my waist tightened as he guided the horse over to the barn, and inside.
No one was about, which was odd for this time of day.
“Sorry, this is going to hurt.”
Before I could process what was happening, Viana yanked me down off the horse and onto the ground. I nearly passed out from the white-hot agony that overtook my body from my ribs.
“I assume you’re the donor?” Viana drawled to Ellis, looking angry at me for some reason.
“Yes,” Ellis said emphatically, glaring at her.
Viana shook her head, put one of her hands in Ellis’s, then hovered the other over my chest as she closed her eyes.
“What—” I began, then cut off as Viana opened her eyes, revealing two white, glowing orbs staring back at me. White light emanated from the hand over my chest, white tendrils slowly snaking down her wrist and spreading out along my body.
“I don’t think—”
“Shut. Up.”
Viana’s tone was different, and my mouth slammed shut without any help from me. Her voice sounded more ethereal, more … more like Cassus’s!
The pain in my side shrank as the light surrounded me, dulling into a low ache before disappearing completely. I took a deep, full breath in, and laughed at the relief I felt.
“That’s your power!” I whispered in awe. “You can heal—”
Viana pulled her hands back, the white light snapping out of existence like a candle whose flame had been snuffed. Her eyes returned to normal, but she didn’t look at me. Her concerned gaze fell to Ellis, who swayed at her side.
His face was sickly white, with dark bags under his eyes that hadn’t been there moments ago. His skin looked yellow and jaundiced, and his body smaller; almost as though he’d been in his sickbed for months.
“Ellis!” I yelled, sitting up quickly. Viana caught him easily as he tipped over.
“You’re both idiots,” she chastised.
“I don’t understand,” I began frantically. “Your power is to heal. Why don’t you fix him? Why don’t—”
“I don’theal,” she cut in harshly, arms holding onto Ellis tightly. “I can steal life force. Ellis gave some of his to heal you. He’ll be in a pretty poor way until he can build it back up. The stubborn ass would never letmedo it, so I didn’t bother.”
I blinked at the casual way she said all this, remembering the absolute control she’d had over her magick.
“You’ve had magick this whole time, just like Ellis!” I accused, pointing a finger at her.
She laughed wryly. “Why do you think he’s still alive? You really think he hasn’t tried to drink himself to death before? I wonder how many times a liver can regrow before it gives up.”
That shocked me speechless. I switched tactics. “Why can you control it and the others can’t?”
Viana slapped Ellis lightly in the face, ignoring me. “Come on, now. Wake up. We need to get you settled into your rooms.”
He groaned, but didn’t move. Viana growled in her chest. “Eve is here with no shirt on. You’re missing her tits.”
Ellis’s eyes snapped open, wide and in shock. I wanted to smack Viana, but I was too busy covering my mouth to hold off raucous laughter.
“I knew you were faking. Up you get.”
She stood and took Ellis with her, leaning him precariously against me.
“Need to–make the trade deal. Eve’s s’okay?” he slurred, definitely out of it.
Viana rolled her eyes. “Yes. Eve is fine. Yes, I’ll make up a trade deal. I’ll draft it up and send it to you, and will send the wagons as soon as I get home and settled. You don’t need to come.”
