A healer takes care of body, mind, and heart.

Chapter 21

Darcinda shook her head while she watched McHenry practically sprint up the stairs. What was it about that male that made her smile?

If she was being honest with herself, he stirred her blood. Maeve was right. He was sexy in a rugged, wounded-hero way. But she wasn’t fooling herself. Even though they appeared to have formed some sort of truce, it could be temporary. As soon as this Tribunal was over, McHenry would kick them all out and more than likely go back to being his curmudgeonly self.

And that made her sad. And she couldn’t afford to be sad. It was the emotion she kept strictly locked away. That and love.

Before she could spiral too much more deeply into the world of McHenry, footsteps on the stairs made her look up to see Sheila on her way down.

“Do you know where Charlie is?”

“The team is out in the workshop talking through a few things.”

Sheila nodded.

The beautiful, vivacious woodland nymph’s lips pulled into a tight line.

“What’s wrong, Sheila?”

“Nothing.”

Darcinda gave her The Look. It was a combination of stern mother, concerned friend, and sympathetic healer. It usually didn’t take too long for someone to crack under the pressure.

Sheila swallowed and blinked several times, as if to hold back tears, and Darcinda reached for her hand. “Let’s go to the kitchen and I’ll make you some tea.”

They went in, and Darcinda filled the teapot, then placed it on the stove before turning to her friend.

“You might as well tell me what’s wrong. You know I’ll wear you down eventually.”

Sheila smiled, even though a tear trickled down her cheek. “Charlie and I have been trying to get pregnant for a while now.”

Ah.

She held up her hands. “I am so happy for Julia and Jack. Truly.”

Darcinda stepped closer and rested her hand on Sheila’s shoulder. “I know you are. You don’t have to apologize for your feelings.”

“Thanks.”

“I’m also not going to throw platitudes at you. This is hard.” She wished she had her healing senses right now. But she didn’t, so she would need to improvise.

Sheila blew out a hard breath.

“I know you don’t want to hear this either, but getting pregnant can take time for any couple, and for a woodland nymph to conceive is that much harder.”

“I know. I’m being ridiculous.”

Darcinda grabbed both of Sheila’s hands, forcing Sheila to turn toward her. “No, you’re not. Your feelings and hopes are the polar opposite of ridiculous. You have every right to want a child, Sheila. Feel any way you damn well want to. Always fight for what you want, but don’t let it control you.”

Sheila nodded. “You’re right.”

“I’m here for you. Your friends are here for you too.” She paused for a moment before continuing. “Have you talked to Charlie about this?”

She looked down at their tightly gripped hands. “Not really. I don’t want him to know how upset I am. He has enough to worry about.”

Darcinda stood and walked over to the counter, picking up a piece of paper and writing on it before holding it out to Sheila.

“What is it?”

Darcinda shook the paper. “Read it.”

Sheila finally took it. “Prescription: Talk to your husband. Refills: As many times as needed.” She looked up at Darcinda with a hint of amusement, thank the Fates. “I guess that makes it official.”

“Yep. Your healer prescribed it.” Darcinda wrapped her arms around Sheila. “I’m here any time you need to talk.”

The teakettle whistled and Darcinda broke their embrace. “You still want some tea?”

“Sounds good. Thank you.”

They shared tea for a few minutes before Olivia, Julia, Alex, and JT trooped down the stairs to join them.

Devin came into the room. “Okay, the team is going to double up on guard duty for the king tonight.”

Julia wandered away with a worried look on her face, so Darcinda followed her onto the porch.

“I wanted to congratulate you again. How are you feeling?” Darcinda asked.

Julia’s cheeks pinkened. “Other than Jack spilling the beans not once, but twice , I’m okay.”

Darcinda smiled. “He’s excited.”

“I know. It’s so amazing. A miracle really.” Julia frowned.

“Then what’s the frown for?”

“Nothing.”

“Julia…”

“I’m a little scared. What if something goes wrong?”

“Every expectant mother is scared at some point, Julia. And I know losing your first husband has given you an up-close perspective on the fragility of life. But finding Jack and falling in love with him is a gift, as is this baby. I wish I could check you with my healing senses right now to make you feel better, but I can’t.”

Julia stilled. “I’m sorry. I should be asking you how you’re doing.”

“I’m fine. Things will go back to normal eventually…or our kind of normal at least, right?”

Julia smiled. “Right. I’ll need to schedule time at your healing center since I don’t think I should go to a human doctor.”

“Most werewolf babies present themselves like they’re human, but there are different herbs and supplements that you should take. We can schedule a checkup for you soon.”

Julia hesitated for a moment. “I’m not looking forward to talking to the magistrates tomorrow.”

Darcinda tilted her head and waited for Julia to continue. She had an idea why, but she didn’t want to speak for her.

“How do I tell the elf king that I’m pregnant? Thomas was his eldest son.”

Darcinda rested her hand on Julia’s arm. “And Thomas is gone now. I’m sure his father will be happy for you.”

“I hope so. But I got a second chance with love, and he can’t have his son back, or Devin his brother back.”

“Very true. But that doesn’t mean you take that loss on your shoulders. Your love for Thomas will never go away, Julia, and from what you’ve told me about him, he would want you all to be happy as well.” If only her own mother had been able to embrace that after Darcinda’s father died. Maybe then her mom wouldn’t have lost her magic and willed herself to die.

After a couple of minutes, Julia left to find Jack, and McHenry walked into the kitchen.

“Did you finish up with another counseling session?”

“Julia needed a little pep talk. What do you mean by another?”

“After I gave JT back to Alex, I came downstairs and overheard you and Sheila talkin’ in the kitchen. I only heard the end of it. I’m sorry for eavesdropping.”

Darcinda nodded. “This isn’t exactly the best setup for seeing patients.”

“And yet you never stop, do you? I thought Olivia was the counselor.”

“She is. But I learned a long time ago that healing isn’t just about the body. It involves the heart and mind too.”

“Aye. I take it you’ll be stayin’ over tonight.”

She nodded. “I want to be close by so I can check on the demon king.”

“Which is why I came to find you. He’s wakin’ up.”

They headed across the courtyard to the workshop, where they found Julia by the king’s bed. Jack was standing close by, as were Tim and Maeve. Maeve nodded to Darcinda, as if to say she would intervene magically if something went wrong. Or at least that’s what Darcinda hoped would happen. Charlie stepped around them to check the king over.

Devin and Connor stood in the doorway.

She hadn’t been totally honest with McHenry, with any of them. Not having her powers cut her deeply. She hadn’t realized how much she relied on them until they were gone.

Jack and Julia stood back to give her room.

“How are you feeling?” she asked the king.

He opened his mouth and frowned.

“It’s okay if you can’t talk right now. The chain damaged your larynx, but hopefully your healing powers will take care of that soon.”

His eyes widened when he looked at his freed hands and the IV in his arm.

“The shackles were hampering the healing, and Charlie inserted an IV so you can get some fluids. I didn’t think you’d want to drink much tonight, and we need to keep you hydrated. We’ll take it out once the bag is empty. Do you hurt anywhere else but your throat? Just nod or shake your head.”

He shook his head.

“Are you up for a couple of questions?” Julia asked.

He nodded.

“Did McHenry attack you?” Julia cut right to the chase.

He looked over Darcinda’s shoulder, to where McHenry stood behind her, before shaking his head.

“Do you know who did this to you?”

He hesitated for a moment before shaking his head again. Darcinda didn’t like that hesitation. From the frown on Julia’s face, she didn’t like it either.

“Are you sure you don’t know who could have done this? Someone in your demon clan? Or a rival demon leader in one of the sub clans?”

Roderick shook his head again and flinched a little at the movement.

Darcinda stepped forward. “I think that’s enough for tonight. Do you want me to get your daughter? I didn’t want to tell her what happened until you were awake.”

“No,” he rasped out. “Don’t…up…set her.”

“Okay. We’ll tell her in the morning, when you’re feeling better and she can talk to you.”

He nodded before closing his eyes. The group filed out of the room.

“He’s pretty weak,” Julia said. “I didn’t want to explain about our plans with the Tribunal until tomorrow.”

Darcinda nodded. “Agreed. He needs to recuperate right now.”

“Tim and I can take the first shift,” Jack said.

The rest of the group headed back to the house.

“Where are Andrew, Selina, and Jamie?” Darcinda asked.

“Before Devin called everyone together in the house earlier, I packed up some sandwiches for the three of them and sent them for a walk with Matilda,” McHenry said.

Maeve giggled. “The goat goes for walks?”

“Absolutely. She loves them. I wanted them out of the way until things settle down.”

And there was the sensitive male she was beginning to see more and more. They adjourned to the kitchen and made sandwiches since no one had the energy to cook a large meal for dinner, and everyone ate quickly before heading upstairs.

Maeve and Julia took sandwiches out to Tim and Jack. Which left her alone with McHenry—again.

This was becoming a regular occurrence. One she liked a bit too much.

She helped him put away the leftover meats and cheese before turning to face him. “You’re a good male, McHenry.”

His eyes widened. “What brought that on?”

“Just watching how you take care of your nephews and now Selina. You could have turned her away, you know.”

He shook his head. “I couldn’t do that to the lass. She’s lost and confused right now. Besides, Andrew would have my head.”

“He loves her.”

“Aye. I just don’t know if their relationship will survive. After this Tribunal is over with, how can it?”

“You’ll just have to wait and see.”

He frowned. “You know I’m not good at this whole waitin’-and-seein’ thing.”

She laughed. “I’m well aware.”

His mouth quirked up on the right side, and her heartbeat raced like a schoolgirl’s. She wanted to be closer to him, so she took that step.

“Maeve is right, you’re a softie. And you’ll help anyone in need.”

McHenry frowned. “I don’t know why you females think I’m so noble.”

Because his every action said so.

She had this urge to feel his arms around her, like before, in Roderick’s cell.

She took another step, and his copper eyes ignited. He leaned closer ever so slowly before touching his lips to hers in a gentle caress. Not what she had expected, but earth-shattering nonetheless. She wrapped her arms around his neck and offered herself to him.

A growl vibrated through them both, and his caress turned into an exploration as he licked the seam of her mouth and she opened for him—how could she not?

Their tongues touched, mated, and something warm bloomed in her heart.

Moments later, McHenry backed away. “We can’t,” he said breathlessly.

“We just did.”

“You know what I mean.”

The heat in her chest fizzled away. “Actually, I don’t. Why can’t we kiss?”

He looked away from her. “We can’t be together.”

“I never thought, after what happened last year to Jamie, that you would be like this.”

He scowled. “Like what?”

“You can’t be with me because I’m a faerie, right?”

“It’s more complicated than that.”

“Why don’t you explain it to me, then?”

He shook his head.

Darcinda backed away from him. “I’m going to head upstairs, unless you don’t want me to stay here, either.”

“Don’t be ridiculous.”

“You’ve tried to kick me out before. You’ve been acting different, and I thought…well, to be perfectly honest, I don’t know what I thought.”

“I just want to be left alone.”

She walked toward the door before turning back to face him. “I don’t know why you live in a huge house, McHenry, when you don’t want anyone around you. That’s a sad life to lead.”

Darcinda left the room slowly, carefully. She had said her piece, said more than she should have, probably, but that had never stopped her before. She wanted her powers back, and she wanted to leave.

And the next time that stubborn demon needed help, he could call another healer.