The Herbalist (The Blessing Giver Book 2) by Cindy Gunderson

Author:Cindy Gunderson [Gunderson, Cindy]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Florid Romance
Published: 2023-08-01T16:00:00+00:00

Mel couldn’t even bring herself to smirk at Taryn’s expression as he stared at his glass of milk. On a normal day, she would’ve snorted on seeing his drooping eyes and pouting lip, but now his expression merely matched her own feelings.

She nursed her second fanker of ale, allowing the sour liquid to burn down her throat and warm her cheeks. Back in Viviers, she would’ve been on her third, but now…she sighed and set her drink down on the table. She couldn’t keep doing this. What had escaping gotten her up to this point? Nothing. Less than nothing.

“Where’s Leeds?” Taryn asked.

“He didn’t want to visit Tryl,” Mel answered quickly. Taryn frowned, and Paladin watched her closely. “Is there nothing else to entertain you?” Mel snarked.

Paladin sipped his ale. “Plenty.”

Mel’s eyes flashed. “Then look somewhere else.”

“I don’t want to.” Paladin shrugged. Taryn scanned the room as if he’d gladly focus on anything else besides the fact that he was the only one in the pub without a peil of ale in front of him.

Mel ground her teeth. “You’re not going to survive long on this trip if you keep looking at me that way.”

Paladin sighed and stretched his arms behind his head. He had dark circles under his eyes, and his skin was still alarmingly pale. “Ah, Mel. This outburst would be funny if it didn’t hit so close to home.”

Mel looked up. What was he playing at? Suddenly he thought he was an expert on her life? What did he know about… She caught herself mid-thought. About abandoning his home and leaving the people he loved?

She ran her finger along the rim of her glass. The only difference was Paladin didn’t choose to leave. His people turned him over to the Ambassador. Left him for dead. Not the only difference. He’d found someone along the way. Rayelle.

“Anger doesn’t help.” Paladin rested his arms back on the table.

“It’s better than nothing,” she muttered. Taryn looked between the two of them, but Mel ignored him.

Paladin leaned in. “You’ll be angry until you can’t be. Until the darkness creeps in and convinces you life hurts too much to keep going. I promise you, when that happens, I’ll be watching closer than this.”

Mel’s heart thumped in her chest. “I should go to the apothecary.”

Paladin barked a laugh. “Mel. I won’t let you scrap and bite your way out of this. You’re stuck with us whether you like it or not.”

Mel suddenly felt hot. Her clothes were too tight. “It’s my life, Paladin. I’ll go whenever and wherever I want.”

Paladin leveled his eyes at her. “If you try to run before we reach Tryl, I’ll haul you back by your ears. And I’ll be keeping a close eye on the rope. We need you, Mel. And you need us.”

Mel never had a brother, but she imagined this was what it felt like. Annoyance. Rage. Accompanied by a soul-deep knowledge that this was exactly what she needed to hear. Which only fueled her frustration.

“Wonderful. You think I’m insane.

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