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“It does?” Nik looked at her in surprise.
“I’m not saying I approve of you, reneger,” she said, and his remaining smile disappeared at the word. “But you’ve proven yourself when it comes to protecting Delphine.” She held up a finger. “Which is all I’m giving permission for, mind you.”
“Amara!” I cried while Luna cackled into her hands.
Nik ignored them both, turning back to Hayes. “Meet at the north gate just before dawn. With or without your guards and tracker. It makes no difference to me.”
Hayes agreed to the meeting place, looking like he would have liked to say more but was refraining. But when Nik strode out of the room, heading for the front door, something else flashed into my mind.
I dashed after him, stopping him with a hand on his arm just as he reached for the door handle. He turned quickly, surprise and something else flashing across his face when he saw it was me.
“Is there a problem?” he asked, but the way his eyes lingered on my face made me think he wanted to ask something else.
I forgot my original purpose, a different question distracting me.
“You barely said a word back there. The plan was your idea in the first place—I thought you’d be the one working hard to convince Amara.”
“Does that worry you?” He examined my eyes.
I considered the matter. “More curiosity than worry, I suppose.”
“Seeing you in that hospital bed for so long…” His eyes tightened. “Let’s just say I’ve been starting to agree with Amara’s opinion on this.”
“But it was your plan!”
“Exactly. What was I thinking to suggest such a thing? You might be strong, but even you have your limits.”
“Don’t worry,” I said with a cheeky grin. “Out in the desert there will only be one of me to heal. I won’t go collapsing on you again.”
He cast his eyes toward the ceiling. “Yourself plus Miranda and about twenty animals, if I know you.”
Phoenix, still perched on my shoulder, gave a chattering call, ruffling his feathers.
“Your objection has been noted,” I said on a laugh. “I’ll try to refrain from attracting too many more animal companions.”
“Was that what you wanted to ask me?” Nik’s eyes lingered on the hand that still rested on his arm. I pulled it back.
“Actually, it was something else. It might not be a problem, but…”
His brow instantly tightened, his expression turning serious.
“When I woke up, the apprentices at the hospital were full of talk. There seem to be all kinds of outlandish rumors flying around.”
His face relaxed, and he laughed. “Oh, that. Don’t worry, healer. I don’t suddenly think you can heal multitudes or fell armies with a single touch. I won’t relax my vigilance out there.”
I shook my head. “I’m not worried about me,” I said, exasperated. “It’s you I’m concerned about.”
“Me?” His amusement lingered, sparking with an added hint of warmth. “You don’t need to concern yourself about my safety. I learned to look after myself long ago.”
I rolled my eyes and pushed on. “They seemed to be competing with each other for the most dramatic exaggeration on the stories, but unfortunately in your case…”
“Goodness,” he said lightly when I fell silent. “Whatever did they say about me?”
“A few people got glimpses of you coming in and out of the hospital.” I gave him a reproving look, and he glanced away, apparently uncomfortable at being found out.
“Since you carried me in from the square, someone connected you with the unknown plants mage who was helping there. And from there they kept exaggerating the situation until they accidentally stumbled onto the truth. They were talking about a prince with the power to move stones. One with a connection to me.”
I trained my eyes on him, hoping he would understand my concern.
