Healer to the Ash King (Dark Rulers, #5)

by Rebecca F. Kenney

The beast tenses for a spring, and I hold out both hands and bark, “Stop!” The ollpheist skids to a halt in front of me and roars, spraying spittle from its fangs. It swipes at me with a paw, but I don’t move, not even when the tips of the claws rake across my chest. Pain sears through my flesh, but I force myself to step forward, slamming my boot to the ground, a tangible threat that reverberates through the turf. The monster withdraws a step, like it’s confused about why I don’t scream and run like Samay did. “I’m not afraid of you.” My voice is low and firm, but I know a certain gifted pair of ears in the audience can hear every word. “You think you’re so big and scary, that no one can handle being around you, but that’s not true. You can’t hurt me, because I’ll heal and I’ll come back, every time. Everything you want—you can have it if you just give in. If you submit to me.”