The Healer: A Young Adult Romantic Fantasy (The Healer Series Book 1) (42 page)

And then it struck.

The stem embedded itself within his heart, and the pain was like nothing the god had ever before felt. He let out a strangled cry and nearly staggered to the floor, but just as quickly as the pain took hold of him it let go. He closed his eyes and opened them slowly, seeing his surroundings in a new light.

He felt…different; things were different. It was as if his heart and mind had been violently disconnected. He looked at his outstretched arm and watched the cherry blossom continue to hover above his hand.

“What have you done to me?” His question came out hollow.

“Oh, that? I merely blackened your heart a little, enough to taint it. Subduing your conscience is necessary, really. You do-gooders always manage to ruin the most wonderfully laid out plans, and we can’t have that now, can we?” Amatsu gave him an evil grin. “This cherry blossom serves another purpose, however. Now that it is a part of you, it will also connect you to whomever you wish. In other words, once you give it to the young girl of prophecy and she accepts it, her connection to Katsu will be cut, and she will be bound to you forever, doing anything and everything you wish, including aligning herself with me.” Amatsu clapped his hands in utter delight.

“You just happened to have something like this on hand?”

“You’re not the only one to have had an epiphany, realizing the only way to destroy the girl of prophecy was to alter her destiny. I’ve had quite a bit of time to troubleshoot such an annoying issue. I just never realized I’d have my very own minion working out the kinks for me. It is so delightful, the kind of actions revenge and hate can produce, and to have the god of love and marriage possessing an item capable of ripping soul mates from one another?” Amatsu rubbed his hands together gleefully and let out a slow, deliberate chuckle. “Well, let’s just say the irony isn’t lost on me.”

Part of Musubi’s mind, the part holding a small remnant of the kami he used to be, wondered if maybe he’d taken things too far. The errant thought flickered like a small candle in the wind and was extinguished by another thought much more insistent and pervasive.

Revenge.

About the Author

I began writing short stories for family and friends when I was thirteen years old. My vivid imagination and love of mysteries and romances eventually led me to following my own dreams of becoming a published author. I also do some book review work for
Skin
Deep
Exposure Magazine
on the side.

I’m a huge fan of The Mindy Project, Hugh Jackman, and binge eating any and all things chocolate.

Who isn’t?

As a mother of four awesome kids I’m usually playing beauty salon with my daughters—my four-year-old shaved my arm one time while I was helping another daughter with her homework. Yep. That happened—getting my fanny kicked in Mario Kart by my snarky little son, and making out with my deliciously handsome Latin lover, aka, my hubby.

Follow me on Bookbub:
https://www.bookbub.com/authors/c-j-anaya

Stop by and say hello on my website at
http://authorcjanaya.com

Facebook: 
https://www.facebook.com/cjanayaauthor

Twitter:
CJAnaya21