Page 3 of The Healer

She shivered at his words and gave him a weak smile. “I’ve had worse, and you weren’t yourself.” Nyx pushed away from the wall, feeling achy all over, and thanked the stars she’d survived. Tonight, had not gone as she’d planned. It definitely wasn’t the ideal rendezvous she’d imagined with her mate. “You good?”

He snorted, pinching the bridge of his nose between his thumb and pointer finger. “I attacked you, and yet you’re asking me if I’m alright?”

“Yeah, I am.”Because you’re besotted.

He shook his head. “No, I’m not.”

That broke her heart. “That’s okay. All of us are a little broken. It’s made a bit more bearable with friends though.” Nyx smiled at him. “No need to worry yourself. I forgive you.”

“You shouldn’t.” He dropped his hands, fingers curling into fists at his sides.

“What are friends for?” She held her right palm out. “Shall we shake hands and put this behind us?”

Briggs started and then took a step backward. “I don’t need any friends.”

Nyx jerked as if he’d slapped her. She dropped her hand and wrapped her arms around herself. Was he rejecting her?

His expression cleared and he strode toward the door, making sure to give her a wide berth. “I’ll send a healer to you. I’msosorry.”

Nyx blinked as he practically sprinted from the library.

She’d come with plans to seduce him, and he’d almost killed her.

They were off to a great start.

Chapter Two

NYX

Present Day

Callmai wasone of her new favorite places. There was something about the blue-green water, the soft white sand, and salt air that called to her. While Nyx had loved being one of the healers at Lady Lochlee’s children’s home, it had been time for her to move on. At least for a little while.

Her heart panged and she rubbed at her chest. The ache had lessened over the last three months, but Briggs’ rejection still had cut deep. She’d waited all these years for him, had spent years looking for a cure for his malady, only to discover something that could help, and he turned it down. Not only that, but he’d grown angry at her for it, for looking after him.

The bastard.

She plucked a shell off the beach and tossed it into the waves with a growl. So much time wasted on a man who’d didn’t want her. The thought alone was enough to bring Nyx to her knees. Noone found their mate at sixteen. Why did she think she was any different? Her life had never been a fairytale.

Sinking her fingers into the sand, she blinked hard against the tears that blurred her vision.

The worst part though was the thought that she’d lost her best friend. They’d grown so close over the years, training as healers and then spearheading the rebellion. She’d always harbored hope for the time when they’d be able to be together safely. Maybe she’d read too much into his one lapse of self-control.

Stop dwelling on him. He won’t change his mind.

“Bah!” she yelled, startling some of the seagulls into flight from the nearby rocks. She didn’t need Briggs to be happy.She’d conquered so much hardship and heartache in her lifetime, what was one more cut?

Nyx closed her eyes and inhaled, savoring the sea breeze on her cheeks.

All she needed was to move forward instead of looking into the past.

“Nyx!”

She opened her eyes and glanced over her shoulder. Marche—Chesh’s first mate—loped toward her through the sand. She smiled at him. Nyx swore the handsome man never did anything slow. He was always bursting with energy, like his body just couldn’t contain it.

He slowed at her side, blowing his downy white hair from his blue eyes. Long gold earrings twinkled from his ears. “What are you doing out here by yourself, beautiful?”

“Thinking.” She stood and brushed the sand from her hands.

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