The Elements of the Crown by Kay L. Moody

Author:Kay L. Moody
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Marten Press

THIRTY-EIGHT

TALISE SNATCHED THE CLOTH FROM AADEN’S HAND and threw it across the library before he could snatch it back. “You’re being a baby,” she said with exasperation. “Just let me look at it.”

He folded his arms across his chest and turned away with an angry huff.

“Just.” She wrapped her fingers around his chin and pushed his face toward her.

His skin warmed at her touch. She wondered if the heat had been on purpose or if he involuntarily warmed his veins just because she was around. Either way, she didn’t have time to worry about it.

He didn’t pull his chin out of her grip. For the briefest moment, he looked into her eyes. By the time she glanced back, he had looked away. And let out another huff.

She rolled her eyes at the reaction. “Would you calm down? One of the palace soldiers had his arm cut off. This is nothing.”

He didn’t respond. She had a feeling she had finally gotten to him, at least a little.

Now that she could examine the injury, it didn’t look too bad. It was deep enough to scar, but it didn’t go down to the bone. As long as the wound got cleaned, it shouldn’t have any lasting damage.

“Hold still. I’m going to clean it.”

Aaden’s shoulders shifted. He tensed under her touch, but he seemed to finally accept the inevitable.

She shaped the water out of a nearby bowl. The bowl was still there from when she had brought it to the library early that morning. Back when a Kessoku scout group ravaged the palace and she thought it was nothing more than a trial.

She shook her head at her own naivety. With the water levitating in the air, Talise felt inside it for any trace of earth. A few minerals wouldn’t be a problem, but to clean a wound, she needed clean water.

After concentrating for a few moments, she felt through the water and shaped the dirt and other contaminants out of it. For drinking, she would have left more of the minerals, but for cleaning, she removed them.

The wet patter of crumbs landed on the library table.

With the water clean, she shaped it over the slash in Aaden’s face. It wasn’t until the water rushed over his wound that she realized the water was getting in his eye. Maybe she should have found some salt to dissolve into the water so it wouldn’t sting. But the salt would have made the wound dirty, so it was probably best she hadn’t.

Her fingers moved in soft strokes through the air as she shaped the water in a steady flow over the wound. The dried blood at the edges of the wound came away freely. But deeper in the wound, it was harder to tell how clean it was.

Talise cupped her fingers under Aaden’s chin and leaned closer to get a better angle. She’d propped herself atop one of the library tables so it would be easier to reach his face. Letting the water sink deeper into the wound, she leaned even closer still.

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