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I nodded reluctantly, but he didn’t hesitate for a moment. With the cascade of notes, Emrys swept me off my feet and into the intricate dance.
We practiced for a while more before a ruckus arose in the corridor outside the office door.
“He called for me.” Merlon’s gruff voice carried well through the walls.
The door sprang open, and a disheveled servant stumbled through. “The royal healer, sire.” He offered Emrys and me a deep bow as Merlon strode past him, blue-silver eyes flashing with irritation. He came to a halt a few feet into the room, stomped his dusty boots on the rug, and offered Emrys a salute. “You summoned.”
Beside me, my husband stiffened and the arm he had slipped around my waist tensed. “Durvin.”
“Yes, Your Majesty?” The steward straightened into a very formal attitude without a trace of humor.
“Clear the room,” he ordered in a tone that entertained no discussion.
The occupants didn’t need to be told twice. In sudden silence, they collected their things and filed out. I moved to follow, but Emrys tightened his grip on my waist. “Stay,” he instructed, but in a much gentler tone than his order moments before.
I assessed the mutual glares the two elves were exchanging. Merlon appeared just as annoyed as Emrys, and between them, the room’s atmosphere was growing palpably hostile. It didn’t ease my concern when I noticed the wisps of darkness floating across the hardwood floors toward my husband’s feet. Still, I trusted he wouldn’t hurt me or allow Merlon to hurt me. I leaned back into his embrace.
The moment the door closed, Merlon spoke, “I had things that needed attending. Patients need treating. My herbs are completely depleted, and a meddling human has taken over my clinic. Not to mention my failed research projects that have fallen apart thanks to being caught in—”
“You ignored a summons from your queen.” Emrys’ voice deepened ominously, and darkness thickened in the corners of the room.
I stepped away from my husband as I eyed the smoky tendrils creeping across the ceiling.
“Don’t you get all huffy at me.” Merlon’s gravelly voice rumbled like thunder. Something in the room’s air intensified and hardened, and a sharp prickly feeling assaulted my senses, unlike the familiar sensation of Emrys’ magic. “I can best you in a fight, Emrys, and you know it.”
The realization that the two of them might actually engage in a magical battle right there in the middle of Emrys’ study made me panic.
“I wish to be healed!”
Both men paused and looked at me. Their joint regard unsettled me even more, so I blurted out the rest.
“I wish to be free of the fear of a flare. I am weary of never being able to try things. Emrys shouldn’t have to treat me like I am glass. My disease impedes me being the helpmate Emrys needs and the queen everyone requires.” I motioned toward the door while avoiding looking at my husband. “Plus, I want children, which won’t happen unless this horrible disease is tamed. My opportunity to conceive grows short.” I turned to Merlon. “You offered to come and heal me once I was ready.” The intensity of the healer’s gaze made me hesitate, but now that I had declared my intent, I was determined to follow through. “I am ready.”
Abruptly, all the magic in the room dissipated. Both men turned toward me.
“Kate, you don’t have to do this for me,” Emrys stated. “I can wait until you are ready.”
“Your childbearing years are already lengthened,” Merlon said.
“I am ready now.” I met Emrys’ concerned gaze head on. “Please.”
“I meant it about your childbearing years.” The healer motioned toward Emrys. “When you bonded with this fool, his lifeforce lengthened your life and slowed your aging. We don’t know how long your life has been lengthened, but based on my observations of the Whispiers’ wives, it is a significant change.”
“Kate.” Emrys caught my hand, interlacing our fingers. “Are you certain?”
I nodded.
“It will be uncomfortable.” Merlon’s grim tone brought my attention back to him.
I grimaced. “One healer forced me to purge my stomach every morning and night for two weeks. I can handle discomfort.”
“I can’t promise complete healing.”
Emrys glared at him. “Explain.”
“I don’t know the extent of the damage done to her body over the years. I will do my best, but I can’t promise complete healing.”
“Any improvement would be welcome,” I assured him. However, based on the grip Emrys had on my fingers, he didn’t completely agree.
