Page 1 of The Healer

Chapter One

NYX

Seven YearsAgo

Briggs wasthe most stunning male Nyx had ever seen. With skin like midnight, a voice like velvet, and eyes of an old soul, he made something inside her cry out in longing.

At age sixteen, she was tall for a girl and the village women said she’d just continue to grow. Nyx towered over everyone, but next to Briggs… he made her feel downright petite. And she liked it.

Her brother had brought Briggs to them a short month ago but from that very moment, Nyx knew she wanted him to be hers. True she was too young for such things, at least that’s what Pyre said, yet Nyx knew in her heart that Briggs was the male for her. His quiet manner, shy nature, and kind soul made him perfect. It was three years until she’d be considered an adult in the Talagan culture, but that didn’t stop her body from reacting to his scent—his mating call.

Sweet poison, it just about dropped Nyx to her knees.

There was no doubt about it. He was a strong potential mate. Now all she had to do was make him notice her. Her shy bear kept to the edges of their society but tonight she’d draw him from his shell and make him see her.

Dressed in her best skirt and top, and a flagon of filched honeyed wine in her left hand, Nyx ghosted through the halls of the Dark Keep toward the library. Briggs was notorious for hiding himself away with the old dusty tomes and reading for hours.

Nyx padded to the library doors and took a deep breath, steadying her nerves. This was it. She’d been alone since her mother died, with Pyre coming and going, but never there. True, she loved him and didn’t begrudge him; it left her life a bit empty at times. But no more. Excitement skittered up her spine. Soon she’d have a mate of her very own.

Slipping inside, she smiled as the familiar scent of paper and warm candle wax curled around her. There was something so comforting about being surrounded by thousands of books. It was like being greeted by hundreds of potential new friends.

With her deep purple skirt swishing around her feet, Nyx navigated through the labyrinth of towering bookshelves with silent steps. She moved deeper into the library toward the small, windowed alcove near the back that Briggs favored. Nyx paused and peeked around the edge of the last bookshelf nearest to the niche. Her heart picked up pace and her palms began to sweat as she spotted her bear.

Some of her nerves melted away. Briggs sat on the floor with his back to the wall, strong legs stretched out before him, crossed at the ankles, chin on chest as he snored. Nyx slapped a hand over her mouth to stifle her giggles as the book in his hands teetered dangerously. Faint winter light slipped through a crack in the black velvet curtains and caught in his long sooty lashes. It was almost too picturesque.

Here goes nothing.

On bare feet, she tiptoed toward his alcove, halted just out of reach, and then knelt by his side to rescue his book. Carefully, she leaned over and pulled the tome from his hands and gently flipped it closed with her right hand.

“No!”

Nyx flinched, almost dropping the heavy book as her gaze flew to his face. Briggs’ brows slashed together, and a low growl rumbled in his chest, causing the hair along Nyx’s arms to rise. She examined his painful expression and how his eyes flickered beneath his lids.

A nightmare?

Time to wake him up.

“Briggs,” she whispered softly. Nyx didn’t want tostartle him awake.

No reaction.

She sat back on her heels, set down the wine and his book. The man was a hard sleeper.

Briggs growled again and shuddered, pressing back against the wall, brows lowered. “Don’t touch me.” His voice was guttural and terrified.

Nyx scooted closer and placed her left hand on his shoulder. “Briggs, wake up.” His face screwed up but he didn’t wake. She leaned closer, placing her right hand onto his chest and shook him harder. “Wake up! You’re having a nightmare.”

His eyes snapped open the same time his hand curled around her throat. Shock ran up her spine when he lunged forward, tumbling Nyx onto her back. She wheezed as he threw himself on top of her and squeezed.

“You’re hurting me.” She clawed at his hand; eyes wide as she stared up at her mate. “Briggs, it’s me, Nyx.”

His eyes were blank. No recognition.

Panic started to rise her throat and she kicked her legs against the stone floor to get traction.

“No lies, Mistress. I know what you are,” he hissed. She cried out when his grip tightened and he shook, clacking her teeth together. “I won’t let you hurt anyone else.”

You’re going to pass out. Fight.

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