Pure Healing Read Online Free

the passage. She watched curiously as he strode into the Healer’s inner chamber and suddenly the glow of light within snuffed out all at once, as if a door had been shut in his wake. But Sophia had seen no door when she’d entered the Healer’s chamber before.
How strange.
She skipped a little to catch up to her Guardian and the handmaiden. “Why is the Healer’s hair all white?” she asked when she reached them.
Ayelet frowned a little and was about to chide her for her impertinence, Sophia knew that look well, but Wan’er answered with a smile, “Because she needs Nourishment.”
Sophia nodded, but still looked confused. “Does that mean if she eats some dumplings her hair will be black again like yours?”
Ayelet sighed softly, a sign that she’d given up on intercepting the young Queen’s questions. After all, Sophia needed to learn about all aspects of her people.
“She needs more than human food,” Wan’er responded patiently. “She needs the Nourishment of her Consort.”
Sophia tilted her head, trying to understand, barely noticing that Wan’er had ushered them into a large, lushly furnished chamber that held three canopied beds, one for each of the three guests.
As if sudden comprehension dawned, Sophia asked brightly, “Is her Consort like a Mate? Like Tristan is for Ayelet?”
Wan’er clasped her hands before her and gave the Queen her full attention. “Yes and no,” she said slowly, as if considering how best to reply. “A Mate is forever and a Consort is for a short period of time. But during that time, the Healer and her Consort will cherish each other as if they were Mated.”
Sophia nodded, catching on. “And Rain will be choosing her Consort over the next three days?” At confirming nods from both women, she continued, “But why does she need three days? She should just choose Val and we can all go home.”
Both women drew back in shock, as if Sophia had spouted horns. She looked from Ayelet to Wan’er and wondered why no words were emerging from their mouths though said mouths opened and closed several times.
Finally, it was Ayelet who responded, “Val is not for consideration this time. He and Rain have just met.” She looked to Wan’er for support, but the
handmaiden was looking away, as if deep in thought.
“But they like each other,” Sophia persisted, “I can tell.”
Ayelet could not say she agreed. If anything, she sensed the opposite was true, though the feeling of antagonism was one-sided, only from Valerius, and she was confounded as to why.
Wan’er raised her head from her private
contemplation. “Perhaps next time,” she suggested. “The warrior would assuredly be qualified.”
Sophia frowned but didn’t question further. It seemed a monumental mistake to her that Valerius wouldn’t be the Healer’s Consort, now and in the future. She didn’t completely understand, but it just felt wrong.
She shrugged with a seven-year-old’s limited attention span, changed the subject to Chinese lanterns and silk dolls, and climbed on top one of the luxurious beds.
What did she know? The adults obviously had everything under control. She had more important things to dwell on – like which flavor of baozi she should prioritize for tomorrow’s midday meal.
Chapter Two
     
Present day. Boston, MA
    Valerius curled tight, drawing his knees to his body, tensing his leg muscles and transferring a surge of power to his thighs as he leapt ten feet into the air, tucked and rolled in mid-flight, and landed with precision on all fours on the next brownstone’s roof, fifteen yards away. Without skipping a beat, he sprang back up and was within striking distance of his quarry with two long leaps.
    Mid-stride, Valerius reached for the handle of the chained scythe at his waist and released the weapon with a sharp whistle at his target. The titanium chain whipped unerringly through the night air, a flash of silver in the dark, moonless sky, and wrapped around its prey once, twice, its