Page 28 of Naga Healer's Mate

“The head wound is healing nicely,” the healer murmured, “but you lost too much blood.You need rest.”

Nirrn’s scales bristled at the healer’s orders.“I need to find her.”

“You’ll be no good to anyone if you collapse in the street,” Joseph said from his position by the door.“Besides, the Jorvlens think you’re dead.Use that to your advantage.”

A low growl rumbled in Nirrn’s chest.“They took my mate.”

“And they’ll kill you both if you go charging in there now.”Joseph crossed his arms.“Look, once you’re stronger, you should just leave Jorvla.Get somewhere safe before they realize—”

“No.”Nirrn’s tail whipped out, knocking over a tray of medical supplies.The crash echoed through the small room.“I am not leaving without Islae.”

The healer stepped back.“Sir, please—”

“You don’t understand.”Nirrn’s eyes fixed on Joseph.“I spent years searching for her.Every day examining surrogates, feeling nothing, until I saw her in that alley.She is mine to protect, and I failed her.”His scaled shoulders tensed as he pushed himself up straighter.“I will tear this city apart stone by stone until I find her.”

Joseph’s face softened.“You really love her.Don’t you?”

“She is everything.”The words came out rough, raw with emotion.“And if they’ve harmed her…” His tail coiled tighter, his muscles rippling beneath his orange scales.

“At least give yourself today,” Joseph pleaded.“Regain your strength.Then we’ll help you find her.”

Nirrn’s hands gripped the bed, fighting against the weakness in his body.Every instinct screamed at him to move, to search, and to destroy anything between him and Islae.But Joseph was right.He needed his full strength to save her.

“One day,” he conceded, his voice hard.“No more.”

Nirrn shifted restlessly on the narrow bed, his orange-scaled tail coiling and uncoiling with agitation.The healer’s house smelled of herbs and antiseptic, reminding him of countless hours spent tending to others.But now, as he closed his eyes, all he could hear was Islae’s voice echoing through his mind.

“I love you!”Her desperate scream had torn through the chaos of the raid as he was losing consciousness.The memory made his muscles tense, a low growl rumbling in his chest.

He pressed his palm against his chest where the scales transitioned to smooth skin, feeling the steady beat of his heart.The mate bond pulsed there, a constant reminder of what they’d taken from him.

“Sir, you need to stay still,” the human healer muttered, attempting to check his bandages.

Nirrn’s tail whipped out in frustration, knocking over another tray.“Do not touch me.”

The healer backed away, his eyes wide.“Your wounds—”

“Mean nothing.”His eyes fixed on the ceiling, his voice lowering to a dangerous level.“I have lived my life by the healer’s oath.Always gentle.Always careful.”His hands clenched into fists.“And where has it gotten me?They took her.They took my mate.”

The rage building inside of him felt foreign, yet right.His shoulders tensed as he pushed himself upright.All these years he had believed his path lay in healing, in gentle touches and careful words.But now…

“I chose healing because I thought it was my nature,” he said, more to himself than the frightened healer.“But they have awakened something else in me.Something that demands blood.”

His tail moved with deadly precision, coiling around the bedpost.The wood groaned under the pressure until it snapped clean through.

“If they want a warrior,” he growled, “I will show them one.I will become what they fear most.”His golden eyes narrowed.“And they will gravely regret ever touching what is mine.”

The healer pressed himself against the wall.“You’re different than before.”

“Yes.”Nirrn’s massive frame straightened, ignoring the pain that shot through him.“I am becoming what I need to be.For her.”

The door suddenly burst open, sending a gust of stale air through the healer’s house.Nirrn’s scales rippled as Joseph and a human scout rushed in, their boots scuffing against the stone floor.

“We found her,” the scout said, his breath coming in quick gasps.

Nirrn surged upward, his tail uncoiling from beneath him.The room spun violently, forcing him back down onto the bed.His orange scales rippled with frustration as he steadied himself.

“Where?”The word came out as a dangerous growl.

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