"Who is it?" someone sang from inside. The voice wasn't very pretty, but it was female.

Definitely not Viltus. Had he moved? Or maybe he was "boarding" someone else. Her stomach twisted. He certainly moved on quickly.

"I said who is it?" The door swung open, and a gap-toothed smile greeted her. "Well, look who's come to visit!"

"Garma?" Not the woman she'd been expecting. "Why are you here?"

She plopped her spidery-fingered fists on her hips, the loose flab underneath her arms jiggling. "I'm helping Viltus pack."

"Whatever for?"

She sucked in a breath and spat a lump of phlegm into the dirt. "I'm a good neighbor—that's why. Not that you ever thought I was."

"No, no. I didn't mean that. Why is he packing?"

"Why don't you ask him yourself?" Garma's eyes zipped up and down Elon before she glanced over her shoulder. "Viltus! Carissa's here—and she's towing along a mighty fine looking man, if I do say so myself."

Carissa clapped a hand to her suddenly warm forehead. Of all the people to answer the door.

Someone snorted within the house. "You can tell her and her mighty fine looking man to go back to the whorehouse from whence they came."

Garma turned back towards them. "He says—"

"I heard him just fine, thank you." She inhaled slowly, then exhaled before facing Elon. "I think I made a mistake in coming here."

He returned her gaze unwaveringly. "You didn't."

She shook her head. "How can you say that?"

"Likely, it has something to do with my Foresight." He grinned before casting a glance at the darkened house. "While I can't say I approve of your previous taste in men—"

She suppressed a cringe.

"—if you need time to talk to him, I understand."

Carissa shrugged. "We'll see if he's ready to talk." She shouted, loud enough for Viltus to hear, "I have an offer for you."

He shouted back, "I'm sure in the past few days, you've made many offers to many men."

Heat surged through her blood, until her arms quivered. "Grow up, Viltus. Or better yet, man up and come here to talk to me, face-to-face. Unless you'd more comfortable hiding behind Garma's skirt."

Garma smoothed a hand over the clothing article in question, obviously pleased she'd been mentioned.

The floorboards creaked beneath his heavy footsteps. Viltus nudged aside Garma, faced Carissa, and his entire face went slack, his wide eyes skimming her. "You look... significantly better than when I last saw you."

She snorted. Flattering.

His gaze moved a bit slower now, and a hint of fondness flickered in his eyes. "Forgive my poor wording, but I'm quite sincere. You look lovely."

Elon cleared his throat. "I believe I'll leave you two to discuss the proposition Carissa has in mind. Carissa love, should you need me, I'll be just around the corner."

Carissa turned towards him. "Thank—"

Elon's kiss sent of ripple of shock across her skin. Typically, he was rather cautious when administering physical affection. His lips moved from hers to peck her cheek then to slide along the length of her neck, nearly touching her shoulder.

As he withdrew, she was able to do little more than stare with parted lips and heated cheeks. Elon grinned at her, his eyes sparkling, and strode towards his horse, seeming quite pleased with himself.

Judging by Viltus' flat expression, Elon had made it quite clear she was no longer available. "A customer of yours?"

"Husband, actually." She rubbed her hand along the curve of her neck, where Elon's lips had been moments ago. What had they been talking about?

Viltus folded his arms. "You had an offer for me?"

"Yes." She clasped her hands in front of her and shook off the lingering sensation of Elon's touch. "I want Iver refurbished into another place of healing, since the tower is in such disrepair. And I want it to be a place where nightwomen can be taught the arts of healing."

"And what role do I play in all this?"

She hoped Elon was right about this being a good idea. "I want you to be the head healer."

Viltus snorted. "Me? You do realize I'm preparing to move, now that the lockdown is over."

"Move where?"

He shrugged. "Start over somewhere else, without all these," he circled his hand, "memories."

"But think of all the good you could do here. These women will need your guidance, Viltus."

He shook his head. "I don't accept." He began to turn back inside.

Oh, well. At least she'd tried. "Good day."

He paused, his hand on the doorframe. "You're not going to try to further persuade me?"

"You refuse to be persuaded. I fail to see why I should waste more of my time here."

He folded his arms. "I suppose you'd rather be spending time with that husband of yours." He jutted his chin towards a spot behind her. "Where did you find him? In Iver?"

Carissa suppressed an eye roll. "You say that like it's disgusting. Don't forget you wanted a wife from Iver. And Elisa is doing well, by the way."

"What?" His eyebrows shot up.

"Elisa. Or have you forgotten her so easily?"

His lips flattened. Apparently he hadn't.

"She returned to Iver to care for the other nightwomen with the healing skills you'd taught her. She'd tended to me. Or rather, tried to."

"Is that what she told you?" Even though his tone was sharp, something in his eyes had softened.

Perhaps she shouldn't have mentioned Elisa. Elisa could likely do better than Viltus... but even he deserved a second chance. "Yes. She's still there, healing during the day, working during the night."

Darkness flickered across his expression. "That's the life she chose."

"You could give her another option."

"I already have."

Carissa sighed. "Only you can make this decision, Viltus. Think on it. Elon and I must leave."

"E–Elon?" He sputtered a curse and nearly tripped over his feet. "Elon?"

"Yes."

"The entire reason you fled home?"

"Yes."

"The man you hated?"

"Yes."

"And vowed to never wed?"

She huffed, her breath stirring loose strands of her hair. "I was young, presumptuous, and foolish then. And you were selfish for not telling me the contents of the letters."

At least he had the decency to flush. "Yes, I was."

Her lips parted in surprise. Viltus taking responsibility. That was new.

"I knew I didn't have a chance compared to him... I didn't want to lose you, Carissa—"

Then he shouldn't have tossed her out.

"—but I'm happy for you. He seems rather," he crinkled his nose, "fond of you."

She tossed a glance over her shoulder, where Elon was stroking his horse. "He's a good man." She turned back. "And Elisa is a good woman."

He frowned and glanced away. "Perhaps." He stepped into the shade of the house. "Safe travels, Carissa."

"I would say the same to you, but I'm hoping you'll stay in Zonah."

He shook his head, his smile tight, and closed the door. The last time he'd closed the door, it's been done with fierce pain and anger. This time, his pain was of a softer sort. Hopefully that meant he could grow and change as she had.

Dust stirred beneath her slippers until she stopped at Elon's side. "You knew I would ask for Iver to be refurbished? And that I would request he lead?"

"Yes." He positioned her next to the horse before lifting her into the saddle.

"Then you also knew he would refuse?"

Elon offered her a close-lipped smile. If it weren't for his twinkling eyes and tender gaze, she would have called it a smirk. "Did he, now?" He mounted behind her, scooted her back against him despite her stiffening, and the horse walked forward.

She twisted to face him, resisting the urge to squirm at their proximity. "You know something I don't."

His grin widened. "What was your first clue, love? Did the fact that I have foresight give it away?"

She folded her arms, her lips trembling with the effort to suppress a smile. "As my humble servant, I demand you tell me."

He chuckled so quietly that she wouldn't have known he'd done so if she hadn't felt the vibrations in his chest. "Let's just say I think I'll send a message to summon this Elisa and see if she can sway Viltus where we could not."

"We aren't going to ask ourselves?"

"No. We are journeying to the palace. And there's someone joining our escort who I believe you'll want to meet."

***

Author's Note: Maybe I'll get the sneak peek up later today... if someone says pretty please ;) I've been really crunched for time for the past few days, so sorry about that! And I'm sorry about the messy chapter titles; I'll fix those...
Edit: Thanks to @shalom900 and @Annafischer2001, the sneak peek is up!