Page 37 of Healer to the Ash King
I vent a hard laugh. “What did you expect?”
“I expected you to stay where you were put and do the healing magic from there.”
“With challenges this dangerous, no one can predict what’s going to happen. I couldn’t save Teagan without first lifting her off that spike. Which is why I had to go into the gauntlet.”
“And the volunteer?”
“Saving him was human decency and common sense. Something that seems to be sadly lacking around here.” I glare boldly at him.
“I didn’t come in here to be insulted.”
“Then why did you come?”
“I came—” he clears his throat— “to see if you were all right.”
“You know I’m all right. I can heal myself.” I rise a little higher in the bath, until the tops of my breasts are exposed. “Why are you really here, Your Majesty?”
His throat bobs as he swallows. “I’m here to request—no—demand—that you join everyone in the great hall for the banquet tonight.”
“And who is ‘everyone?’”
“The Favored, the visiting nobility, the contest officials, my advisors—”
My eyes widen. “You have friends?”
“I didn’t sayfriends. I saidadvisors.”
“Oh… well, do you have any close friends?” Another bit of information I can pass to the Undoing, perhaps.
But when I see the look in the King’s eyes, I forget all about the anarchists.
“Ihadfriends,” he says quietly. “They all died. Enjoy your bath. I’ll see you at dinner.”
“Wait.”
He halts, turning back.
“If you ever need to talk about them, I’ll listen.” Heartsfire, why did I say that? After all the misery and pain he orchestrated today—
But no one actually died. Everyone is all right. They’re healed, they’re whole, they’re being well cared for. And to paraphrase the King himself, who wants a Queen who isn’t willing to sacrifice life and limb for one of her subjects? Yes, there was pain involved in the challenge, but it will soon be forgotten.
The pain I see in the Ash King’s eyes is the kind that can never heal.
Sympathy unfurls in my heart as I gaze at him. I’m glad I don’t have much to report to the Undoing, because even after the day’s trauma, I’m not sure I want this man dead.
Brayda would punch me on the spot if she could hear my thoughts right now.
“I don’t talk about my past,” says the Ash King.
“Maybe you should.” I reach for the soap and pass it across my shoulders, along my arms. “Maybe if you did, you would be less… um, less…”
“Careful,” he warns, crossing his arms. “You’re talking to the King. Though you seem to have forgotten that, since you’re bathing in front of me. Have you no concept of proper decorum?”
“You’re the one who came into my room and spoke to me while I was bathing.”
“I’m the King. I do whatever I fucking please. You’re just a village girl.”
“Well, this village girl just saved two livesandhealed all your potential brides,” I retort.
