Page 98 of Healer to the Ash King
“Silly. Of course.” He strikes a palm against the wall. “Ridiculous. Untrue.”
“Not necessarily. It would explain a lot. Your grandfather’s mysterious origins, for one thing. His true power didn’t surface because he didn’t experience the trauma that you did.”
“What of my father?” he snaps. “He had no powers, or he would have used them in defense of this kingdom.”
“You know as well as I do that magic can lie dormant for a generation or two.”
“Yes, but—no. This isn’t possible.”
“It would explain what I see when I scan you,” I murmur. “And why your powers suddenly took a great leap forward in potency, after the invasion and the—the betrayal you suffered.”
“What did she mean by crystallized memory?” He turns burning, anguished eyes to mine.
“I’m not sure.” Impulsively I take his left hand and slide the ring of petrified wood onto the only unadorned finger—his heartline finger. “A perfect fit, see?”
He stares at his hand. “It doesn’t go with the others.”
It’s true. All his other rings are of precious metals. “I still like it. And look—we match.” I place the smaller ring on my own heartline finger.
He’s breathing easier now, and the hectic fire in his eyes fades a little. He picks up my hand. My fingers look so small and brown compared to his, and I love the contrast.
Slowly he lifts my knuckles to his mouth and kisses them, a long press of his lips. “We should return. I’ve kept you out too late, and you were already exhausted. I apologize for my selfishness.”
“Don’t apologize,” I whisper. “This has been the best night of my life.”
35
It’s nearly noon when I wake. When I ring for my maid, Enna, she hurries in eagerly, brimming with the latest Favored gossip. Apparently the Ash King wasted no time in confronting both Teagan and Sabre and sending them home this morning. I’m not sure what I expected from him, but I didn’t think he’d act so abruptly. I wish I’d had a chance to speak with Teagan first, though I’m not sure what I would have said to her.
“Just five Favored left now,” Enna says. “Adalasia, Khloe, Axley, Leslynne, and Diaza. You know what that means.” She meets my eyes in the mirror, and her gaze is curious, questioning.
“The King gets to bed them all.” I make a wry face as she fastens my dress.
“How do you feel about that?” she asks, low.
“Am I that obvious?” I sigh, picking up a comb from the dresser and plucking its tines idly.
“There is something between you two,” she answers with a smile. “The whole kingdom knows it.”
“But what the King did yesterday—what he said—”
“You mean when he offered you a chance to be one of the Favored, and then took it away? His orders that people should not chant your name along with those of the high-born?” She laughs. “That incident only made everyone love you more. Perhaps the nobles took him seriously and approved of his words, but no one else did.”
My pulse quickens. “I don’t think he can defy the nobility, even if he wants to.”
“He’s the King,” she replies. “Perhaps he can find a way.”
Once I’ve dressed and eaten, I make my way to the wing where the Favored reside. I’ve decided to ask Khloe to tell the Ash King about her pregnancy; otherwise I’ll have to do it. If Perish and I are to have a future—which seems increasingly, thrillingly possible—we should have as few secrets as possible between us.
After inquiring for Khloe among the servants, I’m shown to her private suite. She’s lounging on a flowery sofa, nibbling at pink-frosted cakes and sipping tea. A book lies open on her lap, its pages fluttering lightly in the breeze from the window.
When she sees me, her face lights up. “Cailin! How lovely to have a visit from you. Please sit down.”
“How are you feeling?” I ask, settling into a nearby chair. “When I scanned and healed you yesterday, the baby seemed well.”
“Oh yes. I feel perfectly fine.” Her smile fades a little as she inspects my face. “You’re going to tell the King, aren’t you?”
“Not yet. But you should. Khloe, we are down to five girls. You must give him all the information he needs to make his choice. If you don’t inform him of your pregnancy, I’ll have to.”
