The Prison Healer (The Prison Healer, #1)

by Lynette Noni

“Four elemental tasks—called Ordeals—to determine a person’s guilt: Trial by Air, Trial by Fire, Trial by Water, Trial by Earth,”

“It’s believed that she’s Tilda Corentine,” the guard said. “The Rebel Queen.”

“My name is Kiva Meridan, and I claim her sentence as my own.”

“You told me that Tipp could leave Zalindov if he had a guardian on the outside to collect him,”

“I have a lot of dreams. A lot of nightmares, too. Only time will tell which path my life will take.”

People—especially men—could react poorly if they thought their intelligence was being criticized.

“They’re saying those things about me. Shouldn’t I get to decide whether or not to punish them? Or do you think I’d have chosen to have you slam your fist into their faces just to prove an object lesson?”

So you’re right, you don’t need me fighting your battles.” He moved a step closer, his tone husky as he finished, “But . . . if you’ll let me, I’d like to be standing beside you as you fight them.”

“But things happen in life that you don’t expect, that you can’t plan for and you’re helpless to stop. Their story didn’t end as it should have. But I know for a fact that they’d live it all over again, even the ending, as long as it meant they could keep their beginning.” But, Papa, the endings are the best part. Sometimes, sweetheart. But other times, the beginnings are.

“Kiva Meridan,” Rooke said in a deep, carrying voice as she approached. “Today you will face your second Ordeal, the Trial by Fire. Do you have any last words?”

“So, for every person I carved, I . . . I cut myself, too. Later, of course—when no one was around. No one ever knew.”

“But when it became an addiction, I knew I had to stop. I recognized the signs once I started craving the pain, the rush of endorphins that broke through the all-consuming numbness I felt. And I knew it wasn’t healthy, knew I wouldn’t be able to help anyone else if I didn’t first help myself.”

“It wasn’t easy to stop. But I took it one day at a time, one new carving at a time, and eventually the numbness faded, along with the need to hurt myself.”

“I still feel the guilt. Every single time. But I also know that the blame isn’t on me, and I think that’s what helps the most. That’s what keep...

“Well, that, and focusing on healing everyone who comes to me. I never want to risk not being there for them, for any reason—es...

her father never would have given up until he’d solved the problem, even if it killed him. Which, in this case, it had.

“He was meant for more than this. The world needs people like him out there in it, shining light into the dark places. He’s wasted in here.”

Her purpose in life was to heal people, not hurt them.

He wouldn’t need a luminium beacon—he’d light up the space all on his own.

“I don’t expect anything from you, Kiva. I just want you to live. I want you to be free. And for that, you need to survive.”