Chapter 17 #3
“Sweet friend. I didn’t want to tell him. I don’t know that I’ll get to see you much after this.”
“He may surprise you.”
“I don’t think so. Not after what he told me about his mum. He hates healers.”
“Aye, his family does.”
“There’s no point in drawing this out. I can’t see how he’ll accept me. And I’m done, Oban. I’m done running.”
The tears came harder now, and Oban stopped talking and dutifully snuggled close, letting me turn my head and cry into his fur.
I wasn’t sure what I cried for, but it wasn’t just for the pain that ratcheted through my body.
It was also likely because for a brief moment I had allowed myself to hope.
To hope that finally I had the future I’d always dreamed of in my grasp, and now it would be snatched away like it had been so many times before.
The front door opened, Oban popped his head up, and steps sounded.
“I’m just going to brew it up. Like normal, yes?”
“Please.” I stifled a whimper as another wave of pain worked through my body. Oban licked my cheek again and then jumped off the bed, going into the kitchen to check on Luch.
“Tea’s brewing. Now it is out to nature? Is that correct?”
Luch was so brisk, matter-of-fact, and it made me cry even harder.
He didn’t fight me on what I’d said, didn’t insist I go into the hospital, and instead was listening to what my needs were.
He’s switched into doctor mode, just as I do.
This was the kind of man that women could lose their hearts over, and yet I knew I’d never have a chance to find out what could have been between us. At least not now.
Forever alone is often where we end up, Faelan of the flowers. And even then, never alone. Always connected.
Now was not a moment when I wanted to hear Eriska’s words.
“Shhh, darling. You’ll be fine. We’ll get you sorted. Come on then, tell me what you need?”
I need you to still give me a chance.
Instead, I just nodded feebly. “Yes, please. I need to go into nature. Barefoot.”
“Right.” Luch picked up my jumper, but I just shook my head. When I was this injured, skyclad was the only way.
“A robe?” I asked.
“Got it.” Luch went out of my sight and came back with a navy fluffy terry-cloth robe and he helped me sit up and slide my arms through it.
Before I could take a step, he lifted me quite effortlessly into his arms again, went out into the kitchen, and stopped by the tea that was brewing. “Tea now or after the spell?”
“After.”
I heaved in a deep breath, and then another, forcing the tears back as Luch carried me out of his back door and into the coolly misting morning rain. The tall trees around his cottage cocooned us, shadowing the morning light, and a light breeze brought the scents of damp earth to me.
“Where do you need to do this? Anywhere in particular?”
“No. Just under a tree is fine.”
Luch lowered me to the ground, and I shivered as my bare feet hit the earth, connecting with the energy that rolled under the surface.
“Can you stand?”
“Aye.” Turning, I handed him my robe, not caring anymore that I was standing in just my knickers, and then I crossed my arms over my stomach.
“Mother Moon, now fading bright, guide this pain into the light. Nature sprites, with morning’s grace, lift this ache from my body and face.
Pain, be gone, in silence swept, by nature’s force, you are inept. ”
The earth rumbled softly beneath my feet, and I dug my toes into the soft moss that covered the ground beneath the tree, and unwound my hands, reaching my arms toward the sky.
Lifting my face to the trees above, I opened my palms, and two large dark streams of smoke poured from them.
Meeting in the air, they swirled together, harsh black mixed with shades of gray, to form the shape of a horse. It reared in the air in front of us.
“Holy shite,” Luch breathed.
“Duck,” I said, realizing I’d never done this with anyone around before. I held my arms up to my face, as did Luch, and the horse shattered into a thousand dark moths that fluttered past us and into the soft morning air.
Once they’d passed, I held out my hand for the robe, the pain gone even though many bruises still mottled my body.
I needed my tea and a long sleep. Then I’d be sorted.
Luckily, I didn’t actually have any scheduled patients this morning, so I’d just have to keep the closed sign on the clinic’s door.
There wasn’t much to be done about that.
I didn’t speak, couldn’t really, as I fell into step next to Luch. What could I possibly say that would explain away the weirdness he’d just witnessed? Instead, I focused on conserving my energy and gratefully accepted the mug he handed me once we were back inside.
“What next?”
“I need to sleep.” I shrugged a shoulder as I took a gulp of my special tea, the first sip already helping to restore my energy.
“What about your bruises?”
“They’ll heal.”
“But you sent the pain away, didn’t you? Is that what you just did?”
I leveled a look at him over the rim of my mug.
“Aye.”
“Then why aren’t the bruises gone?”
“They’re less than they were, but healing comes with a price, one that’s usually worth it.” I drank more of the tea, gulping until I’d drained the cup, hoping to restore enough energy so I could drive home and collapse face first into my bed.
“I have arnica cream. It will help.”
“No, really. It’s fine. I just need to get home and go to sleep.” I paused at Luch’s expression. “What?”
“You’re not going home.”
“What?” I swayed on my feet, the bone-deep exhaustion of healing already trying to claim me.
“Nice try, darling, but I don’t let my patients check out until I know they’re in the clear.”
“Luch,” I began, but had to reach out and grip the counter as I swayed again.
“Uh-huh. See that?” Luch picked me up again—I could get used to this—and went back into the bedroom where he pulled back his blankets and deposited me on the mattress.
“I’ve got your car keys. Unless you’re up for wrestling me for them, which, I might actually find enjoyable, I might add, you’re staying put. ”
“But …” I really had no argument and clearly no energy to fight him. Defeated, I turned my head into the pillow as he pulled the blanket over my shoulders.
“Rest, a ghràidh.”
My love.
His lips pressing to my forehead was the last sensation I felt before exhaustion claimed me.