Page 66 of Primal Bonds

Kyler got up to wander around the room, examining the TV and the colorful chunks of quartz on the mantelpiece. He crouched down to examine the fireplace. Instead of logs, there were several large amber-and-brown chunks on the firebox floor.

Tigger strolled past him and the teenager held out a hand. The cat ignored it with a lordly disdain, continuing past to the kitchen. A moment later, they heard the crunch of kibble.

Kyler sat down with his back against the wall and took out his phone. He swore under his breath. “I can’t get a signal.”

“It’s the quartz,” Jace said without opening his eyes. “There’s a streak of it in the bedrock. It messes with the signal.”

“Can I charge it?”

“Sure. I rigged up an outlet for the TV. There’s one in the kitchen, too.”

“That’s lit. At least I can play games.” Kyler got a cord to charge the phone, and then sat down in the chair again, eyes half-shut. It was past two o’clock, and he’d been up early to apply for a job at a local pizza place.

Evie opened her mouth to tell him to go to bed, and then closed it. He’d only snap at her, and it wasn’t like they had anywhere to be in the morning.

Suha continued working on Jace, moving from his thigh to his stomach to his nape. A trio of fae lights drifted down to circle Evie’s head. She felt that curious tingle of energy, and the hand holding Jace’s warmed.

She blinked, and looked again. The gash on his thigh was visibly healing like a fast-motion video.

When it was just a thin red line, Suha shot Evie a look, her brow furrowed, and then sat back. “There,” she told Jace. “You can run a frickin’ marathon if you want. But for God’s sake, can you go a couple of weeks without letting someone take a chunk out of you?”

He propped his elbows on the couch and winked at her. “You’re the best.”

“Yeah, yeah.” But she grinned back at him before turning to Evie. “And you—you’re part fae.”

She shrugged. “That’s what they say.”

“But no one told me you’re a healer.”

Chapter 19

A healer? Evie frowned. “Because I’m not. Am I?”

Suha fingered her quartz. “I drew on your energy to heal Jace, and I can only do that with some of the stronger members of the clan—or another healer.”

Evie shook her head. “I wish it were true, but when my mom had cancer, I tried to heal her. I put my hands on her and prayed she’d get well. I even tried sending healing energy into her—you know, like faith healers do. But it didn’t work.”

But damn, wouldn’t that be something? She’d wanted to be a doctor or a nurse as far back as she could remember. When her mom got sick, Evie had found out everything she could about the treatments, gone to every appointment. Maybe if she knew enough, she could fix her—but it hadn’t worked.

And in the end, all she’d been able to do was hold her mom’s hand and promise she’d take care of Kyler.

“I’m so sorry.” Suha touched her hand. “But even a trained healer can’t save everyone. And it’s possible you hadn’t come into your Gift yet. With fada, it can happen anywhere from the time we become teenagers to our late twenties.”

Evie’s gaze slid to Jace. He was looking at her with an unreadable expression.

“I—” She scrubbed her hands over her face. Her brain felt sluggish, too tired to take in one more shock.

Jace jerked his chin at Kyler. “She needs to eat. Get her something from the kitchen—apples, peanut butter. Suha too—a healer burns through energy fast.”

“I’m on it.” He rose to his feet and headed for the kitchen.

Suha indicated the glowing orbs hovering around Evie. “The fae lights are drawn to you. Trust me, they’re not like that for just anyone.”

Evie swallowed. “They aren’t?”

“No. The only time they get that close to me is when I’m healing someone and about to run out of juice.”

“Huh.” She glanced at the lights. “Still, even if I have some fae blood, it’s probably just a few drops.”

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