The Seer by Rowan McAllister (reading comprehension books .TXT) 📕

he supposed he’d have to get used to it sometime. He was going to a school for mages, after all. Before Ravi’s astonished eyes, the raised and reddened skin on Daks’s side faded to pink. Next, the healer moved the stone to his head, closed her eyes, and whispered. Ravi could actually see the hairs on Daks’s arms lift as she worked and the lump began to shrink and the gash form a scar.

“That’s the best I can do for now, I’m afraid,” the healer said wearily. “I’ve sent a request to the High Council and the king for another healer and more healing stones, but towns and villages all along the river are calling for aid, so I don’t know what we’ll get or when.”

“It’s fine. I wouldn’t ask for more than that. Thank you,” Daks said, lifting and flexing his left arm before running cautious fingers along his scalp.

“Your turn,” the healer said, turning to Ravi.

He reared back. “Oh no. I’m okay.”

“I’ll judge that,” the older woman said firmly.

“No, really. As you said, you need to save your strength and your—” He waved a hand at the stone, unsure what to call it other than blasphemy.

“Sit still,” she ordered, and when Daks squeezed his hand, Ravi stilled.

“Your tunic,” she said, pointing.

Reluctantly, Ravi lifted his tunic and shirt to expose the bruising on his chest, but the woman didn’t place the stone there. Instead she rested a cool palm over the area and closed her eyes. Given that she was the only one other than Daks to touch him in a long time, Ravi flinched, half expecting a Vision to overtake him, but nothing happened beyond a slight tingle along his skin beneath her hand.

“It doesn’t hurt. I promise,” Daks murmured, and when Ravi glanced at him, the man was smiling wryly.

Ravi blew out another breath and tried to force all the muscles in his body to relax. He could only imagine what his expression must have looked like to prompt Daks to say that, probably not very attractive at all. That was something else he’d have to get used to without his hood.

He jumped a little when a slight warmth spread beneath his skin where the healer touched, though the sensation was far from unpleasant.

“There you are,” she said, withdrawing her hand. “You’ll need to be careful for a while. I didn’t take care of all of the bruising, but I mended the small crack in one of your ribs, which should keep you out of immediate danger.”

“Thanks.”

The woman looked even wearier now, and Ravi was almost sorry he’d come. He’d been in some pain, especially after their journey today, but he could have healed on his own in time, and there were more people in line behind them.

“Thank you, Healer,” Daks said formally. “I’ll also send word to the High Council on your behalf when I report in, and they’ll reimburse you for our healing as well.”

The healer’s lips quirked in a mirror of Daks’s usual wry grin. “I won’t hold my breath, Agent. But lucky for both of us, you have a hard head, so perhaps you’ll have better luck than I.”

By the time Daks had dragged them to a cobbler, a clothes merchant, and to yet one more shop to send his message—which he did by simply holding a rock the man behind the counter gave him and closing his eyes—and they returned to the inn, Ravi was completely overwhelmed with the strangeness of it all. He wanted to find his cloak and curl up somewhere dark and quiet. He tried to argue when Daks procured flannels, robes, sandals, and soap for the bath house he’d been going on and on about. But all Daks had to do was crowd him into a quiet corner and kiss him breathless, and Ravi followed along like a puppy from then on. Ravi wasn’t completely sure he liked being so easy to manipulate, and he glared down at his cock with disapproval of the choices it was making for him, but he still went.

The bath house turned out to be a separate structure behind the inn, and as they stepped inside, mineral and herb-scented steam enveloped them. In the center of the room, hot coals smoked beneath a grate piled with large rounded river stones littered with leaves and flowers. At first Ravi couldn’t understand the purpose until a woman ladled water over the stones and more steam filled the air. Five large half barrels, big enough for two people to sit in, ringed the room, but only one other was occupied.

“It’s suppertime,” Daks said quietly, as if reading his thoughts. “We should have a little more privacy, but not as much as I’d like.”

The deep, husky rumble of his voice vibrated through Ravi’s belly and his cock pulsed hopefully, making Ravi scowl down at it again and shift uncomfortably. A “little” privacy definitely wasn’t enough for him, no matter what his cock thought. No way was he going to get naked in front of strangers with Daks anywhere near him. He’d die of embarrassment.

He started backing up, but Daks caught his hand and squeezed. Ravi met his gaze and melted under the sweetness and reassurance he saw there. Dammit, he’d had no idea how charming Daks could be when he chose. Either that or Ravi was just too besotted to think clearly anymore. He preferred to blame Daks.

“Gentlemen, welcome,” a small woman dressed in a cream-colored linen blouse, tan skirt, and light blue apron said, approaching them. “Are you sharing a bath today?”

“We are,” Daks replied. He cast a quick glance at Ravi before he added, “We’d like a privacy screen as well, please.”

The woman smiled knowingly at them, making Ravi’s face heat even more. “Of course, sirs. This way, please.”

As she led them to one of the barrels at the back of the room, Ravi murmured under his breath, “We’re not doing any funny business in this place, screen or no screen.”

Daks beamed that infuriating grin