The Heart of a Wielder (Book One of The Wielders Trilogy) ✔️

Chapter Twenty-Eight

Maren roused shortly after Donovan put her into his bed, and Alec slipped into his role as physician. He examined her and declared that even though she had a mild concussion, a strained shoulder, badly bruised ribs, burns on her wrists and ankles, and assorted bruises nearly everywhere below her neck, she was not in any major physical danger.

"I know it looks bad, and I'm sure it feels worse. Rest, time, and pain medication will have you feeling better soon," he said.

Alec gave her some pain medication and then Maren wanted to sleep, which everyone agreed was a good idea.

Alec stepped out and Donovan tucked Maren in.

"Are you all right?" he asked. He was terribly worried about her.

She managed a smile. "Hurt but all right."

"Can you heal yourself?"

He had never asked her if she could. But he wasn't surprised when she shook her head.

"You can't use your own Light to heal yourself. Someone else has to," she said. "I'll be all right though."

He squeezed her hand. It was one of the few places he felt he could touch her without hurting her.

"I love you," he said. He just needed to tell her.

She smiled more genuinely that time. "I love you."

"I'll come check on you in a bit," Donovan said and kissed her forehead.

Donovan left his room and closed the door behind him. He leaned against it for a moment and sighed.

"So, you'd know if you were living with a witch?" Alec asked.

Donovan closed his eyes.

"I knew," he said.

Alex did not appear surprised. "Mmhmm. How long?" he asked.

"Since the day she arrived," Donovan said.

"And how long has Kieran suspected?"

"Since the day she arrived," Donovan repeated.

"Gods above, what has been going on?" Alec cried.

Donovan sighed. "I found out that Kieran has been stealing powers from his prisoners. Maren accidentally exposed herself at the Selection, and I felt I couldn't let him become more powerful, so I took her."

Donovan went on, telling Alec about everything that had happened between him and Maren since the Selection. He hadn't planned on it, but talking felt better than thinking about what he would have to do when they were done talking.

"Gods above," Alec said quietly when Donovan was finished. "I...gods... I don't know what to say. I can't believe she's been hiding that here for this long...I can't imagine..."

"Are you going to turn her in?" Donovan asked.

Alec looked appalled. "Gods, no! There are about a thousand reasons I would never turn Maren, but no one should be turned over to Kieran," he said.

Donovan nodded. "Thank you."

"It's for her as much as you," Alec said.

"Will you still take her to Worthingham?" Donovan asked.

"Of course. Gods, she's got to go now more than ever!" Alec said.

Donovan was relieved. He had worried that Alec would not want Maren to marry his father anymore. It crushed him, but Donovan needed the Duke to marry Maren. It was the only way to keep her safe.