“Great.” Luc steeples his hands together and continues. “This is my council. You already know Gabriel, my first commander.” Luc points to the other three men. “And these men are my captains—Aston, Cenric, and Gray.”
I nod at the men.
“Do you know why you’re here?” Luc asks.
“Yes. I wish to stay here.” I nod toward Gabriel. “And he doesn’t want me to.”
The warrior in question stares solemnly, his expression giving no hints to what lies beneath his stern brow.
“Why do you want to stay here?” Luc asks. “Are we not your enemy?”
“I am an outcast among my people.” Familiar bitterness tugs at my chest. There’s a truth to my words, I haven’t faced until now. First, they removed me from their apothecary. Then, I ran away. They wouldn’t welcome me back.
“You healed my sister,” Luc supplies.
Leah is his sister?
I should have been able to learn more about the Bloodstone people. Surely, it would have helped me.
“She was ill. I treated her ailment. My people can bring people back from the brink of death.”
My people have many powerful gifts—gifts I long for. Kyanite healers bring people from death’s clutches, weave peaceful dreams, cure failing crops, rid trees of diseases, and purify water and food. In truth, there’s very little a Kyanite cannot do to improve something.
“Are you not able to wield such magic?” Luc asks.
“Not to that degree.”Not at all.
Gabriel speaks, his tone stiff and frigid. “There’s no room for someone like you here.”
“But I’m a healer.”
“Apparently not a good one.” His words bruise my pride, the same pride wounded every time I failed to please the Kyanites at the apothecary.
A frown wrenches at Kassandra’s mouth, but she doesn’t speak as she places her hands against the table, palms facing down.
“I healed Leah,” I say. “Something your healers couldn’t do. I’m valuable.”
“Sol has a fair point, Gabriel,” Luc says.
“She is a Kyanite.” Gabriel folds his arms and stares through me as if I’m not sitting here. “She should return to her people.”
“Gabriel is right,” Cenric says as he runs his fingertips against the table, his movements slow, purposeful. “The Kyanite cannot stay here.”
No. I cannot fail.
Think of something. Anything.
You have come too far to fail now.
My body wasn’t enough to convince Gabriel to let me stay. My healing wasn’t enough to convince Luc. There’s only one thing left of value. Only one avenue.
“I will marry one of your warriors.” The words turn to decay inside me. It has been summers since I thought about marrying. But I can be a wife if being one brings me closer to my Fate.
Gabriel opens his mouth and snaps it closed.
Perfect.
I surprised the angry warrior into silence.
