The scoundrel! She slapped his shoulder.
He grinned. “Did you just hit me? After I saved you?”
She opened her mouth to reply, then paused as a memory flitted through her mind. Hadn’t Puff said the exact same thing? How odd …
“What is your gift?” The general interrupted her thoughts.
She’d been warned all her life that being Embraced was a death sentence on the mainland, so she hesitated to answer.
“I won’t let any harm come to you. You have my word.”
She supposed that was true. After all, if he wanted her help, he would have to keep her alive. “I can sense if a person is healthy or not, and if not, I can usually determine the cause.”
His eyebrows lifted. “You’re a healer?”
She winced. “I wouldn’t say that. Just because I can tell what sort of illness a person has, it doesn’t mean I can actually cure him. We have an excellent healer at the convent, and she taught me a great deal about medicinal herbs and concoctions, but there are still things that are beyond me. I cannot guarantee that I would be able to help the queen.”
“You’re being honest. Thank you.”
She snorted. Had he expected her to lie?
He gave her a wry look. “How could you tell she’s being poisoned?”
“I sensed it when I did a reading on her. She’s not just mentally ill. Physically, she’s … wasting away. I’m sorry.”
With a frown, he nodded. “How do you do a reading?”
“I touch a person, then somehow I … connect.” She shrugged. “It’s a gift. I don’t know how to explain it.”
“Show me.” He spread his hands to either side.
She blinked. “You?”
“Yes.” His eyes twinkled with humor. “Where would you like to touch me?”
She scoffed. “There’s no need to. I can tell by looking at you that you’re perfectly healthy.”
“Touch me. I want see how you … connect.”
Her cheeks grew warm.
With his hands still extended to the side, he crooked his fingers. “I’m waiting.”
She ignored him, folding her arms across her chest. “There are several spots that can give me a good reading. A person’s wrist, forehead, or the neck below the ear.”
“Go ahead, then.” He smiled. “Lady’s choice.”
Her heart fluttered. The man’s smile was a weapon, and he knew how to use it. She reached out to grab his left wrist with her right hand.
She pressed her fingers against him, and instantly she felt his pulse. Stronger than she had expected. She closed her eyes to concentrate, letting her senses join the rush of his blood as it coursed through his veins and arteries.
Her breath caught. His heart was larger than normal. But it appeared quite healthy, thumping with a steady beat.
She reached past his heart, venturing up his chest and neck. There seemed to be some sort of wall blocking his brain. That was odd.
She moved down his body, swooping over his toned muscles. There was an abrasion on his left arm—no, more like a tattoo. Interesting. A few battle wounds had healed nicely. He would be the type to recover quickly.
The warmth of good health radiated from his entire body, but an extra amount of heat seemed to be concentrated in one area. His groin.
With a flinch, she released him.
“Something wrong?”
She shook her head as she stepped back. “You’ve had a few minor wounds, but they’ve healed well.”
“Where?”
Was he testing her? The scoundrel. “A cut on your right shoulder and another below the ribs on the left.”
His brows lifted as if he was impressed. “I stubbed my toe this morning. Can you tell me which foot?”
How could she admit that she hadn’t gone past his groin? “Actually, I did detect a problem. Before it reaches a point where it’s too debilitating, I recommend you eat more fruits and vegetables.”
He frowned. “What is it?”
“Constipation.”
He snorted. “My ass.”
“Exactly.”
His mouth twitched. “Let’s make a bargain. Agree to help me, and I’ll return Eviana tomorrow.”
Gwennore’s heart took a small leap. “Tomorrow?”
“Yes.” He nodded. “I could take her by boat down the Norva River to the Eberoni border. She could be back with her parents by noon.”
Praise the goddesses! “I need to go with her.”
He shook his head. “If you agree to the bargain, you’ll have to stay here.”
“But she’ll be too frightened to travel without me. She’s been traumatized enough!”
After a moment, he sighed. “All right. I’ll make allowances as long as you agree to the bargain.”
“I can’t guarantee that I’ll be useful.”
“Do you think our problems here have been caused by a curse?”
She shook her head. “No.”
“Do you think there must be a reasonable explanation?”
“Of course.”
“Then you’re already useful. With your gift of healing and your intelligence, I believe you can help. And I can’t tell you what a relief it is to find someone who actually thinks the same as I. Most people around here won’t even talk about the damned curse.”
She winced. “They’re afraid they’ll disappear.”
“You won’t disappear. Not when you’re with me. So do we have a deal? After we return Eviana, you’ll come back with me.”
She hesitated. As much as she wanted to accept the bargain for Eviana’s sake, she also had to look out for herself. “I’ll have to insist on a time limit. I’ll remain here no longer than two weeks.”
He arched a brow. “Two months.”
“One month.”
“Deal. Now we have to seal it with a kiss.”
“What?”
With a grin, he extended a hand. “I was joking.”
She scoffed. For a man living under a curse, he seemed rather jovial about it. But in a way, she found that appealing. He was refusing to accept the curse or cower in fear.
She glanced at his hand. Could she really do this?
What choice did she have? She needed to get Eviana home. And to be honest with herself, there were other reasons that made her want to agree. She was curious about the so-called curse. And even more intrigued by the thought that she might be able to break it.
She glanced at the general, and his eyebrows lifted with a questioning
