Page 39 of A Cursed Heart
“Promise you won’t be scared?”
“I won’t.” She cracked her eyes open just in time to see my tail and horns appear. Though I could have done the healing without them, it would allow me to replenish some of my magic before Ryan’s return and in case he needed me by taking from the air.
“Can you see my tail?”
“Wow! You’re pretty! Your eyes are glowing!”
I had forgotten I had also returned to my natural green eye color. “Yes, that’s my magic. Want me to make you feel better now?”
“Can I touch your tail?” She truly was a wonder. No fear whatsoever.
“Of course!” I moved my tail so that it was over her chest. With my magic, I could sense the virus within her. “Are you alright?”
“I like it.” She petted my tail, careful of the sharper scales.
“Perfect. Now let me heal you up. Sing your pretty song for me.” The singing was a distraction for what she was feeling. Healing could tingle, or even sting at times. I did not want her to feel any discomfort.
Freya started the words to her favorite song while I pushed a tendril of healing magic into her. With her small size, I had to use far less power than I expected. The virus inside her gave little fight against me. Soon her voice was stronger, her skin back to its usual light golden color, and she wore a smile on her face.
“Thank you, Mal. My head doesn’t hurt now.”
“Would you like a drink?”
“Yes, please.”
“Back in a moment.” I rushed to the kitchen, found her a cup and filled it with water from the jug in the fridge. Ryan had told me the water quality where they lived was not the best, so he preferred to filter their water. Fascinating.
Using my tail wrapped around the cup to make her smile, I passed it to her, happy when she accepted it readily. This child was not afraid of what I was. I loved her for it.
Freya drank the water greedily, then settled down to go back to sleep. I stayed in the doorway of her room for a long time, just watching her sleep while still paying attention to Ryan.
The relief I felt when he returned unharmed was immense. When he came straight into my arms, everything felt right with the world once more.
The link dissolved the moment we touched. I was grateful my magic had held, and that it hadn’t been necessary to go to him, but I was ready not to be in his head. It felt slightly invasive, though Ryan’s control over his thoughts was impeccable.
We broke apart after our brief hug with awkward smiles and, from me, a desperate longing to hold him again.
Ryan was impressed when I told him about Freya’s short-lived illness and how she reacted to my demon form. I had returned to my human guise before he came in.
“That’s really cool that you could heal her,” he whispered while he checked on her. He fussed with the blankets, then nodded. “Whatever it was, is gone. Thanks Mal. I knew you’d be great at looking after her.” His praise and pride in me sank deep into my soul.
“I’m not even surprised she liked your tail. She takes everything in her stride,” he said with an affectionate smile.
“It might have been the fever.”
“Who knows?” He shrugged. “We can try again if she doesn’t say anything. I think it’s best she knows.”
On this, we agreed. Ryan took my hand and led me to his bedroom. I broke free of the hold just inside his doorway, guilt suddenly eating at me. “Ryan, I feel like I owe you an apology.”
“For?” He reached for me once more, but I moved my arm away.
“I lied to you.”
His head cocked to the side as he studied me. His room lacked any of the personality the rest of his home had, with plain light grey walls and boring, yet functional, white cabinets for his clothing. The sheets on his bed were also grey to match the walls. The lack of color in the room disturbed me because everywhere else there were pictures or splashes of color. Ryan’s bedroom should contain signs of his life, yet it merely looked like somewhere to rest his head, not a place he lived in.
“About?” he finally asked.
“Our bond and the need to stay close to you.”
