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inexplicable reaction in her. Goddess! He could not be attracted to her ? Could he? A stick of a woman with an ordinary face? Hard muscles covered her skinny length and calluses dotted her strong fingers—fingers skilled in unfeminine, practical tasks, not seductive arts. Her mysterious arousal and attraction to Hel scrambled her composure. His studious silence compounded her confusion—and then there was the mystery of what he looked like under all that hair. She had to stop such thoughts. They paved the way to heartache. She deluded herself if she imagined a mutual attraction.  
    When all was in order , Hel had straightened and slowly smiled. “That should do for tonight, Healer. Rest well.”
    Hel never addressed her by name—only as “ Healer.” That was her identity to him—the healer—desired for her skills, not her sex. She needed to hold firm to that thought.
    Those in front of her gelding slowed, and Adonia grunted slightly as her horse dropped down to a trot. Darkness had made the road a pale ribbon flanked by deep purple-black. DeHelios must know the region well because they turned down a break in the trees she hadn’t seen. She prayed they were stopping for the night.
    “Praise the Goddess,” she muttered under her breath as the dark lane opened up onto a wood-shingled, whitewashed building tucked snugly into a grove of tall conifers. Its multi-paned windows glowed with cheerful light and illuminated a small wooden sign that read simply, Wayfarer’s Inn . For the first time since leaving Sylvan Mintoth, the evening accommodations would feature a bed and four walls. Adonia fervently hoped they also included a tub and some hot water. She pulled to a halt and sat her weary horse as she summoned the energy to dismount with some semblance of dignity.
    “Is the pace too much for you, Healer? You aren’t the type to complain, so I must ask.”
    Adonia started at Hel’s hand wrapping her thigh and the inquiry on his face. While it was full dark, she must be more tired than she realized not to have seen him there.
    “You needn’t worry . I’ll keep up. A year ago, this ride would have been nothing. My months in the great library have softened me, but I won’t hold you back. My muscles will soon regain their fitness.”
    He took the reins from around her horse’s sweaty neck and held out his arms to assist her in dismounting. Her dismount became a controlled fall as she leaned forward into his hold and let him pull her from her animal.
    “Oh!” Hel caught her as her feet hit the ground, and her knees threatened to give out. The strong band of his arms held her securely against him, and she felt dwarfed by his sheer mass. Was this what being enveloped by an ice-bear felt like? “Thank you.” She grimaced as she tested her legs. They would hold now. “I think I can manage from here.” She smiled up at him as he released her.
    “ Our swift pace is for those in Nyth Uchel for whom the brite-weed means life. But I would not kill our healer, either. You must tell me if I push too hard.” His hand strayed to her cheek and rearranged a wandering tendril of hair behind her ear.
    His gra y eyes locked on hers. Their message chased any thought from her head. All she could summon was a croak of affirmation and a nod, helpless before the magnetic pull of this larger-than-life man.
    Hel grinned and turned, leading their horses toward the stables.
    She realized with a start that she was standing alone in the yard, an arm held out as if to arrest his departure. She dropped her arm to her side. A fan of light falling onto the courtyard profiled Steffania DeKieran as she leaned out the red-trimmed door to the inn and hailed Adonia.
    “Ramsey acquired three rooms. I’ll bet they will furnish us with hot baths if we offer to pay. I don’t know about you, but I’m tired of smelling myself.” The redhead laughed as Adonia hurried to join her.
    After a welcome bath, no matter the tub held scant inches, t he small