35. Ava #3
Ava choked, but when a wicked grin slid across the prince’s face, she realized with intense relief that he was teasing her.
“But Persis told me that’s very selfish of me. Your gifts as a healer outweigh your recent proclivity for destroying monsters from other realms.”
Her cheeks burned hot as she exchanged a look with Jerrid, who wilted visibly. Apparently, he hadn’t liked the idea of her being promoted to the guard any more than she had.
“I’m not sure why all the women in this palace are suddenly interested in monster slaying,” the prince went on, a little grumpily, “but I’m hoping it’s just a phase you’ll all outgrow.”
Persis jabbed him in the ribs with a soft smile.
“So, I guess that means I’m going to have to promote you to head healer, Ava. If that is preferable to you over monster slaying or guard duty?”
Her breath caught in the back of her throat, every muscle in her body going rigid. “M-me? Head healer? I thought… Princess Persis is much more qualified than I am.”
Persis caught her eye and offered a gentle smile. “I am going to be very busy with other duties. Apparently becoming a princess means I have a lot of work to do. Meetings. Managing the palace…”
“Don’t forget monster slaying,” Ava added with a grin, so exhilarated by this shocking turn of events that she nearly forgot herself.
Head healer. They wanted to make her head healer!
When the prince growled at her, Ava’s cheeks burned hotly, but Persis laughed outright.
“I admit, that is not my favorite job.”
Jerrid’s arm slid around Ava’s waist, distracting her. He pressed his nose into her hair and inhaled deeply.
“I’m proud of you,” he whispered, and heat flooded right down to the tips of her toes.
Her lips parted to respond, but the infirmary doors slammed open, clattering against the walls with thundering bangs. Ava jumped and spun around, Jerrid’s hand firm against her hip.
“Where is she?” a red-haired maid demanded as she barreled into the room. “I know she’s back. Get out of my way, you pointy-eared—”
The human maid broke off as the guards stepped to intercept her. Her gaze collided with Ava’s, and the girl threw herself into motion, ducking under the grasping arm of an elf soldier. She arched away from groping fingers and twirled around the final guard.
“Dagmar!” the princess scolded, sounding exasperated. “Are you physically incapable of walking into a room like a normal person?”
“Yes,” the girl barked as she strode toward them.
When Persis held up a warning hand to the guards, they fell back with sulky expressions. Dagmar dashed toward them, and Ava’s heart warmed at the sight of her. The human girl had only been in Eroth for a few short weeks before Ava’s misadventure in the Shadewood took her far away.
But it was easy to like Dagmar. She was so…human.
As Dagmar strode toward them, however, her expression was so fierce that Ava’s heart began to pound. Something was wrong. She searched behind the guards, hoping to see someone else in the shadows of the corridor, someone who followed this human maid around like a lost puppy…
Where was her brother?
Dagmar skidded to a halt in front of Ava, her chest heaving, panic consuming her eyes that were normally filled with sass and fire.
“It’s Peregrin.” She gasped, a hand pressing against her side as she winced in pain. “Your brother—dragons bite him—he’s in trouble…again…”
Memories flashed before her eyes as Ava recalled the horrific visions the shadow had thrown at her during the final battle. Then, after the battle, there had been that awful, lingering pain in her chest. It had subsided after a few minutes…
But what if something had gone wrong, and now Peregrin was paying the price?
Her knees buckled, and she would have hit the floor if Jerrid hadn’t caught her by the elbows. Dagmar’s chest continued to heave as she struggled to catch her breath, and Ava read the truth in her eyes.
The outspoken maid who wasn’t afraid of anything was genuinely scared.
Jerrid’s arms tightened around her as she tried to find the strength to stand on her wobbling legs.
“I’ve got you, Meat Pasty,” he whispered into her hair.
Tears pricked at her eyes, but relief began to trickle through her veins, warming her icy skin. Before, she and Peregrin had been alone. But they weren’t fighting this battle by themselves anymore. They had friends now.
Jerrid’s fingers brushed gently against her arm, and she forced a grim smile.
No, they had more than friends.
For the first time in a long time, she and Peregrin weren’t alone in the world. They had a family, not the family they had been born with, but the family they had chosen.
“Where is he?” she asked, her voice cold and determined as Jerrid pulled her closer against his side. “Take me to my brother.”
Whatever came next, whatever had gone wrong, they would all face it together.