WELCOME TO YOUR FIRST LOOK AT
A SCENE FROM HEALER'S TOUCH
Step into a world where ANYA, a Healer who conceals a forbidden Reaper eye beneath an eyepatch, lives in careful seclusion. Her dual nature grants her the rare ability to both give and take life—a power that makes her miraculous and dangerous. But her carefully protected existence shatters when ZAREK, a duty bound Guardian of the Crown, discovers her extraordinary healing abilities. Now she finds herself forced into a journey to the palace, where a dying prince awaits her curative touch.
I'm thrilled to share this scene with you, where a no-nonsense Guardian insists the only way to keep a watchful eye on a reluctant Healer is to share his quarters for the night . . .
Please note: This scene is from the third draft of Healer's Touch and may undergo minor revisions before the final publication. While the core events and character interactions will remain the same, some details might be refined in the published version.​
***
As we approach the village lights in the distance, I finally voice the question that's been troubling me. “Upon our arrival, what lodging arrangement should I expect?”
“Your accommodations will consist of a comfortable room at a reputable inn,” the Guardian says. “Nothing more, and nothing less.”
I purse my lips, inhaling deeply. “Do you take me for a fool? You expect me to believe the Crown’s prisoners are granted such luxuries?”
“A prisoner of the Crown who happens to possess a curative touch unlike any other?” he says, an edge sharpening his words. “One capable of restoring life itself? Surely you don't imagine I’d be so careless as to leave you in some squalid holding cell, beyond my immediate supervision?”
It would certainly make escaping from him easier. A holding cell might have a sympathetic guardian—someone who could be swayed by a tearful plea or intrigued by a flirtatious smile . . .
“You shall remain in my quarters, where I may account for your every movement and ensure you are afforded no chance to flee into the—”
“Your quarters?” I twist around carefully to avoid losing my balance on the dragon's broad back, fixing him with an incredulous stare. The moonlight strikes him in a most flattering manner, highlighting his chiseled features and impassive expression. “I think not, Guardian. I’d sooner sleep in the stables than share accommodations with you.”
“How remarkably provincial. And here I thought Southerners prided themselves on their refined sensibilities.”
“My refined sensibilities are precisely why I object to sharing chambers with a man I barely know.”
“And if you knew me longer?” His voice carries mock curiosity. “Would that make such an arrangement more tolerable?”
“Hardly! If I knew you longer, I’d likely be even more averse to the notion. Familiarity would only worsen the prospect, not improve upon it.”
“An interesting theory. Your objections have been noted—and dismissed. We shall most certainly be sharing a room.” His tone is final. “Now, I suggest you face forward, Healer. We’re about to land.”
***
I hope this glimpse into Anya and Zarek's journey has piqued your curiosity.
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arrive at an inn for the night, where accusations fly and tensions rise.