The Aspect of Essence (The Aelfyn Archives, #1)

by Samantha Amstutz

Serenna frowned. Jassyn sat in the greenhouse, leaning against the glass. With worry prickling at her scalp, she balanced the platter of food on a hip to open the glass door. When she saw him more clearly, shock loosened her grip. The tray of food crashed to the ground. Aghast, Serenna placed a hand over her mouth. Purple bruises and bite marks marred every surface of his neck. Trenches left by nails disappeared under his white leathers. He looked ravaged by an animal. “Are you okay?” Serenna asked, rushing to kneel beside him. She swept vines away to clear a space. “What happened?” Jassyn didn’t meet her eyes. “It’s not as bad as it looks.” Studying the plants twisted around his palms, he rubbed the leaves between his fingers. “I’m waiting until the stars are out so I can regenerate to…cover everything back up.” “Should I get a mender?” Serenna asked, knowing that self-healing wasn’t possible. “A few magus are still in the wing.” Jassyn’s skin was so inflamed and shredded that he had to be in pain. This doesn’t appear to have just happened… He must have concealed the wounds with illusions. Jassyn shook his head. “I don’t want anyone to see me like this.”