Page 91 of The Prince's Captive

Even amongst their best, and finding those amongst them with the largest vitae reservoirs, the readings he was getting from this rock were more than double what even their strongest mages had. It was an anomaly.

He’d never encountered an object like this before, and neither had any of the academics, nor had there been anything like it in their recorded history. An object with no runes marking it somehow containing vitae. His people had made infusing vitae into objects through runes possible. It was how they were able to create objects like cuffs that blocked a mage from accessing their vitae or the scalpels the healers used to manipulate vitae in others.

Gavril forced himself to swallow as just the thought of the object brought back the horrific image of Marcella on the table and the healer starting to run such a scalpel into the vitae path in Marcella’s skin.

The sound of the door opening was a welcome distraction—until he saw who was opening it.

Nikias.

“I’m busy,” Gavril snapped, sitting back down as Nikias stepped into the sparse workroom.

“I bet you are. Father told me he’s disappointed at your lack of progress,” Nikias said, shutting the door behind him and glancing over Gavril with a sharp eye.

Only two people knew his tells.

Well, there would probably be three if Marcella wasn’t always wearing the limiters that prevented her from being able to sense not just her vitae but his as well. If she could, she’d be able to feel the illusions he cast over himself. The two who could:

Aimilia, who was avoiding Gavril.

Nikias, whom Gavril was avoiding.

“So you know that I really do need to focus and can’t afford any unnecessary distractions,” Gavril said, turning back to his notes.

“I know what that means. Come on, you look fine, but you never are.” Nikias said, walking up to the table and eyeing Gavril sharply. “Let me see it.”

“This time I am fine. I promise.” Gavril lied as easily as he breathed. But now he was hyperaware of the ache in his back and the stiff way he was sitting, yet he couldn’t move or else he’d give himself away. “Now if I’m going to stay that way, I need to focus.”

“Don’t make me cast until I shatter your illusion,” Nikias said, stopping when he was beside Gavril, leaning against the table as he did so. His voice lowered. “I can help.”

Gavril snorted. “The only area in which you don’t excel is healing.” Then Gavril added, “Not that I need it.”

Nikias’ eyes narrowed and his voice was particularly waspish as he said, “I’ve taken it upon myself to improve.”

Nikias’ failure as an emergency healer was a sore spot.

Gavril had been hoping that invoking it might be enough to send Nikias out the door.

“Besides, you’re not going to go to a better healer. I’m your only option,” Nikias said. “So, come on, how bad is it?”

His brother was the most infuriating man he’d ever met.

Gavril let out a long sigh. He moved his fingers and banished his illusion. Then he reached up and unclasped the right side of his chiton, turning his back to Nikias as he did so. Nikias immediately sucked in a sharp breath at the sight of the dark purple bruise.

“Alright. I can handle a bruise,” Nikias said, although Gavril was fairly certain he was trying to reassure himself and not Gavril. Out of the corner of his eye, he could see Nikias lift his hands and then he felt them on his shoulder, right above the top of the bruise. He felt his brother’s fingers move in a healing rune.

As much as Gavril’s stubborn pride was wounded, he couldn’t deny how much better he felt as the bruise and accompanying ache faded. Once it had faded completely, Nikias pulled his hands back and Gavril moved to reclasp his chiton and throw Nikias out.

Just because he let his brother heal him didn’t mean he’d forgiven him for what he’d done to Marcella.

But Nikias was already peering over Gavril’s notes. He said, “Find anything of use? I’m starting to think we should just have someone take this rock out in a boat and pitch it into the Abyss to see what happens.”

“Not yet,” Gavril muttered. “Other than the fact that it’s got more vitae than you.”

“I hope you have a better idea than this rock and rolling around in the dirt with your she-wolf because frankly, you’re getting more from the rock,” Nikias said.

“How many times do I have to say it? Stop calling her that!” Gavril snapped, grabbing the papers and jerking them away from Nikias. “Get out and let me work in peace. I swear, Nikias, if you only offered to help me in order to force me to talk to you, I will—”

“I’m not trying to force you to talk to me. Has it ever occurred to you maybe I want to talk to you? You’re my brother even if you don’t want to be.” Nikias huffed, pulling his hands back. “I came here to help you because you’re my brother.”

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