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“But you recuperated immediately,” I said, the urge to defend her stronger than my anger at her previous game of manipulation. “It was impressive. I understand how it must have felt to have the monsters in your home when you had barely escaped the arena. Your sense of safety was threatened, but you only took a moment to regain your courage.”
“I know you understand,” Fiona replied. “That is why I will always trust you.”
“I’ll always trust you, too,” I said.
There was a brief moment of silence as Fiona and I looked at each other. I had seen her at her worst at the arena, alone and still courageous despite the long years of isolation. And she had witnessed my direst moments; she knew my feelings better than I did, she knew about my tendency to push everyone away, and despite all that, she was always my friend.
“I need the guys back,” Brigid said, breaking the silence. “They’ll always find a way to ruin the sentimental chatter.”
We were still laughing when Kieran and Dearen walked into the firelight, holding two rabbits and what looked like a pheasant.
“What is happening?” Dearen asked Kieran.
He shrugged, but his lips cornered with a smile despite his confusion.
“The water should have warmed up by now,” Fiona said, patting me on the knee once more before getting up. “I will make your tea.”
“I will skin the game,” Dearen offered.
And just like that, we all started working to settle for the night.
After I drank my tea, I felt a lot better. Orla had said that the tea would help with my healing powers, and she had also informed me that healers often healed their own bodies without even realizing it. Perhaps that was why I felt none of the ache from my battle against the wild current once I drank the last drops inside my cup. However, the constant pain on my back was still there. Perhaps it was more entrenched in me from weeks of horse riding and not enough rest.
Kieran did not look at me. As we quietly conversed while we waited for Dearen to skin the small game, he did not attempt to talk.
I knew he was angry. Angry that I’d hidden something from him once again... But I was not expecting him to say anything until he met my gaze.
“So,” he said. “You have healing powers?”
Here it was. I nodded.
“Why did not you tell us?” He asked.
“I...” I hesitated.
He waited for me to speak. I could not. I did not know the answer to that question. The others remained quiet.
It was time for me to speak, and yet I was...
“I don’t know,” I said.
“How did you find out about this?” Kieran asked.
“The girl pulled the memory from me,” I said.
I did not want to explain the memory, but Kieran was looking at me with an expression that told me he would not take anything less than the whole truth. I felt guilty.
“I didn’t remember it, but I had healing powers when I was a child. My stepmother thought I was tainted with fae magic because she was certain I was a human changeling. So she gave me a potion to take away the magic. I forgot about it until the girl reminded me. And once I told Orla, she gave me this tea to counteract the effects of the potion Kalyden gave me.”
Kieran’s expression softened as he listened. I did not enjoy having to tell him about the awful times Kalyden had made me go through just to get his sympathy. But it was the truth.
“She made you drink a potion to take away your magic?” Kieran asked.
I nodded.
“You must have forgotten about it because that is horrible,” Fiona said, sending me calmness as she spoke.
“You did not tell us because you were reluctant to share that memory to explain?” Kieran asked.
