One side of my mouth tipped up. “Not all scars are bad.” Let him think what he wanted. I forced myself to turn away.
He cleared his throat and continued his ministrations. “As I said, when our youth come of age, it’s a grand event that includes a week-long celebration and an introduction to the king himself. It signifies their entrance into society, when they must choose what they will become.”
My knowledge of Anolyn was very little, but what I did know was far different from what he described. Heat infused my tone. “Your children work as slaves, forced to do jobs given to them based on need.”
The doctor smirked. “So you no longer deny you’re not from here?” I looked away, refusing the information. “Well, whoever taught you that lesson was wrong. Members of our kingdom choose their own lifestyle, but it’s based on the needs of their community or country. If they cannot choose one, it’s chosen for them. They are not slaves, but we do expect our people to work. To contribute.”
I tried to roll my eyes, but they were still swollen, which diluted the effect.
He peered at Sameen. “It was late when I attended her. I felt the injury to her stomach and several lesser injuries that I will see to now, but I sense there are others—dated damage sustained prior to arriving here. How far do they extend?”
I heaved a sigh. “My arms and face will be sufficient en—”
“They’re everywhere,” Sameen said.
I gave her a baleful glare, but she ignored me. She lifted his bag from the ground. “I have a feeling you’ll go through all of your product with this one.”
“I won’t be able to heal all scars and older wounds, but I’ll see what I can do for the most recent ones,” he said as he rummaged through the contents. “Sameen, help her with her nightdress. Lady Anna, would you please lay on your stomach?”
He stood and moved to the window. Keeping his back turned, he allowed me privacy to undress. Sameen placed the scissors she still carried on the nightstand, then tugged off my nightshirt. While I had grown accustomed to Pala taking care of me, it grated on my nerves being so exposed.
Humiliated, I did as I was told, grateful when Sameen quickly covered my lower half with a thin sheet. “She’s ready, Gedeon.”
“Wonderful. Lady Anna, I will try to be done…”
His voice trailed off as he neared.
I closed my eyes, ignoring the way my skin flushed in embarrassment. I knew what he saw. What they both saw. But what I didn’t know was how I would react when his fingers lightly grazed my skin. Instincts flared. I flew from the bed, at the same time grabbing my cover.
Sameen let out a yelp when I swiped the scissors from the nightstand, knocking it over. My knees gave way and I tumbled to the floor, my legs grudging to respond the commands given them.
I cursed a foul oath, holding the scissors as a weapon.
The doctor’s voice was thick in shock. “What on earth—”
“Stay away from me,” I said through clenched teeth. I jabbed the scissors his direction, knowing the sheet I held barely covered the front of me.
I inched up the wall.
“Where are my clothes?” I asked through clenched teeth.
“Lady Anna, you are badly injured. Your body needs to rest,” he said, unwilling to answer my question.
Sameen’s eyes, meanwhile, flashed to a folded pile next to the window.
My legs trembled when I dashed for the bundle, but before I could manage two steps, the door busted open behind me. I inhaled sharply when arms clamped down on mine. Large hands shook the weapon from my fingers and the scissors clattered to the ground.
Red infused my already clouded vision. I bucked and screamed.
Something stung the side of my neck, and I gasped. A second later, the pain released. From the corner of my eye the healer ducked behind the protection of Reese’s larger form, a small, dart-like object clutched in his hands.
I twisted hard and fell backward, but Reese caught me and gathered me again to his chest. I beat my fists against his shoulders until my eyes rolled back in my head. A curse fizzled upon my still-swollen lips.
When I woke, my eyes opened freely to the sun streaming from a window. I reached to stretch fingers to golden flecks dancing in the light. No pain laced my movements. Birds chirped, their song a soothing balm.
I rubbed that place on my neck where Gedeon had injected whatever it was that knocked me out, but nothing remained except the memory.
I was back in my original room. Sameen sat knitting in a rocking chair that wasn’t there the first time, and up against the door stood Reese. His eyes already watched me as I examined my surroundings.
He leaned from the door and commanded the attention of someone just outside. “Warn the prince: she’s awake.”
Did my face have to keep turning color as it did? I cleared my throat, but nothing came out. What was there to say?
“She will need to be dressed. Immediately,” Reese said.
“Very well,” said Sameen, smoothing her hair twisted tightly at the back of her neck. “I will as soon as you step out.”
He hesitated. A question lingered in his eyes.
I slowly sat up, waiting for the painful rush of blood from my head, but it never came. Twisting, I tried the muscles in my neck. They were sound. “I won’t harm Sameen,” I said, my voice a croaking embarrassment.
She pished and moved to my bedside. “Of course she won’t.”
Reese’s brows ticked high upon his forehead as if to say otherwise. Heat flooded my cheeks.
“Now shoo,” she commanded.
When he had left, she held out a light blue day dress. It draped delicately to the ground in gossamer and lace.
I looked it over. “That color is a little too nice for a dirty prisoner, don’t you think?”
“You’re not a dirty prisoner any more. I’ll expect you to act like a lady, not some wild animal from here on out. Do you understand?”
I hesitated before nodding. Could I do that? I could see myself behaving for Sameen, if only for Sameen.
I stood, my mind still reeling over the work of the healer. I felt amazing, the best I had felt in months, perhaps years, even. Sameen tugged and cinched the dress in all the right places, lacing it up the back. “Gedeon is over two-hundred-fifty years old, and I think you nearly gave him a heart attack. Can you tell me why you reacted the way you did?”
I blinked. No one had ever asked me such a thing, but an immediate answer flew to my lips. “I don’t like to be touched.”
Her fingers stilled. “But I’m touching you now.”
I didn’t have the heart to tell her that even the feel of her fingers on the buttons of my dress made my skin crawl. She allowed the silence and came around to survey her work. “Will you permit me to do your hair?”
“If you wish.”
“If I wish?” Her eyes delved into mine, suddenly thick with an emotion I could not read. “I don’t know what life was like for you in Eira, but here you’re—”
“Safe?” I interrupted. My tone dared her to argue my point.
Her mouth clamped closed. She couldn’t promise something she had no control over.
Her next words were slow. “Here, it’s different.”
I didn’t think so. People were all the same. Egotistical. Self-serving. Evil.