Highland Sorcerer by Clover Autrey Read Free Book Online

fully
on her. "I need you to listen to me. You came here seeking my aid
and I'm going to give it to you."
    His look of relief nearly shattered her
resolve.
    "But not just a small
reprieve."
    "Can you…" His throat worked. "I seek a
healing."
    Charity took his hand and squeezed it
between hers. "I know." His plea had the power to unravel all her
plans. What if this didn't work? Then she'd be sending him back
still broken and wounded with little reserve to continue fighting
Aldreth. And she needed him to fight. Just for a while
longer.
    She felt a tear slide onto her cheek.
"I'm sorry. I can't."
    His eyes widened, full of disbelief.
"But I came—"
    "I know. Believe me I know."
    She didn't have time to wait. She
placed her palm upon his filthy chest.
    The thrumming started in the pit of her
belly, pulsing like a bass drum through her body, drawing forth
with the beat of her heart the innate magic that was hers by birth
and heritage.
    Magic flowed through her, tingling
beneath her skin like static electricity. The ends of her hair
lifted. Focused, Charity anchored the magic within her heart and
guided the power through her arms into her hands and
outward.
    The man gasped. His back arched, neck
stretched. Shoulders and head ground into the floor, but she kept
going, kept pouring the healing into him, even knowing she caused
him pain. Just a little bit. She couldn't heal him fully, but let
the power drill through him enough so that she could tap into his
magic. What little healing she did on the way was pathetically
inadequate. The point was for her to be magically in contact with
him so she latched onto his magic, keeping it within a stranglehold
of her own.
    And waited while the magic buzzed
between them. She didn’t push for anymore, didn’t delve down as
deeply as before when their magic had exploded together and she had
been thrust into his emotions and thoughts. She just had to keep
ahold of him—essence to essence—a light touch on the
fringes.
    “ I need you to trust
me."
    Toren's glassy eyes barely remained on
her. They flit incoherently about the room. When she'd healed him
before, his innate magic had strengthened hers beyond what she
could normally do. He had allowed it to flow through her freely and
that emotional connection, almost a type of bond had been somehow
forged between them.
    Charity didn't know if it still
remained or if the connection between them had been wiped clean as
though it never existed because they were reliving this time once
more. For Toren it never was. He had never been healed by her. This
was the first time they met. Nor did he know her name.
    Names hold
power.
    "Charity." She grabbed his large hand
between hers. "My name is Charity." It was suddenly very important
that he knew that.
    He pulled his fingers from hers and
looked away. "Is it no longer customary that a Healer Enchantress
give aid to those in need?" His tone was an accusation.
    She drew back as though she'd been
slapped. "Of course it is."
    A muscle in his jaw twitched. He turned
back to face her. "Then why will ye not—?" His eyes hardened.
"Ye're in league with her."
    "With who? Aldreth?"
    His entire frame stiffened, muscles
bunching beneath his filthy skin. Oh crap. From his perspective,
how else would she know the witch's name?
    "I'm not in league with
Aldreth."
    Weak though he was, Toren scooted away,
dragging himself backward on the linoleum. His features twisted
with pain.
    Charity crawled after him. "Stop that.
You're hurting yourself. Your ribs have been broken."
    Again he gave her a horrified look.
Great. Sure. How could she know that? Like that wasn’t
suspicious.
    He blew out the most
incredulous sounding huff she'd ever heard. "'Tis not what ye want?
I'm at yer mercy, Healer . Do what ye will."
    She grabbed his wrist. "Now you listen
to me, Toren Limont. I only know about the witch Aldreth because
you told me."
    That's not poss—"
    "Be quiet and listen."
    "So ye intend to torture me with
words?"
    Charity