THE HEALER'S CURSE

ering pain of the mating link dissolving was not what had finally subsided, leaving me with bearable scars. No, this w

p.m. With the exception of the faint buzz of the fluorescent lights above, the waiting area was deserte

ce I broke up with him and the Moonsha

d the woods. Only Celeste, the nurse who sutured cuts and bandaged injuries. I was reminde

cure. It

pt feeling that it

or opening. I looked up and straightened, forcing a

louds and black hair that curled at the corners. Even though his pants an

deep, silky voice that had

the seats after forcing myself to

up trouble and dissolve resolve. collided with som

s ripped. I nodded quickly as the sight of it jolted me out

on me as I turned to face the

ou?" he inqu

clutching the counter's edge. No, no, no.

m and feigned a chuckle. "I don't believe so. But it's a little

t to show a ragged slit down his side. My breath caught once again. Because of the body it was sliced into-muscle

trated on the wound, and cro

"This co

ch and low. "I beli

s aroma, which included woodsmoke and a deeper, more primordial perfume,

said, his tone suddenly ge

he could see right through the barriers I had spent years

e of my racing pulse, I s

s his lips quivered into a half-smile. It was just him and me, and something

u're different," his voice

r his flesh as I froze

solve a conundrum, he said, "Not like the others he

eigned a chuckle. "I believe you've lost

wavering stare. Then he broke the moment by le

alm and busied myself dressing his wound.

o see my creation. "You're ready to leave. Simply

His voice was pleasant but yet tinged with menace as

ay from the tempest he was igniting insid

s way to the door, looking back ove

este," before I c

t damnable sneer. "Celeste, nic

are after him while my thoughts we

ci

could still hear the name. That was a nam

y imply one thing

tence was about

ppeared each time I closed my eyes. His sinister smile, his pene

worn out, nervous, and overcome

I got to the clinic. The handwriting was strong

The diner's rear woods. Don'

er and over, my hands sh

ian had entered my life. He

a terrible sense that it wo