several hours.
“ Shae-shondah?” Gabriel asked as stirred and woke.
“Close your eyes while I tend you, hunter.”
“Don’t. You loathe me.”
After kneeling, she raised her elbows and placed her palms
against each other. The energy gathered and built. “I’m not thinking of that
right now.”
“Save your strength.”
“Save yours, hunter. Portions of a healing can be painful.
Try not to cry, would you?”
The corners of his eyes wrinkled. “I’ll do my very best.”
“Good. I hate to see grown men cry.”
After many long moments, he asked, “Why?”
She spared him a hostile glance while mostly concentrating
on diverting the warmth to her hands. “Why would I tend you?”
“Yes.”
“Not one of us with the gift has touched a hunter since you
moved your training facility from here. My matron told me working with your
kind was very different than healing one of my tribe. It should be a
challenge.” She continued to look at him and without thought, confessed what
really lay in her heart. “I’m also guessing the difference between loathe and like isn’t a huge one. I suppose I still care for you. A little. In
some manner.”
He actually appeared surprised. She gazed at him, committing
the unusual expression to memory. Eventually, she closed her eyes to place full
effort into gathering her healing strength. He’d rejected and devastated her.
She’d never forget. She also couldn’t forget how much she’d loved him at the
time. He’d never love her in return. She knew that even as a child. Hunters
were incapable of higher emotions.
He stifled a shout when she placed her hands on his chest.
She rested her weight on her palms to still his movements. “Nothing too
terrible, hunter. A slight shock. See, you’ll only feel the warmth of my hands
now.”
A massive exhale shuddered from him. “What are you doing?”
“Your heart. It beats out of time. I’ll start here.”
“Ooph!”
“I warned you. I really hate tears, so concentrate on not
dribbling all over your cheeks.”
“Have a care, healer.”
“Blah, blah, complain, complain,” she murmured, moving her
hands down his ribs, hovering over each broken one, projecting her powers to
the damaged bones.
“Bitty healer, you’re enjoying this.”
She smiled and for the first time in nearly a decade, felt
an ember of mischief bubble in her heart. “Immensely. I’ve waited for this day
to savor your suffering.”
Her body swayed rhythmically as her hands moved. Her
concentration deepened. Such damage and devastation! Tears slid from beneath
her closed eyelids. Most men would’ve screamed in agony had their insides
resembled his. All he’d done was occasionally grunt.
“Look who’s spilling tears.” His words came out with an
underlying groan.
“They’re from utter delight at your predicament.”
“Sadie?”
Her eyes opened. He lay there gazing at her. Of all the
hunters, Gabriel had been the only one to call her by her given name. He’d
spared its use for times when they’d been particularly close and connected.
“You don’t need to continue.”
They stared at each other. Long ago, she could see so much
in his bright, silver-gray eyes. She wished time would’ve taken that particular
ability away. She knew he’d rather die horribly than make her uncomfortable.
Even after years of separation, she could see and sense what he felt. Fresh
tears spilled down her cheeks. “Would you do me a favor, hunter?”
“Anything, bitty healer.”
“Fasten your lips. All right?”
She’d almost pulled her hands away when his chest convulsed.
Confused, she watched him closely to discern what’d happened.
“Gabriel?” Nolan asked, suddenly hovering over them.
A noise emerged from Gabriel which sounded a bit as if he’d
choked, but not quite. Nolan squatted next to him. The corners of Gabriel’s
lips turned up. He appeared to be…smiling?
Nolan said, “And here I thought you were dying. What’s so
funny?”
“She