Page 89 of The Sorrow of Shadows

“I’ve known Jade for a long time. I’m rather good at getting under her skin when I want to.”

“Am I going to have to let her punch me each time I want her to eat?” I ask, my eyes comically wide.

Elijah lets out a loud, boisterous laugh. “If you keep having issues, just come get me, doll. I’m happy to oblige. She’s too weak from not eating to really hurt me right now, anyway.”

“Oh, thank the gods.” I sigh in relief.

We’re back in the library, Elijah lounging on a cushioned bench, as I’m bent over, inspecting the purple bruise spreading under his left eye. My fingers trace the edges of the bruised skin tenderly.

“Need a closer look, doll?” His voice is flirtatious, and the next second his hands are on my hips, pulling me into his lap.

I’m straddling him, his arm banded around my lower back, holding me close.

He grins at me. “If I tell you it hurts, will you nurse me back to health, Ophelia?”

I still at his words; there’s no way he could know about my abilities.

He senses my hesitancy, and his lips drop. “I was only joking, Ophelia. Did I make you uncomfortable?”

“N-no, it’s not that.” I lay my hand on his cheek. I make an impulsive, probably reckless decision. “Put up a sound shield.”

He does as I ask, then cants his head in question at me.

I take a deep breath before speaking. “You can’t tell anyone.”

“Can’t tell anyone what?” he asks, but I’m already pushing my healing power into his skin.

The prickling sensation passes from my fingers into the skin of his face, and his jaw drops. Tentative fingers prod at the space beneath his eye that was bruised and swollen just moments ago.

“Did you just—” His words cut off like he can’t believe what just happened.

“Heal you? Yes,” I say softly.

“That’s...that’s amazing.” His voice is full of awe.

“Only a few know, and I’d like to keep it that way.”

“Your secret is safe with me,” he promises with a smile. “But I have questions.”

I playfully roll my eyes. “Of course you do.”

“I guess the first is a bit of a confession.” He looks at me sheepishly. “I’ve known about your Gift since the day I ran into you in the hall...I wasn’t wearing gloves and I accidentally read your memories. I saw you heal Lyla.”

My jaw drops, and I stare at him. “You’ve known for weeks?”

He nods in confirmation, looking almost nervous.

“And you haven’t told anyone. Not even Breyla?” My mind races at this revelation. Breyla knew about my Gift, but that’s because I had saved her life with it. I was sure she didn’t know about it prior.

“I just figured there was a reason you hadn’t told anyone, and it wasn’t my place to say anything. Selfishly, I wanted you to trust me enough to tell me yourself.” His large brown eyes stare up into mine, begging me to believe him.

“I trust you, Elijah,” I whisper, and he smiles at me. “You said you had questions?”

“First, why do you keep this a secret? Your power is amazing and easily makes you one of the most powerful in the kingdom. There are so few healers—none even in the capital. The ones Rimor has are treated like royalty.”

I don’t bother to correct him that I’m not technically a healer; I’m something different, something more. “Because my father would find some way to use it to his benefit; he always finds a way to use me.”

“Your father is a piece of shit,” Elijah spits.

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