20

"Focus on her ankles and wrists," I told Calarel. "I'll show you what I saw after. Something about there being so many vessels there and magical points. It was like when someone is injured."

She nodded and closed her eyes to scan Campbell, flinching after a moment. "Yes, it's minor, but it's there. It's very slight though, Your Highness."

"Of course, or someone would have already noticed it," I agreed. "But what I saw made me feel like…"

"What? Go with your gut, Tams," Julian said gently. "It's normally right." He ignored when Campbell made a disgusted noise and moved his hand to my hip. "What did you feel?"

"Like a faucet leaking? Like a puncture?" I turned and stared into his confused pretty eyes. "Like the magic couldn't get through this point well and it was a traffic jam and now is leaking. It's now an accident that happened, an injury, and the magic is leaking out instead of working as well as it should." I shrugged. "I can't give you more than that. I don't understand why."

"Show me what you caught," he muttered, pulling me closer.

I nodded and closed my eyes, projecting to him what I saw. My eyes popped open when he chuckled. I couldn't hide my confusion as he leaned in and kissed my nose.

"The way your mind works is always one of the sexist things about you, my sweet mate," he whispered softly.

I flushed lava hot and stared at him with wide eyes, glancing around and not hiding my shock he said that with so many people around—the group of people we were around.

"The problem is her magic is of a fairy," Julian explained, ignoring what he'd just said or my embarrassment. "So she's framed it to heal a fairy."

"Of course, and that was the princess's main concern," Sontar said firmly. "That doesn't make sense why it would be an issue with the wrists and ankles."

The healer councilman swore under his breath and immediately apologized. "No, it makes perfect sense. They're our weakest points. We write our runes to activate magic. That gathers magic in our wrists. I'm right-handed, so I write on my left hand, but my right hand is there as I gather the magic to activate the rune as well."

"Okay, that makes sense, like an area you broke and can be easily rebroken, but why the ankles?" I hedged, glancing around at the other fairies wondering if they understood that. I was glad they seemed as confused as I was.

"Because of grounding," Anya answered. "If you think of magic like electricity, when it runs through us, it's like physics and grounding and lightning. It dissipates through our feet is the hypothesis basically."

"Got it, makes complete sense," I accepted. I turned and faced Sontar before facing my dad and then shaking my head and turning to an amused Calarel. "Bear with me."

"Always, Your Highness," she said gently. "Just tell me where your head is."

I sighed and scrubbed my hands over my head roughly. "The way you explained basic and overall healing when I asked, I sort of saw it like two ways. One is more like whole-package, like a mind, body—almost like humans think a yoga holistic healing experience. It's health, science, mental, and emotional. You can't just heal parts and take it all into account."

"Yes, I would say that's accurate and framed in the reference you understand growing up human," she accepted. "We would say it's more balance with magic, cleansing, and harmony with not only our surroundings but everything in our ecosystem meaning family, friends, and stresses."

I nodded. "The other is healing at the core. Like we talk about wounds in the soul and from there—I saw it as the ripples. You heal the main source or how people have worried about my soul cracking. If you heal that main area, the healing ripples out like throwing a stone in a lake." I moved my hand over my chest but then over my back. "For us, it's our wings really."

"Again, yes, that's how we see it. You would also put it in the context of a major artery. You heal that bleeding or wound and everything else stabilizes." She waited until I nodded, studying me closely. "Are you saying you focused the healing like that for these devices?"

"No, the opposite," I sighed, nodding again when she and others flinched. "I left it to be a yoga experience kind of mind, body, emotional healing, and all over. But like we just figured out, it worked like it would for a fairy and the very basic foundation that we don't write runes to use magic. We think them. We see our whole being as magical and our wings as our…"

"Yes, that would be a main difference between our species," Shael muttered. "Damn. None of us considered that."

"Still, you did something amazing, Tams," Neldor comforted.

I shrugged. "I'm not down on myself." I smiled at him when he seemed worried. "Dude, I did something no one else has been able to or figured out was the problem. And again, no one exploded. I'm good with a wrist or ankle ouchie."

He blinked at me for several moments. "‘Dude?'"

I rolled my eyes. "Sorry, Prince Neldor." I felt better when Julian snickered. I glanced at Calarel and the councilman. "I think I need to change the healing focus to be like a wound at the core and let the body heal it how it needs to. The rest of the…"

"Supplementary therapies are giving the more rounded yoga healing," Calarel offered before snickering. "One is yoga."

"Yeah, exactly. So change the fairy magical part to be the core healing part and the rest…" I sighed and then even blew a raspberry. "Digest? That probably sounds crude, but I keep thinking of it as like digesting medicine basically. Or processing therapy." I glance at Julian.

"You're not wrong," he agreed. "You're thinking how I take time to process my sessions with my therapist." He smiled at me when I winced… Because his mother and Campbell both gasped that he was in therapy. "I'm not ashamed that I'm in therapy, Tams. I'm glad you helped me to talk to someone when I needed it, and I'm amazed how supportive you've been."

I swallowed loudly. "I'm sorry I'm not stronger to—"

He was suddenly in front of me and gave me a soft kiss.

And I smacked him. "Julian Craftsman, if you use that fairy rune again to move like us, I swear to all of the gods that I will find a way to lock you from my magic!" I spun him around and made him face Calarel. "Check him! Make sure he didn't break something or—"

"He's fine, Your Highness," she promised, sighing when I gave her a look that I wasn't fucking around. "I will check your mate."

I lectured him the whole time she did. "That rune more than any other can break you. What did my dad tell you? You can't use that one. You cannot! Neldor told you too. So did the commanders. Do it again and—"

"I'm sorry," he cut in, giving me a contrite look. "I'm really sorry."

"I'm sorry you learned it," I snapped. "How are you tapping into my magic so fast and…" I remembered we were around other people.

"He's fine, Your Highness," Calarel promised.

I thanked her before turning and bopping Julian on the forehead. He was shocked until he saw I was blinking back tears. "How will I feel if you break because I let you see a rune you weren't even supposed to because I didn't know to hide it from your stupid smart brain that would instantly memorize it? Not again, Julian!"

"Not again," he whispered, his eyes too wide with shock at my outburst.

Yeah, well, I was now tied to the idiot on top of everything else.

"Neldor can take the memory of the rune from me," he said after a moment. He nodded when I couldn't get my mouth to work. "Yes, that's the answer. I swear I didn't mean to do it. I didn't mean to tap into your magic. I didn't even think to. I just wanted to hold you and…"

Shit. Our mating made us closer and it was that much easier for him.

I took in a slow breath and let it out. "Fine, any fairy runes that could break you. The scary ones that you cannot use but can with my magic. At least for now, if my magic jumps, it could hurt you. Deal?"

"Yes, okay, your father or Neldor can," he immediately agreed, reaching up and wiping away a tear as he pulled me closer. "I love you too."

"Stupid warlock," I grumbled but let him kiss me.

"You truly love him," Mary said from our left.

Oh shit. I'd totally forgotten she was even there.

I'd been so worried about him I'd really forgotten everyone else or… Yeah, I really was the worst future queen ever and couldn't keep my emotions controlled.

Like ever.

I ignored her and turned back to Calarel and the councilman. "I apologize, I totally forgot where we were."

He dipped his head to me. "I feel the same way when my mate is in danger. You were saying you needed to change the focus of the healing for the vessels."

"Right, right." I bobbed my head. "I don't think it's anything major or really hurts anyone but no need to waste magic. The whole point of this is to be efficient, and if it could be easier on people's bodies to only have two treatments a day but the magic works better then… So be it."

"I do think it's worth testing to see if people could come in on the second level," Anya said giving me an apologetic look. "I know you wanted to start easy and—I truly think there isn't a need for a first level. It's not bad to have—I think it could be a cleansing everyone could have and use. Like washing their hair or brushing their teeth cleansing."

"You're saying it's mild enough for daily use, not as medicine," I muttered, glancing over to my dad to see what he thought… Only to find him bored to tears. "Dad!"

He snapped out of his thoughts and staring off. He winced at whatever was on my face. "Sorry, Daughter, I only tuned back in when Julian misbehaved then drifted again. The details get—we've also been inside so long already."

"At least you know who to blame that I'm such a pain in the ass," I told Julian and the fairies there. "Does anyone object to this meeting being moved outside?" I didn't really give them a chance to object, opening a portal to Julian's back garden. Once we were through it, I gestured for Anya to fill in the demigod.

Lageos nodded along with what she said. "As wise and beautiful as always. Yes, I agree." He glanced over to me with a bright smile. "I think this ties in nicely with what you were saying about trust. This should be left to the lovely Katrina."

I blinked at him a moment before throwing back my head and laughing. "Fine, you can lose focus in meetings. That's brilliant."

"Can you explain it for those of us who aren't fluent in Vale?" someone drawled, one of the commanders if I had to guess.

Or maybe one of the council members. They seemed bold enough to say that as well.

I ignored it and looked at the people I liked. "The problem with expanding the program is there isn't trust built with the council, and that doesn't pertain to just us."

Julian caught on first, doing a double take. "But there is with VeritasPortas. There is no world where people worrying that they might be falling to the dark side or having trouble with their magic would report it to the council. Not unless they were already connected to them like the ten individuals that are a part of this program." He snorted. "I wouldn't have. I would have gone to just about anyone else."

"And would Katrina have been at the top of that list?" I pushed, nodding when he did. I glanced at Anya. "You know we're right. We could have it be where once a week a fairy healer is at any store and people can have confidential assessments. We want them to get help, not track them or report this, right? That's the goal."

"Yes," she and, a few of the council members answered firmly… But a few didn't and clearly that was a problem. The three assholes didn't come, and still a few wanted to use this to track what they saw as potential issues.

No, not on my watch. This wasn't about people being criminals. The warlock in the first group asked for help. He knew something was wrong.

Asking for help shouldn't be a fucking scarlet letter people had to bear. It should just be an offer of help they got.

But it was possibly the best of both worlds. That level one cleansing could be another income source for some fairies trained as healers to sell and jobs for people as well. With trusted employers like the Calloways.

Yeah, I was way more on board with the idea of expanding the program. We could even get some sort of funding from the council and their community for the screenings now and… My mind was churning with possibilities.

"You are so your father's daughter," Julian chuckled.

"Your demigod side came out," Neldor explained, gesturing to everyone who looked a bit dazzled.

Whoops!

I tried to reel it back in. "Okay, for now, we need to work on a statement of—like a medical journal thing," I said to Anya but all of them really. "This is where we're at. Patient A and all of that. It's not about credit for us or—whatever, we were working on it with you and admit we found a flaw because it's fairy to witch magic."

"Why release news of it before it's done?" a different councilman asked, his tone a bit chastising.

And I gave him a look like he was nuts. "Because people deserve to know the truth. I'm going to report it to my people too. It's called transparency." I gestured to Neldor, the commanders, and myself. "We answer to our people, and our world is a monarchy. I suggest you adopt the same practice because not doing that is what made your predecessors so corrupt."

Someone whistled. I would have put my money on my dad.

I ignored that and focused back on Anya. "So we're working on tweaking the levels and are discussing having the first level be over the counter like you said. Mention we're going to have talks with the Calloways. Ask your community what their thoughts are on what I just said. No, we're not giving over the magic, but within the parameters—what are their thoughts?

"Do they prefer walk-ins for anonymity, but understand there might be a wait, or are appointments okay? Maybe this is something that should be required for government jobs like the FBI requires background checks and lie detector tests? Maybe someone could start some sort of business with council funding for these cold baths or whatever?"

"I understand," she cut in, smiling to take the sting out of her interrupting.

"Wait, one more thing," I hurried on. "We need to lock on the list of possible symptoms. What they aren't feeling anymore is a good start, but we need… The range is kind of vague and like a medication commercial and we have to acknowledge that. It sucks, but it's the truth. It could be different for everyone."

"Dramatic personality changes worse than drugs," Campbell muttered, frowning when White snorted.

"No, I agree," I admitted. I sighed when several people looked skeptical. "She's barely looked at Julian." I shrugged when she flinched. "You're not obsessed with him anymore, are you?" I shrugged again when she gave me a death look. "You still hate me, but let's just get this over with and be honest so we can help others."

She curled her lip at me but then sighed, clearly wanting to clear the air with White whom she respected. "Fine." She flipped her hair over her shoulder and shot Julian a look before sighing. "Yes, of course, I think I'm the better choice." She gave a half shrug when people gasped or made shocked noises.

I agreed with her. Whatever. Like I didn't know she felt that way.

Like I care.

She met my gaze again. "But I don't care about a man who isn't interested in me. He's attractive and I found him adorably clueless, but I don't have time for a man who isn't interested. The chase is fun, but if a man isn't smart enough to understand that I'm a catch, I move on. I'm mortified I chased after him."

"How dare you—" Mary started to say, but I subtly silenced her with my magic. I wasn't being petty or a jerk.

I swear I wasn't. I wanted people to see how different Campbell was because I had always guessed this, I truly had.

I understood this part of her.

She gestured to Julian. "Fine, he's a savant and a doctor young, but so what? I mean, he's much hotter now that you got your claws into him and got him to the gym, and well done on the hair and updated wardrobe. I tip my hat to you on getting the man out of his cute clueless attire of jeans and ties that normally had stains with collared shirts.

"Now he's a nine or maybe a ten when I saw him in that three-piece suit if he can finally open his mouth and have a more commanding presence instead of lost in his head. But again—so what? I was a ten and he didn't notice. I'm not chasing after that. He wasn't a prince like Prince Neldor. We had other catches come through Artemis.

"I had others interested in me from other social circles. I wasn't hard up for dates or desperate. I've never, not ever been obsessive like that and it was disgusting." Her chest was heaving and she looked truly panicked. Of all the things she had done, this was what made her feel the most unlike herself.

Strange, but true.

I nodded and glanced at Anya, noting her shock. "She's like Mel. I pegged that from the beginning. She's the predator, not prey, and likes the chase, but the moment someone isn't interested, the game isn't fun. Mel's said it a million times, that it ain't fun if they ain't interested, and there are always lots who will be with her looks."

"Exactly," Campbell agreed.

"It was always the weirdest thing about you or your behavior to me." I shrugged when Julian simply blinked at me. "I love you. I always thought you were a ten. Plus, I'm a runner, not a predator."

He snorted. "You really are." It was his turn to shrug.

I didn't take offense. "But I also saw you more than she did or Mel would. I… I saw you space out or get lost in your head and would get lost with you or ask what you were getting lost in. You did the same for me. We didn't—it wasn't a chance, but I would crawl into your world with you. We would just be with each other."

"The good times," he agreed.

"Yeah, the good times."

"We've done it better now," he hedged, more asking.

"For sure," I agreed, winking at him. "You're not such an idiot now." I smiled when he chuckled, focusing back on Anya. "But that's my point. The change was big, but it wasn't the same as Mary." I winced and took my magic off of her, sighing when she exploded on me for doing it.

And Julian immediately silenced her again. "Mum, you speak to her like that and by the gods—she's my mate! Enough! She silenced you not because she's—we needed Campbell's answer. Gods, stop being so selfish. Everything isn't about you!" He turned to Shael. "Take it off of her when we leave, please. Tamsin has enough stress."

"Gladly, Dr. Craftsman," Shael purred.

"I would ask you make that the standing order anytime the princess is around, Dr. Craftsman," Calarel interjected. "We've tried multiple times, but the princess always shoots it down because it's your house and—"

"Yes, silence my mother around my mate or even her father," Julian said firmly. "They've had to endure enough of her abuse." He shook his head when Mary exploded even if we couldn't hear her. "You're still going to be horrible to her even now that you're getting better. You understand that you're sick and they are helping you. Have you even said thank you, Mum?"

No. He knew the answer, but his mom simply shot me a nasty look.

Bitch. Seriously.

What a fucking bitch.

Butthe fact that so much had changed with Julian and I wasn't even shocked anymore that he immediately jumped in to not only defend me but handle his mother… Well, that said everything.

And meant everything to me.