The Dracons' Woman Read Online Free PDF

extremely frightening to your Arima at this time and would cause her undue stress and fear.”  Riata knew that her words would, in themselves, prevent the Dracons from succumbing to a blood-rage.  As she understood it, their Arima’s health and safety would literally exceed any and all things.  Still, the subtle increase in tension she felt gave her pause.  But they had to know.  They had to be aware that the young woman they would claim as their own would need to be handled with some care.
    “We will maintain our control, Healer,” Garen assured her gently.  “We can do no other.  We will do whatever we must for her.”
    Riata nodded.  “She has been greatly harmed,” she began.  “She has only just recovered from many injuries, is still recovering from others.  The arm I Healed was not broken today so much as re-broken.  The initial break was barely healed.  She has several other breaks that have only recently healed as well.  I was able to complete their healing, so she should have no lingering pain or weakness from them now.  They have caused her great suffering for perhaps two months.  She spent time in a healing tank but was removed too soon.” 
    Riata paused a moment, her hands shaking.  The pain Lariah had suffered was still affecting her.  As both Empath and Healer, Riata was able to sense not only Lariah’s recent injuries, but also the pain and terror that had accompanied them.  Continuing her examination of the young woman while hiding her feelings and maintaining an outward expression of calm had been most difficult.  She cleared her throat and continued.
    “She suffered many wounds on her body.  Almost all were soft tissue wounds.  She was in the healing tank long enough to heal those wounds, and, mercifully, prevent visible scarring.  However, many of the wounds were quite severe and though healed, I sense a deep, lingering trauma in her very skin, muscle and tissues.  This is not something that can be Healed.  It will, hopefully, fade with time.”  Riata felt slightly faint.  She placed one hand on the counter to steady herself.
    Trey stepped forward and guided Riata toward a chair.  He met his brothers’ eyes.  The Healer’s distress told them more eloquently than her words how badly Lariah had been injured. 
    “Wounds?  Where?  From what”” Garen asked.
    “There were deep wounds encircling her wrists as though she had been…shackled.  With metal.  The damage to her wrists was severe, but thankfully they were fully healed in the tank.  I merely repaired a bit of leftover nerve damage.  From what I can sense, I would say that most of her body was covered with burns, cuts, scratches and bruises.  In some places she was cut to the bone.  In others muscles and tendons were severed or damaged.  She suffered the most pain from the burns which covered most of her body.  In some places they went so deep that….”  Riata stopped, closed her eyes and fought back nausea. 
    “Her voice is soft because she has a damaged larynx,” Riata continued, unable to bear further description of the burns.  “I believe the damage was caused by…by her screams.”  Riata swallowed hard and willed herself to finish.  “Someone worked long and hard to manually repair the damage.  I would guess she has only been able to speak for a few weeks.  I did my best to aid the healing there as well, but it may be some time, if ever, before she regains her full voice.”
    Riata took a deep, calming breath and decided she had revealed more than enough.  She waited, her eyes on the floor as she again felt the tension in the room quickly rise, this time to a nearly unbearable level.  Then, slowly, the Dracons calmed themselves.  She took another deep breath and raised her eyes.  The anger she saw in their eyes she expected.  It was the sadness that surprised her.  But it also gave her the strength to go on.
    “Lariah was brutally and repeatedly beaten, burned…tortured,