Healer's Touch (Deadly Touch #1) [Complete]

Chapter 26: Only You

Llew's mind buzzed with new knowledge as she wandered back to her room to take her bath, but she felt there were still so very many holes to be filled. Something had occurred thousands of years ago to split the immensely powerful race, the Immortals, into the Kara and the Aenuks. The book Anya had brought with her from Aghacia spoke of magic used to bind their children as one or the other, until there were no Immortals left. But another book from Gaemil's library stated that it had been a faster process, that the Immortals themselves had somehow divided – it hadn't gone into a convincing tale of how, and Llew's tired mind was too easily confused by it all. Neither book had adequately explained the historical hatred between the two races, either, but both had certainly mentioned it, and Anya had insisted that the fact Jonas cared for Llew at all, despite such an ancient, ingrained hatred, was proof enough that he loved Llew more than he could love anyone else. Well, Llew supposed they would find out once Jonas had had the chance to get to know the Syakaran woman.

The Syakaran woman who happened to be right around the corner of the hallway.

"Oh!"

"Oh, indeed." Karlani folded her arms. "Llew, isn't it?" She looked Llew up and down. "No accounting for taste, I guess. But he doesn't have to settle now I'm here, does he?"

Llew felt her cheeks grow warm. The woman had quite suddenly lost all her shine and, just as suddenly, Llew felt an immense drive to fight for Jonas's right not to be paired with her. She drew herself up taller.

Karlani smiled. "Do you honestly think you have what it takes to keep him satisfied? He's Syakaran. He needs a Syakaran woman."

Llew fought down the urge to agree.

"He needs a woman as... vigorous as he is."

Llew said nothing.

"He needs someone he can run with." The woman ran a speedy circle around Llew, demonstrating the superior speed of her race. "Someone he can... play with—" she sped around Llew again "—without the fear that he might break her. I heard you're not even Kara."

"That's right."

"Then whatever made you think you could have him?"

Llew resisted the urge to say, Because I already have. It seemed crass.

"That's right, little girl. Leave the big boy to a real woman." The woman did another super-speed circuit around Llew. "And we'll—" Whisk. "—get on—" Whisk. "—just—" Whisk. "Ugh!" Karlani hit the floor.

Llew lowered her fist, stepped over the woman, and carried on to her room to take that bath.

***

Llew lay in the water, her mind churning.

Anya had been right – the conflict between Aenuks and Kara ran deep. And with what Jonas had told her about what happened to his parents, it was a wonder he hadn't stuck his knife in her the moment he learned what she was. She'd told Anya what Braph had seen, that he'd watched while Jonas considered ending her life. Anya had said it further proved the affection Jonas had for Llew. That he had been tempted was a sign of his loathing for her kind. That he hadn't gone through with it showed that he recognized her as someone special, someone he couldn't lump in with all those other Aenuks he hated.

Part of Llew wondered if Anya just saw things how she wanted to see them. She wanted Llew to be as happy as she was with Gaemil.

She might have told Anya what Braph had seen, but she hadn't told her what he had done. What she had let him do. How could her body betray her like that? And now she'd gone and asserted her right to Jonas over that Syakaran woman, and she didn't even know if she could bring herself to... to... even think of...